MIDDLE EAST: Fallon’s fall highlights debate over U.S. policy on Iran

Just days after a controversial article in Esquire magazine described Adm. William J. Fallon as the man standing in the way of a Bush administration war against Iran, he resigned his post, most likely under White House pressure, leaving as commander of Florida-based U.S. Central Command, or Centcom, and all U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and Northeast Africa more than a year early.

Iran wasn’t the only point of contention between Fallon (right) and the rest of the Bush administration. As Los Angeles Times Pentagon reporters Julian E. Barnes and Peter Spiegel point out in Wednesday’s paper, Fallon seemed to oppose the U.S. strategy in Iraq, as well:

Supporters of the administration's troop buildup have criticized Fallon for pushing for an accelerated reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq. By doing so, they argued, Fallon undermined the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus. "He fought Petraeus every step of the way, creating unrealistic demands and extra work," said a former senior Pentagon official who has worked directly with both men. "And in so doing, he was not only undermining Petraeus, he was failing to support the president's policy."

But, it was Fallon's words on Iran policy that riled neoconservative White House and Beltway hawks. The Esquire article describes the conflict over Iran policy as a Manichaean fight between a Bush administration hellbent on confrontation and a Fallon equally determined to cool down tensions:

[W]hile Admiral Fallon's boss, President George W. Bush, regularly trash-talks his way to World War III and his administration casually casts Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as this century's Hitler (a crown it has awarded once before, to deadly effect), it's left to Fallon — and apparently Fallon alone — to argue that, as he told Al Jazeera last fall: "This constant drumbeat of conflict ... is not helpful and not useful. I expect that there will be no war, and that is what we ought to be working for. We ought to try to do our utmost to create different conditions." What America needs, Fallon says, is a "combination of strength and willingness to engage."

And as Washington reporter Gareth Porter points out in a piece for the online Asia Times, Fallon's opposition to Iran policy wasn't just rhetorical. It meant hardware wasn't positioned in key places on the geopolitical map at key times:

Even before assuming his new post at CENTCOM, Fallon expressed strong opposition in mid-February to a proposal for sending a third US aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf, to overlap with two other carriers, according to knowledgeable sources. The addition of a third carrier was to be part of a broader strategy then being discussed at the Pentagon to intimidate Iran by making a series of military moves suggesting preparations for a military strike. The plan for a third carrier task force in the Gulf was dropped after Fallon made his views known.

Fallon will be replaced at least for now by his deputy, Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey (right), who served twice in Iraq.

Neoconservatives celebrated Fallon's departure. Max Boot was the foreign policy pundit who labeled Fallon as "unimpressive" in January this year. In an opinion piece in Wednesday's L.A. Times, he argues that Fallon just didn't get it, with regard to Iran:

Fallon's very public assurances that America has no plans to use force against Iran embolden the mullahs to continue developing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorist groups that are killing American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.... By irresponsibly taking the option of force off the table, Fallon makes it more likely, not less, that there will ultimately be an armed confrontation with Iran.

But the story may not end here. Lawmakers are already calling for investigations into Fallon's departure.

And, of course, more likely than not, Fallon's got a tell-all book in the works, as with so many other ex-administration officials.

— Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photos: From top, Centcom's area of operations stretches from Central Asia through the Middle East to the Horn of Africa; Fallon; Dempsey. Credit: Centcom website

Comments

[Willie D. Williams]

I find it ironic that we are trying to stop a nation from making the exact same WMD's that we already have. In fact we are the only counrty that has used a WMD. Shouldn't the rest of the world be more scared of us? Since when did we gain the right to dictate and force Democracy on the world as a whole. Didn't we start this nation because we were being forced to follow someone else's beliefs and not our own? The U.S. has enough problems here that need to be addressed. We should unite as a counrty and be a role model to the rest of the world, not just a counrty that others fear will bomb them if they diagree with us.

[D]

Some problems are only made into problems when you consider it one.

[Thomas Crown]

well now i say the only question is what the United States will do about the Iranian nuclear problem i personally say that a 3rd war in the middle east will and probably be needed to end Ahmadinejad so called civilian nuclear program well i say YEAH RIGHT thats the oldest excuse in the book civilian use i mean come on why not just come out and say i'm building a bomb that way bush can say to the rest of the world hey you should have listened but you choose to believe the Iranians

[D. Stone]

The neocons have one of the worst track records in foreign affairs of any school of thought. (One hesitates at times to refer to their ideology as thought, but I digress.) They exaggerated the Soviet nuclear threat, thus paving the way for one of the largest rip-offs of the U.S. taxpayer in history: $120 billion for the ridiculous "Star Wars" program. (Consider all the old age pensions and health care this could have funded. When it comes to the life and death everyday security of people, the neocons are not only silent but usually hostile. War, militarization, death and "free markets" is the only language these amoralists know.)

Now we're bogged down in a "war" that's stealing U.S. taxpayer money at an astounding amount, saddling our collective future with enormous debt, preventing us from mitigating an possible recession or even depression, and creating the very problem the invasion was supposedly designed to avoid--terrorism.

I look forward to the day when the moniker "neocon" has the same connotation as "Nazi" or "Fascist." Actually, it's already happening. If the Democrats take over will we finally see prominent neocons put in front of a firing line for their war crimes? The faster the justice system can put these killers behind bars or in the ground, the further we'll be along the past of moral restoration.

