Centcom reins shift from admiral to lieutenant general

Admiral William J. Fallon (left) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates stand during the presentation of the colors at MacDill Air Force Base today. The ceremony shifted oversight of Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, from Fallon to Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey. Fallon retired after less than a year as head of CentCom after news reports that said he was at odds with President Bush about the U.S. strategy toward Iran. Fallon denied any friction but said the publicity made his continuing in the post untenable.

Fallon (left) receives the CentCom Flag from Sgt. Major Jeffrey Morin while relinquishing command as Gates looks on. Fallon handed the flag to Gates, who gave it to Dempsey, who handed it back to Morin. [Chris Zuppa | Times]

Comments

[Gilbert R. Ford]

While Admiral Fallon's, intellect, strategic vision and military attributes are commendable.
His personal diplomacy and ideaology did not mesh with the bare knuckle politics of the Bush/Cheney Administration, which very well, coincidentally, may have been his undoing. He was elevated to this position so that, "a fresh pair of eyes", can have a clean slate. Well that fresh pair of eyes, did not get the benefit of the doubt and, thus far we are caught up in quagmire with no forseeable end insight! Placing a Leiutenant General (Dempsey), in Command of 4-Star CENTCOM, billet when you actually have a 4-Star in the field (Patreus) reduces him to no more than a figure head.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, Admiral William "Fox" Fallon, United States Navy, Thank You and your wife, for the 40 plus years of military service, to the United States of America.

[robert]

Adm. Fallon: another Decent American opressed by an undecent !foreign!
occupied executive power.

[Wayne]

My God,
How many outstanding Generals, Admirals and other great military leaders and personal have left under this stupid admin. These increditable people don't grow on trees. How many years will it take to our military to regain the experence, brain power and class we have lost. I beleive George Washington warned us that if the armed forces were mistreated, overused & deceived. Were will the futher military leaders & fighters come from!