Analyze This: The message that Fallon's farewell and Cheney's arrival sends to Teheran

Jpost.com ^ | Updated Mar 12, 2008 22:43 | By CALEV BEN-DAVID

[Perdogg]

The timing of US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit here next week, coming right after Tuesday's resignation by Adm. William J. Fallon as America's chief military commander in the Middle East, may simply be coincidence.

US Adm. William Fallon, center, walks through a market area in Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, with Iraqi Maj. -Gen. Wathiq al-Hamadani, left, Saturday. Photo: AP But don't bet on it - or at least this is how it will be seen.

Since being appointed as head of the Central Command last year, Fallon has emerged as the major dissenting voice within the US military against the Bush administration's tough stance toward the Iranian nuclear program, a policy championed by Cheney.

In the statement released with his resignation, Fallon acknowledged that "recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the president's policy objectives have become a distraction at a critical time."

[rhombus]

Obama/Fallon 08?

[Izzy Dunne]

Obama/Fallon 08?

You think O'bama wants a guy with a history of mouthing off about his superiors standing behind him?

I don't think so.

[kellynla]

Cheney/Patraeus 2008

[Ann Archy]

Cheney/Patraeus 2008

If only!!!! Cheney and ANYONE almost!!

[Ann Archy]

Cheney and the Gen. STUCK on STUPID !!!!!

[nuconvert]

“The timing ... may simply be coincidence”

Cheney’s trip was planned before Fallon’s resignation.

[Mac from Cleveland]

My dream team:

John Bolton and Sherrif Joe Arpaio (in any order)

Semper Fi back at ya’

[Mac from Cleveland]

Sorry—Sheriff Joe Arpaio (typo)

[Perdogg]

amen

[rhombus]

You think O'bama wants a guy with a history of mouthing off about his superiors standing behind him?

Good point. Still, Obama is going to need someone who can salute... Ashley WilkesWesley Clark?

[gusopol3]

Bush/Schwarzkopf ‘00

[NTHockey]

>>My dream team:

John Bolton and Sherrif Joe Arpaio (in any order)

Semper Fi back at ya’

That got me thinking about what a Conservative President’s cabinet would look like:
State: Bolton
AG: Thompson
DHS: Arpaio
DOD: Franks/Petraeus
HHS: Ann Coulter
Commerce: ??
Labor: DeMint
HEW:Mark Levin

And a Semper Fi back at ya’

[kellynla]

I'm sure Bolton is a fine man but Dick Cheney has had almost 8 years OJT for the position and is by far the most qualified person for POTUS!
And as far as Patraeus is concerned, in time of war, I'd like to have a wartime consigliere who has been a successful battle tested general as VP!

[ridesthemiles]

Good point. Still, Obama is going to need someone who can salute... Ashley WilkesWesley Clark?”

Why do I think that Wesley Clark is like a male model? Handsome on the outside, and able to strike a pose, but empty on all of the inside?

[rhombus]

Why do I think that Wesley Clark is like a male model? Handsome on the outside, and able to strike a pose, but empty on all of the inside?

Now isn't that description perfect for Obama too?

[uncbob]

Because of the way our military was downsize over the last 16 years and the way social spending has skyrocketed we no longer have the resources in Money —Material—Manpower to do what is necessary to protect our country against radical Islam

We needed a hell of a lot more troops in Iraq and Afganistan and we need to take out Iran and Syria and we don’t have the occupational forces for the aftermath

[straps]

If any body is stuck on stupid it is you. In case nobody clued you in. Admiral “Moron”, Just transferred out of South Com over 1500 personnel in the middle of waging war. An you sir think that Vice President Cheny is dumb. Mr American Hater look in the mirror you should do that before you post sarcasm!!!!!

[Perdogg]

Neither Franks nor Petraeus can SecDef under the 1947 National Security ACT.

State: Bolton
AG: Thompson
DHS: Petraeus
DOD: Hunter
HHS: Eliminated
Commerce: Eliminated
Labor: Eliminated
HEW: Eliminated
Vetern’s Affair: Eliminated

[madrastex]

I am very puzzled about this resignation. When Adm Fallon went to the Gulf, the perception was that as a Naval aviator, he would be the chief architect and conductor of the then-imminent air strike on the Iranian nuclear facilities. What happened?

[Clioman]

You think O’bama wants a guy with a history of mouthing off about his superiors standing behind him?

Well, there is the matter of Obama’s wife...

[3niner]

straps:

Ann Archy was clearly referring to Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who originated the "stuck on stupid" quote. The remark was in no way insulting to Vice President Cheney (you misspelled his name, by the way), or to General Honore.

Here's some advice from Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

[B-Chan]

Here's some advice from Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

The problem is that Lincoln never said or wrote that, and neither did Mark Twain, nor any other writer or public figure. The closest I could find to this "advice" was in the Bible: "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." [Proverbs 17: 27-28].

[Ann Archy]

Knucklehead....just guessing that 100% of freepers knew I was talking about Honore’ who I would vote for in a New York minutre.

[Ann Archy]

Thanks for coming to my rescue.