[Ricardo Kolbe]

Sir, when 4-star General Colin Powell left his office as Secretary of State everyone realised that the war in /against Iraq was an illegal war, now with more than 3,600 dead and more than 10,000 handicapped for the rest of their life.So, when Admiral William J. Fallon, one of the top military persons now handed in his resignation, we should be alarmed, because something must have gone wrong for a long time already with Bush's/Rice's Iran policy. It is absurd to ignore the political aspects and only trace a military solution nobody wants. We should not ignore Mr. Gates' comment some time ago: Iran is surrounded by states with nuclear power; in the East by Pakistan, in the North by Russia, in the South by the US (Gulf) and in the west by Israel-therefore they need a robust defense system. The situation could be improved when Israel would sign the NPT and have their nuclear sites in Dimona and other places inspected; unfortunately, they refuse both with the support of the Bush Admin.. One thing should be very clear, the people and the government of Iran have not forgotten the "Mossadeq-Case" of 1953.

[BL]

libruls, LIEberals, far left pinkos; neo-conmen, CONservative, storm troopers. What do those very few of you who spout such utter shit hope to accomplish? Both parties are simply the WAR party: the bushes, clinton, reagan, carter, nixon (even with his promise to get us out of lbj's war), lbj, kennedy and truman are all testament to that one unifying war party that lurks underneath the surface of our empire masquerading as a republic

[Joe Neri]

Blessed are the peacemakers
For they shall be called the children of God

[Saeed]

Iran needs some bombing, so that her people wake up. I thank Bush & co. for serving humanity by pressing mullahs and finally removing them.

[k bar]

The freaks in Washington ought to be arrested. We lose another strong leader who wont sign on to the rhetoric and lies they spread. This is just like Shinsheski wo said it would take 350,000 men to secure Iraq. Ignorance and narrow mindedness is DANGEROUS.

[geeman]

"Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall see God". Where does that leave the rest of you war mongers who constantly, and out loud, beseech God Almighty to "bless America and our troops"? You need to re-read your holy book.

[Sanity-Now]

This is in response to jason, who posted earlier that it is us "lefties" causing weakness in the Iraq effort, us "poor excuses for parents" who's children have to enlist to get college paid for, and he goes on to advocate a pre-emptive attack on Iran to halt nuclear proliferation in a country accused of having the objective of "wiping Israel off the map"

Your post is a precise example of where we have gone completely off the deep end in the US. There are "lefty" millionaires and billionaires who have the money to send their kids to college, and beyond. Many of their sons and daughters enlisted to sacrifice in Afghanistan, and are STILL willing to sacrifice to fight extremism, in AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA, the true countries of terroristic dogma origin. So your argument falls apart and reveals the twisted murderous and out of control blood-lust for the "weak" and "poor" that have caused the Iraq debacle (tragedy) to occur in the first place.

Republicans have ruled this delusional purging/killing of the "poor" and "weak" but in their misguided and self-centered views what they have done is made them stronger, and more numerous. Greed and murder are not something the world rewards. Values, integrity, compassion, hard work and generous spirit is what the world rewards. The bullies in the playground are Republicans in the WH, and their murderous ilk who have not a clue how fast and far they have destroyed their country, and continue to barrel forward towards it's destruction. And why should they care about it? They will be long gone to South America, or Europe to escape the destruction. Well, us "lefties" are not going to let that happen. After 7 + official Republican rule in this country, and 30+ Republican unofficial rule in all lower levels of government to a lesser extent, a true patriot recognizes domestic enemies when they see them, and the "lefties" are not it.

Further, if not for the "lefties" you greedy and monstrous bastards would have developed Yellowstone park and tapped it for energy use. We stopped that. You all yelled "f$#%$ environmentalists" and worse...but when the science confirmed it lies on top of the largest super-volcano of the continental US you all got pretty silent on that one very quick. I'm still waiting for your apologies. Fat chance from a Republican monster.

No matter how excited you get over a WWIII the world will aim to stop it, and we "lefties" will stop you. Republicans are wrong, George Bush is wrong, his few remaining followers are wrong, and every American in the US has to do their patriotic duty and vote all of your representatives out before you "try to build on a volcano" and cause it to erupt, wrecking the entire world in the process. There is a right way to do things, and a wrong way, and you have done this all wrong.

[Saff]

US is not looking for full war with Iran. Just for it and israel to bomb it for a few days. This country is so beholden to Israel that it will do what ever israel asks. Most of these neocons and people like Chertof are dual citizens and care about 1 country Israel.
Wake up people, israel is not the 51st state. Its time for us to kick people's us for her own benefit.

[tarquinis]

I mourn the loss of this great man, of whom we have so few in this criminal administration.

A third war while we have two wasting wars in progress in near total ignorance of reality would be the final doom for America, and only for the benefit of the criminal Zionist enterprise that cares nothing for America.

Can you imagine $200 per barrel for oil, a whole world in chaos, an unending war against a whole world civilization, economic collapse, all for what? Iran has no WMD, and our own 16 intelligence agencies agree that they discontinued all nuclear weapons programs in 2003.

And dear Hillary Clinton voted for the Kyle-Lieberman agreement in the Senate. Opps, I did it again.

Vote Obama or we will face our doom more quickly than any can imagine.

[zengeos]

"When I look at the region, I worry how long we can go on with the Israelis occupying the 2 million Palestineans. Its not just a local issue but flaring up into a large scale global issue that has to be resolved. The US has been the stumbling block by not playing the honest broker. Hear what Jimmy Carter has to say about it- the most reasonable voice in a sea of extremism."

