Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 12, 2008 Adar2 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:29 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen take part in a press conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday, March 5. (AP) Last update - 16:43 12/03/2008 U.S. Mideast army chief quits after 'opposing attack on Iran' By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters Tags: Israel, Iraq, Iran, U.S. WASHINGTON - Admiral William Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East, announced Tuesday that he is stepping down after one year in the post. He asked to step down after an article in Esquire magazine implied that Fallon was single-handedly responsible for preventing President George W. Bush from attacking Iran. "I have approved Admiral Fallon's request to retire with reluctance and regret," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. Ironically, when Fallon was appointed it was mooted that the move was aimed at paving the way to a military confrontation with Iran. His appointment was considered an unusual one - the naming of a navy admiral to command a command composed mainly of ground forces but which also included the critical Straits of Hormuz area. From his first day on the job, Fallon found himself in opposition to the policies of the Bush administration. Advertisement Fallon will retire at the end of the month. His deputy, Army Lt. Gen Martin Dempsey, will take charge of Central Command until a long-term successor is chosen, Gates said. Gates praised Fallon and insisted the admiral had supported the administration's policy of using diplomacy to try to resolve differences with Tehran while not taking military options off the table. "Recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the President's policy objectives have become a distraction at a critical time and hamper efforts in the CENTCOM region," Fallon said in a statement. "And although I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there," he said. Related articles: Iran Revolutionary Guards: Unit engraved emblem on U.S. ship Livni to Obama: There is a direct link between Iran and terror Iran minister: Russia to supply Tehran with new missile system Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring the house down Dichter to police: Demolish home of J'lem yeshiva terrorist. Media frenzy Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror.   1.   Sad Day for Central Command 08:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/03/08   2.   Flawed American Foreign Policy 10:05  |  Sane athiest 12/03/08   3.   Bush is out of time 10:36  |  Natallie Durson 12/03/08   4.   Do we always need to follow what the vast majority of the US 11:32  |  CP 12/03/08   5.   A truly brave Admiral...! 12:34  |  Stephen. 12/03/08   6.   A COWARD HE WAS 12:59  |  indrajaya 12/03/08   7.   Natallie 13:04  |  Millie 12/03/08   8.   This firing might tie in to 13:24  |  Mark Lincoln 12/03/08   9.   Five years on 13:26  |  Mark Lincoln 12/03/08   10.   BERNIE 13:47  |  JW 12/03/08   11.   Fallon will be another Shinseki (sp ?) 14:16  |  ballistic 12/03/08   12.   Well Said! 14:50  |  Sal 12/03/08   13.   Millie you are totally wrong..... 14:54  |  David James Vickery 12/03/08   14.   #7 14:58  |  Cool B 12/03/08   15.   I Only Know What I Read In The News 15:11  |  Yosemite 12/03/08   16.   To Cool B aka coolbtch 15:12  |  Oleg 12/03/08   17.   #8 Mark Lincoln....How right you may be... 15:26  |  Stephen. 12/03/08   18.   # 3: not out of time 15:33  |  frenz 12/03/08   19.   Not A Team Player 15:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/03/08   20.   Fallon 15:57  |  Brod 12/03/08   21.   # 7 - Millie 16:15  |  Natallie Durson 12/03/08   22.   The current thinking on the far right 17:15  |  Mark Lincoln 12/03/08   23.   Mark, the good news is Bush has set 18:00  |  spyguy 12/03/08   24.   # 23 Spyguy. Youre out of touch.. 22:06  |  Stephen. 12/03/08

Today Online Hamas: No truce until Israel ends Gaza siege Responses: 155 Australian parliament lauds Israel as 'custodian of freedom' Responses: 113 Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at plan to expand settlement Responses: 114 Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror Responses: 81 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy Responses: 53 Haaretz TV: Israel-born child faces expulsion Responses: 24 Rosner's Domain What General Fallon didn't get (WTR) Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) Study: Boston's intermarried 'as observant' as Reform Jews More Headlines 21:21 IDF kills 5 Palestinian militants in two West Bank incidents 20:44 Defense Min.: Fighting in southern Israel, Gaza may soon resume 18:58 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal 17:19 Dichter to police: Demolish home of Jerusalem yeshiva terrorist 21:27 Schindler Jews to mark 65 years since Krakow ghetto liquidation 16:59 Smuggler buried alive when tunnel collapses near Egypt-Gaza border 20:55 Livni warns 'clock is ticking' on sanctions against Iran 18:57 Rightist rabbis urge 'measure for measure' revenge on foes 19:29 Brothers sentenced to life in jail for 'honor killing' of sister 20:24 Shas slams IDF plan to decrease Haredi exemption from army 18:34 Rubinstein Piano Competition / A truly impressive artist 16:30 After 30 years, musician Joe Jackson realizes dream of playing in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb

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