Summary (Based on some historical knowledge of the battle and reading articles on it). The Marines 1st Divisiion was supposed to arrive in a synchronized fashion with the ARmy’s 3d Division to focus combat power at a single point on Baghdad at the same time, and at a speed that would ensure the Iraqi command would be in chaos because they couldn’t react to such a rapid advance. Mattis made it clear in mission pre-brief the day before that optempo was THE critical factor, no excuses to his regimental commanders. COL Dowdy halted his regiment due to a strongpoint near Nasiriyah, when he could and should have plowed through the gap, and was relieved of duty in order to make an example of the consequence of failing to follow the commander’s intent.
War is Hell.