You make an interesting point here. HOWEVER, keep in mind, that, while Israel maintained control of the borders of Gaza, along with Egypt, albeit, not very well, what has Israel gained by withdrawing from Gaza? Other than an increase in violence and an increase in missile attacks. How can people expecvt Israel to withdraw from more territory, when they unilaterally withdrew from Gaza, only to see an increase in terror infiltration, suicide bombing attempts, and random rockets fired into Israel.

Some people say that this is happening because Israel still controls the borders to Gaza, to which I say...Imagine what things would be like if Hamas was able to bring in even MORE weapons totally unchecked?

Peace can ONLY come when both sides are willing, OR when one side or both is forced into an enforceable peace. So far, neither of these has happened.

[zengeos]

It's very unlikely that Israel will bomb Iran. The only strategy to that end is a sub lauched missile, and, while they likely have the technology to do so, I doubt Israel will send one of it's small, 3 sub fleet, into the Gulf area where they would be close enough to fire a missile. While the Jericho missiles have the range, they really don't have sufficient payload capacity to do serious damage, conventionally.

[madashell]

Reality check for everyone: this is very real and not a joking matter...and guess what, we just might be bombed...afterall, that's the neo-cons/fascists mission=depopulation. Take a good look thru history (especially for the "talking point" people that have to paraphrase Russ, O'Reilly and the like...do your homework, get the facts, get the truth! Your children and your grandchildren will be the next to fight...that's right, there will be a draft and it won't matter what color. religion, rich or poor - our military is broken. We as a nation are broke and owned by China...what happens then the plug is pulled? The endgame is death. It's a very sad state of affairs and ever since 9/11...no one is willing to face the real truth...9/11 was intentional and as we as a nation slip into the abyss - everyone needs to get involved to take back out country!!!

[Giani]

"Get serious," the admiral says. "These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them."

Administration wants to win hearts and minds of ME people .. calling them ants
counter productive.

Also, the Admiral, should reminded, that
always, when dust settels, the ants eat the Elephant

[Response to D]

Since D already opened the can of worms regarding conspiratory theories, here is one - A false flag attack on the US, not by our own forces but by Israel to get the US to topple the Iranian leadership. They bomb a US target and claim it was done by Iran. They could not do it themselves without being put into greater danger due to their proximity to the regional powers. However, what about getting the US to do it? Bush is already gunning for Iran. The US congress would be hard pressed not to attack Iran if there were an actual attack on US soil.

When I look at the region, I worry how long we can go on with the Israelis occupying the 2 million Palestineans. Its not just a local issue but flaring up into a large scale global issue that has to be resolved. The US has been the stumbling block by not playing the honest broker. Hear what Jimmy Carter has to say about it- the most reasonable voice in a sea of extremism.

[Sad State of Affairs]

My sister lives now in Norway and we can almost not talk about the US anymore. Bush has left this country completely hated by all. Europeans think we're totally nuts. We spend more on defence than the next 20 countries put together and we don't provide health care for our people. Our prison population is 1 in 100 and many states spend more on incarceration than higher education.

On the war, our position went down with the "you're either with us or against us" speech. Then we gave the world Abu Gharib and Guantanamo. Now with over 700,000 civilians dead in Iraq, we're the outcast of the world. Right now, the main terrorist in the world is in the White House.

[zno]

Hey Jason, you want to go back to WW2, and you think that it would be different now becauase "the left" has taken over? There are several problems with that. First, the United States did not enter WW2 until WE WERE ATTACKED!!! Now we are the aggressor, invading and occupying other nations based on outright lies. We were attacked on 9/11, by a group of terrorists the majority of which were from Saudi Arabia. However, we wholeheatedly support the dictatorship in Saudi Arabia. The US had every reason to invade Afganistan and oust the terrorsit harboring Taliban, however, because of our invasion of Iraq and inept leadership, we have not accomplished our mission there. Dude, what don't you get about the simple reality?!!! The left has taken over? Are you crazy? Our President is the most conservative in history. And also, you say that we should go back to WW2, but both presidents during WW2 were Democrats. What is your point? That we should elect a democrat? Well, with that point I agree.

[zengeos]

No the President of Iran didn't say Wipe Israel off the map. In essence, he said that he would return the middle east to where Israel does not exist and one can take it further, as evidenced by his mis-education to make every efforts to remove Israel from history. Heck, the Mufti of Jerusalem is trying to do the same thing on the Temple Mount even now, with the Israeli government doing nothing because the Temple Mount is controlled by Muslims

As for Israel nuking anyone...won't happen unless someone else attacks Israel successfully, with WMD's...chemical, biologic or nuclear. IF that happens, who knows how Israel might respond.

So far Israel has had quite some success in her enemies gaining WMD's that might be used against Israel...but things change...

[D.]

I believe that the real reason America invaded Iraq, is because of Iran. This is why:

The United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia have known for some time that Iran was very close to developing nuclear power, with the potential for the creation of nuclear weapons.

Saddam Hussein was no threat to anyone in the region because of his defeat in the first Gulf War, crippling sanctions and the declared "no-fly zones". However, it was realized that with Iran soon becoming a nuclear nation, Saddam was no longer the buffer between Shiite Islam and Sunni Islam. There was simply no way for him to counter the growing threat which Iran could pose to its regional neighbours. Therefore, he had to be removed.

Iraq was only a stepping-stone.

Iran has always been the real target.

Which makes the possibility that there was a 9/11 conspiracy between the intelligence services of the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Israel and the elites in America and the monarchy of Saudi Arabia -- all the more real, as the excuse which would give them the reason to remove Saddam to deal with Iran. Remember, the strong ties and connections between the Bush family and the House of Saud go back more than 20 years. Is it really such a co-incidence that the 19 hijackers were all from Saudi Arabia? Most likely Bin Laden is nothing more of a patsy being used in a grand scheme to topple Iran and its Ayatollahs. Bin Laden probably doesn't even realize it in his religious and zealous anti-U.S./Israel fervor. And if he does, he most likely long ago accepted his place in a distorted history as a "lion of Islam" defending his people against the "Great Satan".

Regardless, the most likely scenario to come from this recent news of Admiral Fallon's so-called "resignation", will be that Israel will unilaterally bomb Iran's nuclear reactor, with Iran striking back in the Gulf of Oman and in Iraq, prompting the U.S. to begin strategic bombing of Iranian cities and military targets.

The other possible scenario, is that the U.S. will stage a "false flag" attack inside the U.S. using either a low-yield nuclear weapon on an already degraded city (such as New Orleans) or a biological attack on the greater U.S. Bush and Cheney will site so-called "evidence" of Iranian involvement and begin their air campaign of strategic bombing. Bush will declare martial law in the streets all over America, prompting the roundup of thousands of American citizens for incarceration inside the Blackwater "concentration camps" which have already been built. The excuse could also be that they be rounded up because of "infection" from a so-called biological attack. Bush will enact his recent Presidential Executive Order giving him sole power over all three branches of government, cancel the November elections siting a "heightened state of war", thereby making him for all intensive purposes a dictator in a police state for an unlimited amount of time.

Russia and China will not allow an attack on Iran to occur without their involvement. It could very quickly escalate into all-out nuclear warfare.

The only way this can be prevented, is if the top American military brass refuses their orders to attack Iran, and they stage a coup against the U.S. government to forcibly remove Bush and Cheney from their dangerous positions of power. Top German officials and military leaders were forced to do the same against Hitler when they realized he was quickly bringing about the end of Germany as a nation.

Hopefully, the ultra-patriotism and nationalism which presently holds America in its tight grip will not deter those with the ability to stop total armageddon doing the same against Bush and Cheney.

If they are true patriots, they will understand the definite choice they will have to make.

Let's hope they make the right decision.

[Ron]

To HAHA
I'm more then willing to listen to an intelligent rebuttal. The only issue is how will a liberal give an honestly rebuttal?
No one created the mess but the liberals in the Democratic party. Then knew what was going to happen when they came up with the rules. The felt it was ok to stripe millions of voters because of their rules. Basically saying that their rules are more important then peoples votes. Now they are going to come up with an do over because the best laid plans of mice and men went badly.

I really don't blame the Democratic party for Spitzer even though Democrats jump all over other parties when a member does something like this. Spitzer was just a very bad person. Makes no difference which party he's in.

P.S. The demographics don't look good for liberals in any party. It's a downhill slope and it's getting steeper each cycle. Which I think is actually a good thing for the Democratic party. Get rid of most liberals. More moderates will offset the Right wing Republicans and maybe both parties will meet in the middle.
That's the real key to a better America.

[D]

For those who say that Iran is trying to make nuclear bombs, are you not aware that US already HAS nuclear bombs?

Therefore, does that give some other country the right to bomb us?? Of course not.

Furthermore, for the one who talked about contracts and giving your life up for a tuition, let me clarify something for you, children do not choose their parents. It's not their fault that they need to find another means to fund their education.

On another note, I'm quite sure that if there was a purpose to the war instead of pre-emptive strikes then soldiers wouldn't mind defending their country. However, when you put a teen's life on the line because you played "psychic" and foretold of bad comings, that's a problem.

In any case, I'd like to thank the brave admiral for trying to prevent another WWIII. I'm happy and relieved to know that there are men out there driven to prevent unncessary bloodshed. God bless you!!!!!

[Matt]

"I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just."
- Thomas Jefferson

[Worried Sick]

Youtube McCain singing "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of the old Beach Boys song. Regardless of Bush or McCain, the Republicans want war in Iran. And if my neighbors are any guage, we're almost there. Most bumper sticks around me are "Freedom isn't Free", "Support our Troops", etc. I think the nation just needs a little nudge (which Bush can engineer easily) and we'll be sending missles off aircraft carriers. How else can the NeoCons retain control?

There is a peace march in LA this weekend (March 15 at noon at Hollywood and Vine) be there if you value peace.

[Tom Paine]

This only way this is going to stop is for the Democratic Party to grow a backbone and impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney

[Adolph Hitler]

You people are really dumb. Iran is a threat, and must be attacked before they attack you ! That is why I attacked Poland, Austria, France, England, Norway, Russia, north Africa: when you are surrounded by enemies that want you dead, you must catch them off guard and attack first. Only that way can you ensure a peaceful Reich for a thousand years !

And there are enemies in your midst: you must not allow them to sap your strength, to whisper false ideas that will confuse the weak willed. Round them up, put them in concentration camps, make an example of them. This is War, Iran and possibly Burundi want you all dead. Do what you must do, let History decide who best protected the Fatherland !

