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

[fightinJAG]

I suppose you think the USMC is engaging in a pirahna-fest for relieving "one of their own" from command.

You go to DU.

We're fair and BALANCED here. If it's wrong, it's wrong. Failing to follow river-crossing SOPs if---IF--there is no operational necessity for deviation recklessly endangers "one of our own," namely our troops.

[Mo1]

What was the name of the Lt. Col. who was feeding the MSNBC reporter (Bob Arnut (no-not Arnett) the other night?

Could that be the same guy?

[Happy2BMe]

You are raping the man before you even know the infraction, severity, who was harmed, who was killed, what the crime was.

And you were in JAG!?

[thinktwice]

What the troops wlll hear ...

"Colonel Dowty just had a heart attack, our new commander is ..."

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

[MeekOneGOP]

bttt . . .

[OldFriend]

Not watching too much TV but have come to the conclusion that ALL live from the field reports should be on tape delay.

Caught a minute of Koppel the other day and I am certain his report was on delay because he gave his exact location in miles from Baghdad and the numeral was scrambled.

[Magnolia]

they should send him somewhere that he can't do any harm.

...waaaaaay down under...and I don't mean Australia!

[floriduh voter]

The alleged pregnant woman blown up at the checkpoint: First, I doubt that she was preggers and second, why did we lose people at the checkpoint over that? I would not want to be working a checkpoint.

Now saddam's info ministry says they are going to turn the airport into a graveyard. I hope it's just bs but you never know with this enemy.

[IYAS9YAS]

Most certainly...I was on LR AFB for only a day and saw more "I didn't vote for the dope from Hope" bumper stickers than I could count, and this was 1993.

[RooRoobird14]

If only we could get rid of Clymer senators as quickly!!!!t

[expatpat]

Political science major, too.

[Salvation]

Was his the battalion that was allowing personnel to take off some of their chem suits? I believe the shirt part?

[OldCorps]

bump to monitor

i'd be interested to learn the reason for which he was relieved.

[ladtx]

What the troops wlll hear ...

"Colonel Dowty just had a heart attack, our new commander is ..."

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

Not always. We had a company commander (Major) relieved and everyone knew exactly why.

[mabelkitty]

My husband picked up on this right away. I didn't get it at the time, but I bet you and he are rigth.

Or, as hubby said, he has issue with the tank going over the bridge after the driver was shot. He said no way this happened.

Or, the Marines who were killed attempting to rescue the 507th.

[freedomlover]

I'm waiting for his news conference where he says he wanted to take time out to be with his family.

[Sloth]

Back then, another popular bumper sticker in AR was "CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT / Anything to get him out of Arkansas"

[Happy2BMe]

"The alleged pregnant woman blown up at the checkpoint: First, I doubt that she was preggers and second, why did we lose people at the checkpoint over that? I would not want to be working a checkpoint."

This one was scrubbed clean.

The enemy forced these women onto the vehicle being used to blow the checkpoint. The attackers were essentially kidnapping the women and forcing them under duress to perform a suicide mission. In fact, the entire effort on the part of the enemy was a suicide mission - the attacker's families were being held under threat of death if the attackers did NOT attempt to blow the check point.

This occurred just days after another U.S. checkpoint was attacked resulting in multiple American deaths.

More than ample fair warning was given. The women died at the hands of their own countrymen. Our servicemen were 100% in the Line of Duty.

Let's put that one to rest right now, shall we?

[mabelkitty]

Yeah, it did happen every other day.

And you know what? Most of them weren't disciplined or removed from duty. They stayed on even though they were incompetent.

I'm impressed that the Marine Corp would take out someone it doesn't feel is up to par.

[thinking]

Yes, that is/was the problem.....