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COMMENTARY Fallon reflects on leaving Pacific By Richard Halloran |
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When Adm. William Fallon turns over the Pacific Command to Adm. Timothy Keating next month, he will leave behind what he says are "a lot of things that are works in progress."
"I leave this job with great reluctance and with no small sense of loss," he said in an interview. He noted in particular the relationships cultivated throughout the Asia-Pacific region in the two years he has commanded U.S. forces from the west coast of North America to the east coast of Africa. He had planned to stay in this assignment for another year.
The admiral goes from the Pacific Command's relatively stable area of responsibility to take charge of Central Command, with headquarters in Tampa, Fla., where he will be responsible for all U.S. forces in the Middle East, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and the Persian Gulf. In that turbulent region, the odds for success may be stacked against him.
Fallon acknowledged the thorny issues that will confront him in his new post, where he plans to travel as much as he did in the Pacific, meeting everyone from heads of government to soldiers who pull triggers. "Those nations have a slew of problems," he said. "There are not so many nations as in Pacific Command, but they have more problems, and problems that are more difficult to deal with."
Among the works in progress the admiral noted:
An intriguing question: In his new assignment, will the admiral, who has visited China three times, seek help from China in Iraq or Afghanistan or in the war on terror? He declined to speculate on specifics. He noted that tensions between China and Taiwan had been reduced and that Pacific Command had been "working with Taiwan to build a credible defense."
In the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean forces have reduced piracy and, so far, prevented a tie-up between pirates and terrorists. "They are doing it," Fallon said, "and we are helping in the background."
Fallon said he had placed renewed emphasis on what military planners call "Phase Zero," which is to engage both friendly nations and potential adversaries in an effort to head off open conflict. "We did this so we would not have to employ the kinetic parts of the plan — not have to shoot 'em up."
This included a strategic review with Japan that led to plans for establishing a headquarters for a U.S. Army corps there and moving 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, a new pivot point for U.S. forces in this region. In addition, submarines and bombers are being based on Guam. A sixth aircraft carrier may be added to the Pacific fleet. A reduction of U.S. troops in South Korea has begun, and Fallon said "there will be additional changes in the future."
The admiral offered a final assessment of Asian and Pacific nations having security arrangements with the U.S. Japan: "Reaffirmed commitment." Singapore: "Wonderful relations." Indonesia: "Renewed relations." India: "New partner." Australia: "Staunch ally."
Fallon said he had sent a team to brief Keating in Colorado, where he heads the Northern Command responsible for U.S. homeland security. Keating has served in the Pacific Command here and led an aircraft carrier group based in Japan. At one time, he commanded the Naval Strike Warfare Center in Nevada, perhaps best known as the site of the Navy's "Top Gun" fighter-pilot competition.
Richard Halloran is a Honolulu-based journalist and former New York Times correspondent in Asia. His column appears weekly in Sunday's Focus section.
