US Mid-East commander steps down
BBC - Tuesday, 11 March 2008

The commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan,
Admiral William Fallon, is to retire from his post early.

He cited the "embarrassing situation and public perception of differences between my views and
administration policy" as the reason for retiring.

He was the subject of a recent article by Esquire magazine, which said he was opposed to the use
of force against Iran over its nuclear programme.

The 63-year-old admiral became head of the US Central Command a year ago.

'No policy differences'

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The Esquire article suggested Adm Fallon was standing up to a president supposedly
contemplating war with Iran.

He is described in the article as "the strongest man standing between the Bush Administration
and a war with Iran".

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Adm Fallon's resignation is richly suggestive of discord at the top between the military and
the White House, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington.

His comments, such as those to al Jazeera TV last year that "I expect there will be no war",
incurred the wrath of the Bush administration, says our correspondent.

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Adm Fallon became head of US Central Command in March 2007

BBC