As soon as Adm. Fallon's resignation become effective, he needs to be brought before either the House or the Senate Armed Services Committee. Preferably, he should be brought before both committees.
His "resignation" today offers tangible evidence that they Cheneyites have gained the upper hand in the Iran debate. There may not be much time left to stop what would likely be the most disastrous public policy decision in American history. Other than the Cong Dems, it is diffcult to see at this point what institutional opposition remains to this lunacy.
Our country is currently at the brink of a catastrophe the likes of which no one under the age of 75 can remember. Our financial system is on the verge of meltdown. Jerome's $100/bbl oil has become a reality. We're saddling our kids w/ debts that can never be paid. Our armed forces are stretched to the breaking point, and their supply lines in Iraq traverse hundreds of miles of Shia-contolled territory.
Under these circumstances, the very idea of attacking Iran is the height of madness. It's on par w/ Hitler choosing to engage in a 2 front war. It's on par w/ a bunch of inbred sclerotic monarchies stumbling into a continent-wide conflict in 1914. It would take Barbara Tuchman to recount this madness.
Even though the Dems controlled the Senate in 2002, they did nothing to try to stop W's rush to war w/ Iraq. Even though the Dems nominally control the Senate and literally control the House now, they've done nothing to date to try to stop W's desires to bomb Iran. Fallon gives them a golden opportunity to do so.
In addition to exploring his views on Iran, the Dems could ask him about the culture of conformity in this WH. The squelching of dissent and the quashing of conflicting views is dangerous at any time, but it has become especially toxic in the past 8 years. Starting w/ the sacking of Shinseki, the rigid adherence to perceived wisdom has led to disastrous results.
The Dems have, thus far, largely failed to use the tools that they acquired as a result of their 2006 victories. They now have the chance to give an honest to a fault commander of 41 years' experience a national platform. They cannot afford to blow that chance.