[duncan]

this article without doubt gets me shaken up quite a bit. coming across articles like these hinting at the plans of our govt or the man that seemingly disregards it is very worrisome to me and should be to everyone coming across the article. having read this, i wish for every person of voting age by this fall to have read this article VERY tentitively.

being 20 and having 10s and 10s of friends in the armed service, i cannot imagine another conflict starting up this near to george bush's long awaited departure from office. as touched on by earlier commentors, another conflict is not only highly uneconomical, but it's incredibly unrealistic in every single sense of the word with two conflicts currently that already draw so much rightful critisism.

it's my dying wish as a 20 yr old that if a new conflict did elapse between our nation and Iran, sigh, or any country for that matter, that george bush will have absolutely nothing to do with how it is executed. at this point after so many things have happened to define and taint bush's era not only for himself and his family, but moreso than that, for the american people. His plummiting approval ratings and the numerous other examples that need not be repeated and repeated as they are everyday that if he did declare action against iran from a "defensive SUPRISE" standpoint that people would lash out, protest, etc, just as they have, hoping that this will make the difference.

unfortunately for the people protesting bush, he's never been one to take protestors and the act of protesting seriously when considering his political actions. someone remarked on the fact that there is only 9 months remaining in his term. now, unfortunately for americans, if a thats just enough time (if he pleased) for him to run the remainder of our country thru the floor as the new generations come along to pick up the pieces. the man has burned our american economy to the end of its wick, along with the trust and compassion of it's people. it's time for george bush's 8 year spending frenzy to come to an end. george bush has brought bad poor speeches, low morals (as displayed) and a national debt for even my grandchildren to thank him for AMONG SO MANY OTHERS IT INFURIATES ME. as a president, he has brought THESE bad tendencies to be normal among the viewers eye. every knowledgible citizen in the country knows that bush traded his approval ratings, for profit. his country's children, for KBR Halliburton's quadrupaling stock prices. in a situation that goes far beyond the calling complaints of citizens hearts aimed at the govt. complaints like mine and of other citizens charged at the govt last so long that most people don't even bother any longer because it's been such a poor 8 years. we now need to begin to rebuild whatever positive aspects of our country (that i cannot even recognize any longer) that were prosperous before bush destroyed generations and decades of our nations success, and bush, your economic stimulous plan should help to cover .00001% of the debt that you have encurred while spending our money.

i cry for the children of every citizen who votes republican in the next election. it's obvious that you don't get to be the president by just saying "hey, im going to run for president" they're in the candidacy because they're supporting the ideas of the people that are already in office. McCain, although a great war hero, which is what we don't need anymore, does support the ideals of the people already in office. George bush you have overstayed and overspent your welcome in this country by about a million fold and i wish you the cleanest departure of eternal silence this world has ever known. and to add, permitting the likes of McCain to be the successor to such an already terrible president would only bring about a larger catastrophy, the further plummit of our dollar, and the absence of national safety in our country even though it may seem drastic and extreme, what else happens to civilizations in this case? THEY DONT LAST. When the leaders are this poor, they sell out their people (which he has) for personal gain (which he's made) which is the reason they take oaths in the first place, bush has obviously forgotten his duty and applied some of his "signature" silver lining to the constitution.

all-in-all, great article regarding fallon. and may next january come tomorrow!!!

[HAHA]

Ron,

That's precious stuff, really....

[M.S.]

To OC Native Mike:

The president of Iran never said such a statement like this: "wiping Israel off the map." Of course, the American news media translated it as such, but in Farsi it does not mean that. You really need to go and research this, to find out what he really said and find out why this was never corrected in the first place.

[Ron]

I am always amazed at the violence that a liberal is willing to commit to get his/her views across.
There is seldom anything about a liberal that is open other then some else wallet.

A liberal always knows what's best for everyone. Just ask them. And when you have a difference of opinion they start calling for beheadings and war crimes trials.

Clean up your own houses first. Get some Democrats that are not totally whacked out.
You people can't even rig election correctly. You blew up Fla and Michigan and in the middle of the process you want to go back and change it. Democrats stole the election votes of millions of voters and disenfranchises two huge states. No Republicans needed. You have an anti-corruption Governor of NY who is paying for whores with credit cards. The same way he caught so many others doing the same thing.
Arrogant liberals as the scourge of the country. Thank GOD that they are a dying breed. Still holding on to the Democratic party but losing more each cycle. Good riddance.

[Scott Perry]

I just hope we all survive the next 10 months without any further mania blossoming into another pointless loss of lives and treasure in Iran, scrambling always to divert attention from the administration's failures of the past. Thank God for term limits on the presidency.

Scott Perry

[Get Real!]

Gary M,

Country controlled by the left?!?! oookkkkk, riiiigghhhttt, not sure if you've been paying attention for the last 7 or so years but until 2006 the Republicans controlled the two of three branches of government (and one could easily argue the judiciary as well). You're just as fanatical as those with the far left commentary that you so despise. It's comical actually.

On the issue itself, one can't deny that Iran does pose a threat but what do you do about it? North Korea poses a threat as well... and what about Russia, they're quickly rewinding into an aggresive anti-western posture. People like yourself would have us invade these countries and for what? Kill a bunch of Persians, Koreans, whatever have you. The best part about all this is that China is sitting by and just raking in the cash and slowly positioning themselves to dominate the world both economically and militarily.

With people like you and everyone else on this board we'll accelerate our demise quicker than you can say Pat Buchanan.

[xman]

I been giving odd 2 to 1 that after the summer conventions and before Oct 15th that Bush will attack Iran ( he tried two times before ). The we will then have to rally around the flag/President/ Rep canidate- who is the only one who can defeat Iran, as the othe canidate can not be trusted. I been right on every thing so far. Then we all can enjoy $9.00 buck gas.

