"The bedrock of America’s greatest advances—the foundation of what we know today are the defining values of our country—was formed not by cheering on things as people saw them and as they were, but by taking them on and demanding change."

"So here today we must insist again that fidelity, honor, and love of country and untrammeled debate and open dissent take place. At no time is that truer than in the midst of a war rooted in deceit and justified by continuing deception."

"Dissent" is my favorite John Kerry speech. It is uniquely American, and speaks to the foundations of our democracy. I really don't think it's George Bush's favorite, though. Actually, he probably doesn't have a favorite John Kerry speech, if you can believe that.

Which brings me to my point.

Admiral William "Fox" Fallon stepped down as head of U.S. Central Command yesterday, effective the end of the month. Why, you might ask, would a 40 year veteran resign from such an important post? The Admiral explains:

"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.''

He left because of perceived differences with Bush's strategy on Iran. So even the perception of dissent is enough to warrant the pink slip from this administration.

In an Esquire interview, the magazine called Fallon " ... the rarest of creatures in the Bush universe: the good cop on Iran, and a man of strategic brilliance." Well, that's enough of a disconnect right there. No one would accuse the Bush administration of 'strategic brilliance'. But did he leave, as Defense Secretary Gates stated, of his own accord, or was he pushed out? The Bush administration is not known as a big fan of dissent. As the Esquire article concludes, "... time will tell whether being reasonable will cost Admiral William Fallon his command." It didn't take long.

Senator John Kerry made the following statement today about the retirement of Admiral William Fallon. Kerry pressed Congress to pose tough questions about whether Fallon was dismissed for voicing dissent against a rush to war with Iran.

“Congress needs to determine immediately whether Admiral Fallon’s resignation is another example of truth tellers being forced to the sidelines in the Bush Administration. His departure must not clear the way for a rush to war with Iran.

Admiral Fallon has been a voice of common sense and truth in an Administration where candor has been in tragically short supply. He was correct in warning that we diverted resources from Afghanistan to fight a war of choice in Iraq, and correct in warning of the risks of a rush to war with Iran.

Over these last seven Bush years, we’ve seen those who toe the company line get rewarded and those who speak inconvenient truths get retired. We know that George Tenet got the Medal of Freedom for “slam dunk” evidence on non-existent WMD’s and General Shinseki got retired for telling the truth about the troop levels needed in Iraq.

The looming question now is whether the cost of Admiral Fallon’s candor was his job.”