'Get serious,' the admiral says. 'These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd03072008.html


Crushing the Ants
Admiral Fallon and His Empire
By CHRIS FLOYD

There has been quite a buzz in "progressive" circles over the new Esquire article about Admiral William Fallon, head of U.S. Central Command, the military satrapy that covers the entire "arc of crisis" at the heart of the "War on Terror," from east Africa, across the Middle East, and on to the borders of China. Much has been made of Fallon's alleged apostasy from the Bush regime's bellicosity toward Tehran; indeed, the article paints Fallon as the sole bulwark against an American attack on Iran – and hints ominously that the good admiral may be forced out by George W. Bush this summer, clearing the way for one last murderous hurrah by the lame duck president. The general reaction to the article seems to be: God preserve this honorable man, and keep him as our shield and defender against the wicked tyrant.

But this is most curious. For behind the melodramatic framing and gushing hero-worship of the article – written by Thomas Barnett (of whom more later) – we find nothing but a few mild disagreements between Fallon and the White House over certain questions of tactics, timing and presentation in regard to American domination of a vast range of nations and peoples.

Fallon himself has long denied the hearsay evidence that he had declared, upon taking over Central Command, that a war on Iran "isn't going to happen on my watch." And in fact, the article itself depicts Fallon's true attitude toward the idea of an attack on Iran right up front, in his own words. After noting Fallon's concerns about focusing too much on Iran to the exclusion of the other "pots boiling over" in the region, Barnett presses the point and asks: And if it comes to war? Fallon replies with stark, brutal clarity:

"'Get serious,' the admiral says. 'These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them.'"

The article makes clear that Fallon's main concerns about a war with Iran are, as noted, about tactics and timing: Sure, when the time comes – no shuffling on that point – we'll crush these subhumans like the insects they are; but we've already got a lot on our plate at the moment, so why not hold off as long as we can? After all, Fallon is conducting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as overseeing an on-going "regime change" operation in Somalia, where the United States has been aiding Ethiopian invaders with bombing raids, death squads, renditions and missile strikes against Somali civilians – such as the one this week that killed three women and three children.

[gratuitous]

1. Perhaps Adm. Fallon should watch "The Wild Bunch"

So nice to know that our military leaders are such craven little pussies whose philosophical polestar is "might makes right." And if you don't believe in redemptive violence, they'll crush you to show everyone how right they are.

[bushmeister0]

2. Someone doesn't get to that rank arguing with his superiors

Look at Colin Powell, he knew Iraq was a bad idea, he said so, and he got ignored. My God, W. told his good buddy Bandar-Bush about his plans for Iraq before Powell got wind of what was going on. And then, despite all Powell's misplaced loyalty to the administration, they set him up at the UN! Reputation destroyed!

An example like that doesn't go unnoticed by generals who come after him.

Real men want to go to Tehran, and real men always say: "Yes, Mr. president."

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

3. This is precisely the kind of belligerent dehumanization that makes me so damn embarassed,...

,...to be an American!

GROSS!! :puke: