U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge

[babylonsister]

U.S.-IRAQ: Fallon Derided Petraeus, Opposed the Surge
By Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Sep 12 (IPS) - In sharp contrast to the lionisation of Gen. David Petraeus by members of the U.S. Congress during his testimony this week, Petraeus's superior, Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command (CENTCOM), derided Petraeus as a sycophant during their first meeting in Baghdad last March, according to Pentagon sources familiar with reports of the meeting.

Fallon told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing little chickenshit" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources say. That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a superior.

That extraordinarily contentious start of Fallon's mission to Baghdad led to more meetings marked by acute tension between the two commanders. Fallon went on develop his own alternative to Petraeus's recommendation for continued high levels of U.S. troops in Iraq during the summer.

The enmity between the two commanders became public knowledge when the Washington Post reported Sep. 9 on intense conflict within the administration over Iraq. The story quoted a senior official as saying that referring to "bad relations" between them is "the understatement of the century".

Fallon's derision toward Petraeus reflected both the CENTCOM commander's personal distaste for Petraeus's style of operating and their fundamental policy differences over Iraq, according to the sources.

more...

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235

[rateyes]

1. What? Someone called the hero, Petraeus,

an "ass kissing little chickenshit," which is a lot worse than "Betray Us," and no outrage from the Republicans? No amendments to the Defense Appropriations bill condemning that remark?

Do tell! :sarcasm:

:kick: & R

[babylonsister]

3. Yes, where is their outrage? nt

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. That guy is an insult to our military!

He is irritating our military!!

[Jim__]

2. Fallon has also said there will be no attack on Iran on his watch.

Here:

Admiral William Fallon, then President George W. Bush’s nominee to head the Central Command (CENTCOM), expressed strong opposition in February to an administration plan to increase the number of carrier strike groups in the Persian Gulf from two to three and vowed privately there would be no war against Iran as long as he was chief of CENTCOM.

Sounds like a good man.

[Poiuyt]

5. I demand a Senate resolution condemning Adm Fallon