US commander quits over Iran 'disagreements'

WASHINGTON: For Admiral William J. Fallon, the perception of a disagreement with US President George W. Bush's policies on Iran rather than an actual rift was reason enough to step down as the commander of US forces in the Middle East.

"Recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the president's policy objectives have become a distraction at a critical time and hamper efforts in the Centcom region," Fallon said in a statement on Tuesday in which he announced his resignation as head of US Central Command, arguably the most important in the US military.

An Esquire magazine article published last week described Fallon, 63, as being at odds with a president eager to go to war with Iran. Titled "The Man Between War and Peace," the article presented Fallon as a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.