Free Republic

GROTON, Conn. -- The commander of a U.S. nuclear submarine that collided with a Turkish cargo ship in the Persian Gulf this month was relieved of command Wednesday and two other officers were reassigned, the Navy said. Cmdr. Steven M. Oxholm put the submarine in a hazardous situation, a Navy investigation found, and he received a letter of reprimand. The Groton-based USS Philadelphia was traveling on the surface of the Gulf on Sept. 5 when it slammed into the bulk carrier M/V Yaso Aysen. Citing a lack of confidence in Oxholm's ability to command, Rear Adm. John Bird relieved him...

DEIR Al-BALAH, Gaza Strip - Behind a once lush expanse of date palm and carnation farms, Palestinian farmer Mohammed Bashir climbed onto his roof Thursday to witness the forcible removal of Jewish settlers from Kfar Darom. Like dozens of his neighbors in this central Gaza town, he watched with mixed emotions as Israeli riot police scuffled with settlers barricaded in a synagogue. He feels relief because for the first time in years, it is safe for the 42-year-old farmer to be on the roof of his home just 100 yards from the hard-line settlement. "I'm standing here without any fear...

<p>The Marine Corps relieved one of its top commanders in Iraq on Friday, an extremely unusual action, especially for a unit engaged in combat.</p> <p>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 have been used to pin down Republican Guard units in the city of Kut while the other two major units, the 5th and 7th Marines, crossed the Tigris River on Thursday and raced toward Baghdad. Those units encountered heavy ground fighting Friday on the outskirts of the capital and had at least three M1 tanks disabled by Iraqi fire.</p>

The USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group commander, Rear Adm. Steven Kunkle, was relieved of command Thursday, accused of an “inappropriate relationship” with a female officer. Citing “a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Robert Willard took the action following an Article 15 hearing Thursday at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, said Cmdr. Matt Brown, a 7th Fleet spokesman. He added that Kunkle received a punitive letter of reprimand. The Kitty Hawk Battle Group received orders Feb. 7 to head to the Central Command area of responsibility and is traveling there, Brown said. “The Kitty...