[whiteyward]

Great military leaders like this admiral should be listened to by the citizens of the USA. What makes them great is speaking up to the monkey and his but wipes in the administration. We are now getting ready to cancel the election and draft our kids to feed rockafellers ovens. Are you armed? Are you scared ? Are you ready to die for what you believe in? We must soon take this war to the streets of the USA, we must march and protest and strike this time and we must mean it. I will not sit here and watch tv as this crazy man kills a million children in Iran. Stop this war now.

[frank H. Logan]

This is for Jason, who said, "If we had to redo WW2 today wed get our asses kicked cause the left has taken over this country."

You know, Jason, during WWII, the left was basically in charge of the country so how does that make your post look?

In that regard, FDR did the opposite of what W did in Iraq. He put Republicans in his cabinet so the country could have a bipartisan foreign policy. W, unlike any other American president, has used the war as a political weapon against the Democrats, a policy that would have threatened the whole effort if the war hadn't been already rendered unwinnable by his dismal administration of the occupation.

[Steve Real]

Admiral Fallon did not understand the art of the deal
or the art of politiks. (and Islamic hstory)

What did he honestly think he was doing?
Did he really think he was helping US out?

Admiral Fallon weakened the US diplomatic position
by laying all our cards on the table
for the whole world to see.

It was like he was from amateur town being taken for a ride
on the Vegas strip by a bunch of professionals.

I would have fired him 6 months ago for weaking the US diplomatic position.

Do we have to spell it out for you,
the whole pyschology behind the art of the deal
or can we find someone with a little more politikally savvy
and who's quicker on the uptake?

[NN]

Bush, Cheney, et al. The inner circle of neocons in and about the White House will be looking for the right time and opportunity to create a major international security crisis that will overshadow the elections and will provide a pretense to keep the current adminstration in power until such time as the "crisis" subsides.

We were witness to a modern day "coup de etas" with the elections in 2000, a bloodless coup, where the electoral process was hijacked. We will witness in 2008, for the first time in US history an attempt to extend the term of a president beyond its two term limit and a setting aside the will of the people, by the same band of thugs. A state of fear and crisis will be created, whether its the "threat" in Iran, another terrorist attack on US soil, or a limited nuclear risk in Pakistan, Khazikstan, or "Another -stan". Whatever the scenario fabricated or otherwise, journalists, reporters, the media and the press must never again fall short of its democratic duty to investigate, analyze, and report the facts, providing our democracy with an objective and rational voice to counter the double talk and group think that led up to the invasion in Iraq.

[reza]

Dear Fallon I am very proud of you because you give me the hope that there are still some honest and brave people around world that value peace and truth. I am an Iranian and every time these damn people talk about war all of my family members start to worry again. We know what the hell is a war. Most of Americans may think that war is something about pride, but war is a mess and nothing more. War never was a solution to anything.

[luvwknd]

The USA should blow up Iran before they blow up somebody else! Nuclear energy...that's a bunch of BS and we all know they are attempting to build a nuclear bomb!
I hate GWB & Dick, but I don't want to get bombed either so taking out Iran is a necessary evil!

Boy, there are some real stupid people in this blog!
geral sosbee, Richard Bentley just to name a few!

[OC Native Mike]

A quick perusal revealed only the typical, tiresome anti-Bush hysterics so frequently published in the Times. Am I the only rational person here who sees Iran as a threat? A nation that openly calls for "wiping Israel off the map" should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Period. Telling Iran that it will NOT be attacked is tantamount to giving them the ok to go ahead with their plans. Anybody here who believes that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful is delusional. Apparently the majority of Times readers never learned the school yard lesson that you don't stop bullies by appeasing them, you stop them by using force against them.

I've been reading the L.A. Times for 41 years now. Sad that a once great newspaper has become nothing more than a mouthpiece for the cowardly, head in the sand left.

[Ray]

Its finnally getting to the top. Now its not just soldiers coming home saying this was a bullshit war for oil. Its finnally making generals question stategy and intentions of the Bush Administration. Goerge W., Goerge H. and cheney should all be brought up on war crimes and publicly be-headed. think of what kind of message that would send to the world. The fact that were not gonna sit back and watch our governement screw everybody. I say Goerge H. too cause whos plan do you think these was in the first place. We all know goerge W aint got the marbles for it.

[godmode]

Who are these neoconservatives? Are they noname phantom entities?

[To start another war???]

"HILLARY WE NEED YOU NOW!!!!!!"

To what??? Start another war as she did VOTING YES TO ALLOW BUSH TO KILL MORE THAN 3,500 AMERICANS?
Or to LOSE A WAR, as it was Bill's specialty??? (Just ask the US Army Rangers about the INCOMPETENCE of Bill and Hillary that killed 19 of them in Mogadishu, because of a president WITHOUT A CLUE on foreign policy)
You should tie Hillary and Bush on a Cluster Bomb and throw them at Tehran. It will not only solve our foreign problems but our home problems as well, as Hillary KKK tkinights are about to start another civil war with their racist remarks about African-Americans...

[Chris]

Can we just mpeach the jug-eared Alfred E. Newman lookalike before it's too late? Is he the most corrupt president in history? with his Three Trilling Dollar War?

[Richard Bentley]

Who are these -------- that want another war, after 3 trillion dollars wasted, hundreds of thousands of people dead, wounded, and displaced, a country in tatters, and an armed service stretched to the point of breaking? What kind of maniacs do we have in the government and the media? What does it take to show them that the whole thing is a fiasco, and will remain so no matter what we do. Face it, Jerks, we are done in the Middle East. And we don't sit very well with the rest of the world, either. It's too bad your mothers were fertile.

