The Man Who Knew Too Little (and will be confirmed anyway) [View All]

These are excerpts from the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Admiral William J. Fallon to replace General John Abizaid as the leader of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The hearing took place on January 30, 2007.

CENTCOM has jurisdiction over American military operations in the Middle East, East Africa, and Central Asia. If Adm. Fallon is confirmed, Iraq will be his home repair project. Yet Adm. Fallon, the man nominated to command CENTCOM and therefore presumed to be the most qualified person for the job, appears uninformed, is unable to answer questions, hasn’t met any of the Iraqi leaders, and seems to be shockingly unprepared for his own confirmation hearing. At one point, he tells Sen. Lindsey Graham: “I don’t know what winning is.” How encouraging.

I am going to shut up and let the record speak for itself. The full transcript is on the USPACOM Speeches and Transcripts Web page. Here’s the link: http://www.pacom.mil/speeches/sst2007/070130-fallon-sasc-centcom.shtml.

The first speaker is Sen. Carl Levin (D-MICH), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who asks Adm. Fallon about Gen. Abizaid’s comment that sending more Americans to Iraq discourages Iraqis from taking more responsibility. Subsequent speakers include Sen. John McCain (R-ARIZ), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-OKLA), Sen. Elizabeth Dole, (R-N.C.), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FLA), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-ALA).

Sen. Levin: “Have you spoken with General Abizaid?”
Adm. Fallon: “I've spoken with General Abizaid, but not on this subject.”
Sen. Levin: “Do you agree with his testimony on that subject?”
Adm. Fallon: “Well, I don't know, Senator.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a different question from Sen. Levin: “Senator, I have not gotten into the detail of these plans.”

Sen. McCain: “What's your degree of confidence that the Iraqi government and military are up to the task that we are now embarking on in this new strategy?”
Adm. Fallon: “Critical question, particularly in the political arena, and I don't have an assessment of that. I have not personally met any of the leadership, civilian political leadership in Iraq.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Clinton: “ Senator, I do not know the details of that.”
Adm. Fallon, responding to a different question from Sen. Clinton: “Senator, very interesting area. Wouldn't presume to dive too deeply into this pool yet, because I don't know enough detail.”

Sen. Reed: “How many real extra bodies are going out to accompany these 20,000 extra troops from civilian agencies?”
Adm. Fallon: “Senator, I don't know.”
Sen. Reed: “Isn't that important for you to know, sir?”
Adm. Fallon: “I intend to find out.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Inhofe: “I don't have a fair enough assessment to give you an honest answer.”
Sen. Inhofe: “Do you have any outside impression as to whether you think that the prime minister is going to change his behavior from the past?”
Adm. Fallon: “Don't know, Senator. Haven't met him. Look forward to it.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Dole: “Senator, to be honest, I don't have the detail.”

Sen. Kennedy: “Have you been asked to update war plans for Iran?”
Adm. Fallon: “No, sir. And, in fact, I'm not familiar with any of the CENTCOM plans.”

Sen. Thune: “Do you think that the Navy can maintain a two-carrier presence in the region indefinitely without overstretching the Navy?”
Adm. Fallon: “Well, I don't know. I think I'd go back to have the CNO field that question.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Martinez: “Senator, I don't have any knowledge of it, but I'd be happy to take a look at it, if confirmed.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Graham: “I don't know winning is.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a question from Sen. Chambliss: “Senator, I'm anxious to also get into this and find out the details. I don't have the appreciation I'd like for this.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to a different question from Sen. McCaskill: “Well, Senator, I'm not familiar with the details of this issue.”

Adm. Fallon, again responding to a question from Sen. McCaskill: “I don't think I can answer that question honestly without a little bit of research.”

Adm. Fallon, responding to Sen. Sessions: “Yes, sir. There's lots of bad and lots of blame to spread around.”

(Finally, a point on which we agree.)