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"Two months later, Maj. Gen. Richard F. Natonski, Pendleton's commanding officer, summoned Kimber to his office and relieved him of command. The reason Kimber was given was that his subordinates had used profanity and criticized the Iraqi security forces they were training during interviews with Britain's Sky News TV. The troops also violated Marine policy by appearing on screen without their protective eyewear."

This reads like a Monty Python parody. Also, if true, it sounds very much like the USMC copy catting some of the worst examples of bureaucratic stupidity and deliciousness from the Army. The conflation of pomposity and silliness in the supposed reasons for relieving an officer (and destroying his career) are just ludicrous and belie some sort of shifty hidden agenda. If this is an accurate rendition of what happened my guess would be the division CG and his staff were panicked that 'revelations' about Haditha were going to hit and to try and appease the gods of higher headquarters some heads were immediately needing to role. The Captain happened to be in the next town over from Haditha so his head was added to the sacrifice count just for good measure and to make the numbers look more impressive. In this fashion the division commander could be seen to be 'taking decisive action' and not tolerating any 'abusive or disrespectful conduct towards the Iraqi people'.

What many people do not realize or forget, is that while the concern of the lower ranks of the military is with their military specialities (their assigned duties and jobs), the higher one goes in rank, particularly in the commissioned officer ranks, the more politics plays a role.

It's a logical and inevitable consequence of any military whose bosses are civilian politicians.

The grunts fight. The brass polishes their relations with their political (appointed generally) bosses.

Looks lijke the good Gen has not been assigned to very many combat leadership positions in his career

http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/DIV/cobio.asp

Lots of 'meals on wheels" missions, lots of training and admin stuff, and 'lil Bill was on watch when he was promoted.....

SO far, no surprises.