[luvwknd]

I say Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are all the same...whacked out religious nut-jobs who all need their governments "re-tooled".
If the USA doesn't do something about Iran NOW...it'll be too late and they will possess a nuclear bomb and hold the international community hostage, if you don't believe this then you must belive they are only enriching uranium for energy, ha ha ha - you are stupid!
Bomb or be bombed....what you want bombs falling in the USA? I certainly don't so I say let the war begin and blow Iran off the face of the map!

[geral sosbee]

As people discover the immoral, cowardly and macabre character of the agents, operatives, handlers and associates of the fbi/cia (as manifest globally in the killing/torture techniques used by these sociopathic assassins to insure compliance to new world order dictates) we may not reasonably expect a merciful redress from foreign and domestic freedom fighters forced from desperation to employ against US equally aggressive and abhorrent stratagems.
*************************************************

The tactics employed globally by the fbi/cia reflect the homicidal profile of the enforcers and perpetrators of the new, stagnant and completely controlled world. These tactics include, but are not limited to the following :

mass murder (sometimes one at a time)

torture (physical and psychological)

terrorism

blackmail (of a mortifying type)

stalking and kidnapping and fraudulent stings by law enforcement

burglary, robbery, theft, fraud, extortion

false imprisonment, abuse of civil process and disabling calumny

financial isolation and ruination

human experimentation (of a monstrous type)

programming for suicide (inter alia) of the targeted individuals

psychological operations and mind control

psychoelectronic bombardment

c h e m i c a l, biological, and viral assaults on human beings

nukings

intrusive, continuous and disturbing surveillance (physical and electronic) twenty four hours a day, seven days a week

-aided by tracking devices implanted in the person and properties of the Target

-with invasions into home, office and car ; and with strategic tamperings therein designed to drive the Target insane

The fbi/cia agents, operatives, thugs, assigns, handlers and supporters are your neighbors, friends, relatives, spouses, representatives, doctors, etc. Geral Sosbee

[simon]

i'm from london, and i'm pleased to find these comments. sounds like the inspirational u.s. i remember from when i was a kid.

but i fear it's already too late to avert war with so many early signs; chaneys 'peace mission" to the middle east,
war ships to lebanon and fallons resignation amongst others.

i've been looking online to see if anyone will take a 50 pound bet on israel using nukes. but it's proving difficult.

[cbl]

HILLARY WE NEED YOU NOW!!!!!!!!!

[true american]

SEE HE WAS A HERO AND NOW THEY MAKE THIS GREAT MAN LOOK BAD MY BROTHER DEFENDED A KERNELL IN THE RANGERS HE IS IN JAIL FOR STANDING UP FOR THE MEN ON THE GROUND AS THIS GENERAL HAS SAID HE WANTS TO SAVE AMERICAN LIVES TO ALL YOU KIDS WANTING TO JOIN THE MILITARY HERE THE MESSAGE THE WORLD CAN SEE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS WAR JUST GO TO ROCKEFELLERS AND THE WORLD BANK AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU A LOT MORE MONEY YOURE CONSTITUTION THAT DEFINES THE REAL AMERICAN PEOPLE DONT WANT YOU THEIR AND REMEMBER THAT 85% OF AMERICA THE REPUBLIC FOR WITCH IT STANDS

[bill]

What's the big deal? Harry Truman fired General MacArthur in the mnidst of the Korean War for mouthing off.

[Leadman584]

7 days ago our house of representatives voted 404-1 to not only endorse Israeli airstrikes against Gaza, but also to condemn Iran and Syria for supplying the toy rockets to Hamas and Hezbollah.

GW has been touting the "Nucular" threat Iran poses. He so desperately wants to invade Iran, he keeps troops in Iraq, just to be "in the neighborhood".

America will invade Iran. They have committed the same crime as Saddam Heusain. They are dealing oil in anything but US dollars. The Current Administration, heck all presidential candidates, are willing to nuke Iran. Thank god I'm too old to draft. Russia and China will make our children pay for our indifference.

[William L. Horniman]

I am glad and proud to see that we still have military leaders that know how to do there job and tell the truth. You have already come far admiral and you will go much farther in this life.

[jason]

Return america to its greatness someone said?

when was this?, After ww2?, Cause ever since then this countrys gone down the shitter and continues to do so and it seems its spining faster and faster in the toilet every year.

If we had to redo WW2 today wed get our asses kicked cause the left has taken over this country, It be something like well ya know japan and germany are just trying to have it good like us so lets just let em have what they want as long as no soldier gets killed?

And lets examine that, a soldiers fate is decided by the soldier, If your poor and your kids got no other choice then blame yourself for being a loser parent that couldnt show his kids the path to not being a puppet for the gov, If your a soldier you know your duty and it sickens me when people wanna cry for sum1 who signs up to have his schooling paid for by me the taxpayer but then wants to balk when hes called to duty REGARDLESS he should be willing and ready to give their lives cause when you sign a contract and it dont matter if its a biz contract, a sport contract ANY CONTRACT!, you are bound by your signature to FULFILL your obligations

and you with the 13 yr old your prolly as old as i am and you remember the reagan years right, cause if you do i dont need to talk about how the same crap came out , the same fears, the same crock of liberal BS

20 years later the mans looked at as one of the best presidents ever so all the rhetorical nonsence we heard back then really came to pass didnt it, we were gonna go bankrupt, the russians were gonna have a nuclear war with us, all this same crap you hear today just rehashed to get all of you weak minded wanna be americans scared.

This country will only be great again when the WW2 generation gets recycled into exsistence cause what i see as the younger generations take this country over is weakening of the american spirit & hence no one willing to make the sacrifices of generations gone past

[Gary M]

Sure can tell The NY and LA Times are in the same boat. Like the NY Times story on McCain and his "mistress" there is not one quote from anybody here. Nothing to back it up. Nobody that will stand behind this garbage.

Might as well put the title BLOG on every page of this newspaper-- if you can call it that.

[radii]

Max Boot: arch-zionist traitor to America, like all the neocons

Book a flight to Tel Aviv, Max, renounce your citizenship to the US, and settle (pun intended) in Israel and never come back

[John C Marietta, GA]

Nothing new here at all. We have been down this road and nothing evrer changes. The truth is ignored time and time again by this administration and the press just rolls along with it. THis president deservies a short trial and a public exectuion that should be broadcast live on Fox news.

[theantibush]

Until votes are weighed according to education, community service, citizenship status, age, time in country, and criminal record, we will always have a sub-prime civilian leadership endangering the World and stripping away the rights of Americans at home.

If the job of the US military is to protect America, then they have occupied the wrong capital.

[PDA]

Fallon, sounds like a smart guy. Its a shame our disgrace- of- a -president ran him out. The fact is, the white house(bush,rice,etc) has been stamping out all efforts by the military to engage in talks and agreements with opposing radical groups for years. military has worked to secure regions with local tribal influence (many of whom hate al qaeda) and washington jerks won't have it. redneck prez just wants to blow stuff up so Halliburton can rebuild it on your dime. suits have no business interfearing with informed, experienced military personnel that really understand what they are up against.

[Gabe]

i am at a loss for words. the fact that we the people havent marched in a 30 million strong force against the whitehouse blows my mind. how can we stand by while our country is hijacked by these pirates? history will be VERY unkind to us.

[Modesto]

Let the Bush family fortune--made by selling armaments to the original Hitler--pay for it. As a patriotic U.S. taxpayer, I won't. My daughter has a large enough share of the federal debt, and she's not even out of elementary school yet.

[Priscilla]

Could somebody thank Admiral Fallon for the reality based community.

[Dave]

9 more months to go. Just 9 more months. We just have to hold this abomination of a man back for what amounts to a pregnancy. We can do it, people!

[CranialRectalLoopback]

I noticed just before I was to post that no one under the age of 13 may post on this message board. I found it ironic that those same individuals will be fighting in Iran in 5 years.

[mark]

No comments? We are marching off to a war we cannot man and do not have the equipment for and do not have the will to fight.
We are and have been trying to intimidate Iran into stiking out at us so we would have the responders defense.
Now, good people is the time to come to the aid of your country! George Bush, John McCain, Dick Cheney et all are as crazy as All of the war mongers in history. Do I need to name some so you will get my point? I don't think I need to. People please step back and take an honest look!

[JK]

History will no doubt record this man as the hero that stopped a bloodthirsty madman from starting WWIII.

[PsyOpBuster]

To the author,

Did you sell your soul to be a writer for LA Times? Or do you believe in a soul? If I didnt know any better, I would say the LA Times wants to portray a certain image of the war in Iraq.

That is one of valiant righteous Neo-Cons whose agenda was stonewalled by Fallon. You have some faceless, nameless official you quote as saying he was not with the program thus causing setbacks.

The righteousness of "Bush's Policy" (blame the puppets) is based on the FEAR of NUCLEAR ARMS RACE WITH IRAN, when in fact the intelligence community comes out and says DONT BE SCARED OF THAT. You continue to quote people as saying "BE SCARED OF THAT".

You only add to confusion, and you dont portray anything real about this war except for the insignifcant details that are supposedly "behind the curtain", but are so petty and shallow that you smelly suspiciously of yellow journalism.

I hope you are happy with your pathetic little job as a "journalist", I see there is no unifrom standard in journalism, only bloodsuckers and truthseekers standing off.

[Wolf Morrison]

Mr. Fallon is the type of person who should be in the White House, but, regrettably and, for a number of reasons, never will be.

[dsmith]

I thought Bush said he wanted to hear what his commanders in the field had to say. Apparently not!

[Brian Connelly]

Any talk about the US going into Iran is complete and utter garbage. Fighting this current war in two countries where neither really wants us, against enemies that we can rarely differentiate from civilians, and a constant fear of soliders that every time they pull the trigger they are going to end up in Leavenworth has completely taxed the military to its breaking point. I wonder how these so called advisors who are probably just milking a goverment paycheck will feel if we do go in to Iran and their kids get drafted to go over there because that is the only way we can sustain this war on three fronts. Fair winds and following seas Adm. Fallon.

[Dan]

God Bless Adm. William J. Fallon and all of the true American military leaders and those that follow them.
All of the bush Jr. warmongers MUST be stoped once and for ever if we are to restore the USA to greatness once again.
The warmongers must be impeached, put on trial and sentenced to life in federal prison if found guilty of treson and war crimes as well as crimes against the American people and the constitution.
There MUST be equal justice for all crimes no matter how powerful or welthy from the welthyist and most powerfull to the least welthy and powerless.
all of elected gongress people must not be re-elected if they do not uphold the constitution and their oath of office.

[Dirk]

Here we go again - it starts with the purging of the reasonable. I hope this doesn't mean Operation Iranian Freedumb is in the planning.

[Anthony]

I just hope that Fallon is right, not the war-mongers who make sure their families do NOT enlist to go to Iraq.

[Rob]

And who is going to fight this war? The D.A.R.?

[saychel]

Slightly off topic, but can anybody even see Israel on that map?