US COMMANDER RELIEVED OF DUTY

sky news ^ | 04/04/2003 | sky news

[MIKEinGA]

A US commander who was leading a push by marines through southern Iraq towards Baghdad has been relieved of his post.

No reason has been given for the decision to relieve Colonel Joe Dowdy, commander of the Marines First Regimental Combat Team, Public Affairs Officer Steven Schweitzer said.

"He was responsible for the regiment until three hours ago," Schweitzer said.

More follows...

Last Updated: 15:46 UK, Friday April 04, 2003

[Squantos]

What was the Colonels name that ordered his troops to take a knee on TV yesterday to defuse the near riot while trying to inspect a mosque ?

[tracer]

"I can't help but notice he's from Arkansas. What goes down there?"

Monica??

[ladtx]

....he would make sure he blew down my GP small as he came in from a run...

Ah yes, I remember the days, gritty chow and sand in the sleeping bag. I really miss it.< /sarcasm>

[Freedom2specul8]

After reading that Cyanide & Mustard Agents were Found in Euphrates River, I hope they change certain procedures..

[ken5050]

That couldn't be it.....that was a very smart move...difused a potential bad situation....whoevber gave that order has a serious case of the smarts...

[wtc911]

Geraldo was not an embed. He was essentially freelancing or roaming for Fox.

[Squantos]

Agree....100% ! Just wondering what that Colonels name was....

[pbear8]

What was the Colonels name that ordered his troops to take a knee on TV yesterday to defuse the near riot while trying to inspect a mosque ?

I don't know his name but I saw the video and thought he did an amazing job defusing the situation. I was even impressed with some of the Imams trying to corral their people. Could have turned out very badly.

[ought-six]

"What the troops wlll hear ...
'Colonel Dowty just had a heart attack, our new commander is ...'

That's the way it's done, folks."

Actually, what they will say is: "Colonel so-and-so has been reassigned to (someplace, but usually a rear echelon posting). Your new commander is Colonel this-and-that. That is all." At least, that's the way they did it when I was in the Air Force, some thirty-odd years ago.

[Minty]

You are right, things happen. After all they are the ones under such stress and at peril. On the other hand every one starts without experience, but it is that in this case it costs lives. These kids are so much in my heart. But their officers are too. I will be praying for this officer since this has to be hard on him too, maybe even more for the stigma it will bring on him.

Thanks for your input it helps.

[ken5050]

Was the 1RCT involved in the POW rescue mission? That would be really bizarro?

[ken5050]

He forgot to pay his final bill at the O club before shipping out...that's the one thing they won't tolerate....

[BaghdadBarney]

"I bet he's the whiner who told a reporter that Rummy was running a cheap war. I believe that's insubordination at the very least."

From the New York Times, April 1, 2003....

V CORPS HEADQUARTERS, near the Kuwait-Iraq border, March 31 — Long-simmering tensions between Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Army commanders have erupted in a series of complaints from officers on the Iraqi battlefield that the Pentagon has not sent enough troops to wage the war as they want to fight it.

Here today, raw nerves were obvious as officers compared Mr. Rumsfeld to Robert S. McNamara, an architect of the Vietnam War who failed to grasp the political and military realities of Vietnam.

One colonel, who spoke on the condition that his name be withheld, was among the officers criticizing decisions to limit initial deployments of troops to the region. "He wanted to fight this war on the cheap," the colonel said. "He got what he wanted."

The angry remarks from the battlefield opened with comments made last Thursday — and widely publicized Friday — by Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace, the V Corps commander, who said the military faced the likelihood of a longer war than many strategists had anticipated.

[XJarhead]

I don't know his name but I saw the video and thought he did an amazing job defusing the situation. I was even impressed with some of the Imams trying to corral their people. Could have turned out very badly.

I didn't see it, but it sounds like that colonel really used his head. He remembered what the mission is, and did the best thing to help accomplish that.

[XJarhead]

What the troops wlll hear ... 'Colonel Dowty just had a heart attack, our new commander is ...'

The average Lance Coolie probably won't hear anything about it at all.

[fightinJAG]

Prayer is what really helps. I'm sure all our troops appreciate your faithfulness. I join you in praying.

[pbear8]

The video shows a menacing crowd not wanting the soldiers to enter the mosque. The guys backed down slowly while the Imams tried to move their people back. When there was a small separation the Col commanded everyone to kneel on one knee, point their weapons to the ground and "SMILE".

It worked.

The report was from a British embed, perhaps SKY news I don't remember.

[browardchad]

fullmoon is a bit-less-than obvious troll, but definitely a troll. From another thread today, about CNN stating that powder found was not WMD:

"Boy, we had better find some or plant some or we have a real mess explaining this thing."

Signed up 3/23/03.

[OldCorps]

If the regimental commander was suspected of dereliction of duty, the higher commander would have appointed at least a full colonel, perhaps even a BG to conduct the investigation, not two LTCs as reported.

That's how things are done (in the Army at least, I'm sure the USMC would do the same).

Thus, I suspect the relief is for different reasons.

[Countyline]

You are right on ... it is just distraction. It is difficult not to want the details. Still It is to no purpose to have them.