US:ADMIRAL WILLIAM Fallon, head of US Central Command, will step down on March 31st, because of perceived differences on policy with the Bush administration, defence secretary Robert Gates said yesterday.
Admiral Fallon (63) assumed the post a year ago as the commander of all US forces in the Middle East, with responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He informed Mr Gates of his decision yesterday.
"Admiral Fallon reached this difficult decision entirely on his own," Mr Gates said. "I believe it was the right thing to do, even though I do not believe there are in fact significant differences between his views and administration policy."
The admiral's resignation follows publication of an article in the current issue of Esquire that portrayed him as an ardent opponent within the administration of war with Iran.
"He is the rarest of creatures in the Bush universe: the good cop on Iran, and a man of strategic brilliance," the Esquire article said. Admiral Fallon had created tensions with the White House, it said, by opposing the administration's Iran rhetoric and cited well-placed observers as saying "it will come as no surprise if Fallon is relieved of his command before his time is up next spring, maybe as early as this summer, in favour of a commander the White House considers to be more pliable."
Army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, the deputy commander of Central Command, will serve as acting commander once Admiral Fallon steps down, Mr Gates said.
"Admiral Fallon will be difficult to replace," Mr Gates said. "He is enormously talented." He said he didn't believe there was disagreement on US policy between the admiral and others in the administration.