http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200803/20080312791667.html
美中指部司令請辭 民主黨評專家意見遭打擊
法新社╱鄭詩韻 2008-03-12 12:20
（法新社華盛頓十一日電）負責中東軍務的美軍中央指揮部司令法龍上將今天表示，有關他在伊朗事務上與美國總統布希理念不合的報導已導致「分散焦點」，因此他已遞出辭呈。
國防部長蓋茨指出，他已「勉為其難且遺憾地」接受法龍的辭呈，並表示法龍與政府在伊朗事務上意見不合是「認知錯誤」。
布希在聲明中表示，法龍「以榮譽、決心與奉獻報效國家」，讚揚法龍四十多年的服務，但未提及引發法龍下台的「老爺」雜誌報導。
不過這位美軍中央指揮部司令突然離職，引來民主黨領袖大肆抨擊，他們認為，法龍因直言被迫下台。
參議院多數黨領袖瑞德說，這是「獨立、坦率與專家公開發表看法不受政府歡迎的又一例」。
蓋茨說，法龍與行政部門對伊朗問題的看法並無明顯差異。被問到對老爺雜誌所謂法龍去職顯示美國準備與伊朗開戰有何看法時，蓋茨說，「那是無稽之談」。
老爺雜誌撰述巴奈特在介紹法龍的文章裡說，法龍是「介於戰爭與和平之間的人」，稱許他去年強烈反對白宮再掀起戰爭，緩和與伊朗的緊張關係。
這篇文章指出：「知名觀察家現在會說，如果法龍在明年春天任期屆滿前被解除司令職位，也不令人意外，最早或許會在今年夏天，才能讓白宮認為更聽話的指揮官上任。」
「如果那種情況發生，或許足以代表總統與副總統希望年底前對伊朗採取軍事行動，不想要一名指揮官成為拌腳石。」
法龍在聲明中說：「最近暗指我的看法與總統的政策目標沒有交集的媒體報導，已成為重要時刻讓人分散注意力的東西，也阻撓了中央司令部的努力。」
法龍在越戰時曾為戰鬥機飛行員，出任中央指揮部司令前，曾接掌美軍太平洋指揮部司令，他任內著重改善與中國的軍事關係。
他以善謀略著稱，也嫻熟外交事務，因此獲蓋茨拔擢，領導這個美軍捲入兩場戰爭，來自伊朗的挑戰也逐漸升高的地區。
http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/03/11/us_commander_of_middle_east_forces_steps_down/afp/
US commander of Middle East forces steps down
Published: March 11, 2008
The commander of US forces in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, pictured in 2007, is stepping down amid reports he differed with President George W. Bush over Iran, US officials said Tuesday. (AFP)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced he had accepted Fallon's resignation just after the admiral issued a statement saying he had requested permission to retire because of a magazine article that portrayed him as opposed to Bush's policies on Iran.
Bush on Tuesday praised the outgoing admiral Tuesday, despite the apparent rift.
"Admiral William Fallon has served our Nation with great distinction for forty years. He is an outstanding sailor -- and he made history as the first naval officer to serve as commander of Central Command," the US leader said in a statement.
"Admiral Fallon's job has been to help ensure that America's military forces are ready to meet the threats of an often troubled region of the world, and he deserves considerable credit for progress that has been made there, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan," Bush said.
Gates said at a press conference Tuesday that was "a misperception" and there were no significant differences between Fallon's views on Iran, which has defied global calls to rein in its suspect nuclear program, and those of the administration.
Asked about Esquire magazine's contention that Fallon's removal would signal the United States was preparing to go to war with Iran, Gates said: "Well, that's just ridiculous."
In an admiring profile of the admiral, Esquire writer Thomas P.M. Barnett portrayed Fallon as "The Man Between War and Peace," crediting him with calming tensions with Iran last year while bucking a White House move toward war.
"Well-placed observers now say that 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 favor of a commander the White House considers to be more pliable," said the article.
"If that were to happen, it may well mean that the president and vice-president intend to take military action against Iran before the end of this year and don't want a commander standing in their way."
In his statement, Fallon said: "Recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the President's policy objectives have become distraction at a critical time and hamper efforts in the Centcom region."
"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.
Moments later, Gates told a hastily convened news conference at the Pentagon: "I have approved Admiral Fallon's request to retire with reluctance and regret."
He said Fallon made the decision to step down "entirely on his own."
"I believe it was the right thing to do even though I do not believe there are significant differences between his views and the administration's views," he said.
Army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, Fallon's number two at the US Central Command, was named to replace the admiral when he leaves at the end of the month.
© 2008 Agence France-Presse
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