I'm with Atrios. Ruh Roh. Why is it the sane ones resign?

WASHINGTON - Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military activity in the Middle East, abruptly stepped down Tuesday, weeks after telling a magazine reporter that he was the key person stopping an overzealous Bush administration from going to war with Iran.

Fallon's departure will be effective March 31. Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who once oversaw the training of Iraqi security, will fill the key post until a permanent replacement is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Fallon's departure at a hastily gathered news conference, but it was not immediately clear if Gates had asked for his resignation. Gates said only that Fallon had asked him if he could retire, and Gates said he accepted the request because it was "the right thing to do." Both Gates and Fallon, 62, referred to the Esquire magazine piece.