FALLON HERO

Admiral William "Fox" Fallon: intelligent military.

Demise of a man who spoke his mind

Why would America's most senior military commander in the most volatile part of the world suddenly resign - well before his tour was over?

• In an Esquire article, titled The Man Between War and Peace, Admiral William "Fox" Fallon hardly comes across as a cheerleader of the Bush administration's policies in the region.
• In comments to Al-Jazeera (not the White House's favourite television station) last autumn, he said: "This constant drumbeat of conflict... is not helpful and not useful."
• Last September, the Washington Post reported sources saying that Adm Fallon believed the surge in Iraq "was not working".
• This February, the New York Times reported that Adm Fallon had spoken in favour of a "resumption" of US troop withdrawals in Iraq

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates claimed that their "differences" were more about "misperception" than reality or substance but was probably being more frank when he dismissed as "ridiculous" the suggestion in Esquire that Fallon's early departure would signal the build-up to war in Iran.

President George W Bush is a man who values loyalty above all else.
Admiral William "Fox" Fallon is a military man, apt to speak his mind.

Profile: William Fallon

As head of the US Central Command (CentCom), Adm Fallon oversaw US strategy in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. The 63-year-old admiral, known as Fox - his call sign when he was a Navy fighter pilot - is highly regarded as an astute commander.