Скачать или смотреть USA: GENERAL RONALD FOGLEMAN ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION

(29 Jul 1997) English/Nat

The US Air Force's top general announced his resignation on Monday, a year before the end of his four-year term.

General Ronald Fogleman's decision was apparently taken in protest against the possible blaming of subordinates for security lapses that led to the death of 19 airmen in a Saudi bombing.

He will be the first Air Force chief of staff to step down voluntarily before his term is up.

In a move that was not entirely unexpected, the US Air Force's top general, Ronald Fogleman, asked for early retirement on Monday.

Months ago, Fogleman had said that he would resign if any Air Force servicemen were held responsible for security lapses that led to the Khobar Towers blast in Saudi Arabia last year.

Defence Secretary William Cohen is due to make that decision this week.

In a statement released by the Air Force, Fogleman said he was acting to "defuse the perceived confrontation" with Defence Secretary William Cohen over the truck bombing.

But he also said there were a variety of reasons for his decision.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Shalikashvili, said he was saddened by his colleague's resignation.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Clearly I'm very saddened to be losing a friend and a colleague like General Fogleman. I understand his decision, and I wish him all the very best."
SUPER CAPTION: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili

Fogleman graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1963. He flew 315 missions in the Vietnam War and is a highly decorated pilot.

But during the past year he was known to be concerned about a Pentagon task force finding which suggested that field commanders had failed to ensure adequate security around the Dhahran compound.

Nineteen US airmen were killed in the bombing.

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