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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

just listen. been going for 20mins. now.

Reprinted from NewsMax.com 'Too-slow' Marine Commander RelievedNewsMax.comSunday, April 6, 2003 "I'm afraid this could mean more casualties," one enlisted man told the L.A. Times embedded reporter, after hearing that Maj. Gen. James Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division had relieved and replaced his regimental commander for reportedly being too slow in his drive on Baghdad. Col. Joe W. Dowdy, who had been commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, was reassigned Friday to another position, being replaced by Col. John Toolan, the 1st Marine Division's operations officer. Toolan hurried to the front and immediately took charge of a speeded-up drive...

<p>ASHINGTON -- The Marine Corps relieved one of its top commanders in Iraq yesterday, an extremely unusual action, especially for a unit engaged in combat.</p> <p>Colonel Joe W. Dowdy has been the officer in charge of the First Marine Regiment, one of the three major Marine Corps ground units fighting toward Baghdad. His regiment is reported to have been used to pin down Republican Guard units in the city of Kut while the other two major units, the Fifth and Seventh Marines, crossed the Tigris River on Thursday and raced toward Baghdad. Those units encountered heavy ground fighting yesterday on the outskirts of the capital and had at least three M1 tanks disabled by Iraqi fire.</p>

Key Marine Commander Is Removed No Explanation Given for Decision Col. Joe W. Dowdy has been removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, which is engaged in combat in Iraq. By Thomas E. Ricks Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 5, 2003; Page A01 The Marine Corps relieved one of its top commanders in Iraq yesterday, an extremely unusual action, especially for a unit engaged in combat. Col. Joe W. Dowdy has been the officer in charge of the 1st Marine Regiment, one of the three major Marine Corps ground units fighting toward Baghdad. His regiment is reported to...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. military officials have taken the unusual step of removing a Marine unit's commander in the midst of the fighting in Iraq.</p> <p>Col. Joe W. Dowdy was removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, one of the Marine units approaching Baghdad from the southeast. The unit has about 5,000 troops.</p>

A US commander who led a fierce push by Marines through southern Iraq towards Baghdad has been relieved of his post, a US military spokesman said. The spokesman did not give any reasons for the move, AFP news agency reported. The officer was named as Colonel Joe Dowdy, commander of >the Marines First Regimental Combat Team 1. Dowdy was in command of 5,000 men and women and had led the regiment's advance through southern and central Iraq, including a bloody passage through the Euphrates River town of Nasiriyah. He was described as a popular commander who kept casualties down in...