Prince Harry going to fight in Iraq?

[FlamingLonghorn]

No... but he wants to, specific threats would endanger him and his fellow troops... I say good on him for serving his country. In the US this hasn't really received that much coverage, I honestly didn't even know he was in the military...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...266073,00.html

[CaptainCrunch]

I was reading this the other day, from what I understand he's commanding a tank platoon over there.

I can just imagine the security nightmare that they must be going through to keep him safe, but good on him for doing his duty.

[Azure]

I've been following this pretty closely since I first heard about it.

We really don't know the details, so we don't know the specific danger he and his men would be in...but is it fair to the men Harry is with, that people will specifically target them?

But like you said, good on him for serving his country. He is a good man.

[ken0042]

I didn't really think it was a question any more. Fact of the matter is his superiors said it isn't worth the risk. What I saw on the news the other day; his commander said that they always look at the options and the risks, and this case wasn't worth the additional risk.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Azure

I've been following this pretty closely since I first heard about it.

We really don't know the details, so we don't know the specific danger he and his men would be in...but is it fair to the men Harry is with, that people will specifically target them?

But like you said, good on him for serving his country. He is a good man.

I always used to hate it when a senior commander used to show up in the field because the tensions just increased because you knew that he was a priority 1 target.

I remember I got straight hell for tearing a colonels rank markings off in the field because he didn't understand that he would be a focus point for every sniper bullet and mortar round possible. But there he was with his stupid stripes and his ironed fatigues.

You almost at times wanted to plug them yourself.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I've been reading about this too, and it's good to see that he is so commited to his country (though it most likely is a commitment to the men he is serving with).

I'm sure they all would say they want him to come along, but the reality is that it would put all of them in an unnecessarily elevated level of danger, and Harry's C.O. would be irrespoinsible to send him even if it is what he wants.
Funny, that usually being famous/rich would be a great excuse to keep you out of the military if you didn't want to do it, but in this case, it's keeping him from serving even though he really does want to.

[Bobblehead]

I though he was NOT going over.

Initially, there was discussions about the British presence, and questioning of Harry would go over.

Then there were murmorings that he would not be allowed to go (but nothing official).

Then Harry said that if he was not allowed to go with teh rest of his unit than he may quit.

So then it was reported that he would be going over.

Now this latest report says the risks to him, as well as unit would be too great if he went over, and Harry has said he is disappointed but understands.

In a statement, Clarence House admitted that the Prince was "very disappointed" that he would not be going with his squadron in the Household Cavalry.

Edit: man, my typing must be really slow!

[FlamesAddiction]

He says he wanted to go, but deep down he must have known that they would not let him. It makes it a little easier to volunteer knowing that it won't happen anyway.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

He says he wanted to go, but deep down he must have known that they would not let him. It makes it a little easier to volunteer knowing that it won't happen anyway.

He was pretty insistant on going and doing his duty, and I think that he thought that his status as a member of the royals might allow him to overcome the debate on not sending him.

[Table 5]

I wonder what the Bush twins are doing to serve their country.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I wonder what the Bush twins are doing to serve their country.

I'll ask them but they're under hiding under my desk

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

He was pretty insistant on going and doing his duty, and I think that he thought that his status as a member of the royals might allow him to overcome the debate on not sending him.

He's obviously keen to go . . . . just as John McCain's son will be deployed to Iraq as a Marine shortly . . . . but, unlike a normal soldier or officer, he would be an obvious and highly symbolic health hazard to any comrade within 50 feet of him at any time.

You can see the counterargument as protecting the lives of his colleagues.

If he were a helicopter pilot like his uncle was in the Falklands, he likely would have been permitted to go.

Incidentally, if you want to read an alternative history series and learn of the soldierly exploits of a gung-ho Prince Harry, a sidebar character, then John Birmingham's acclaimed "Weapons of Choice," "Designated Targets," and "Final Impact" are interesting and entertaining.

http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/au...authorid=41792

Cowperson

[FlamingLonghorn]

And now he's banned from partying while his unit is in Iraq...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2007220777,00.html

[Daradon]

I think he is doing the right thing and a brave thing. Good on him.

That said, I can see why the country might want to scale him back. It sucks, but it could make his (battalion mates?) are bigger casualty threat.

I don't know too much about that, I don't even know if the enemy wuld know where he's serving. If not, god on him let him go. If so, I can see the risk.

[FireFly]

Thought I'd resurrect this bad boy... While he's not in Iraq, apparently he's training at CFB Suffield. But it's under lock down so you can't actually confirm that. Saw it on Global this morning.

[lewdvig]

OT: But I wish we would bring our troops back. I hate seeing them come back in boxes. We should have a defence only foreign policy.

Afghanistan is a complete waste of time and lost cause. Our people should not die for a pipeline right of way.

The Taliban will wait forever, and when we leave they will take over again.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by lewdvig

OT: But I wish we would bring our troops back. I hate seeing them come back in boxes. We should have a defence only foreign policy.

Afghanistan is a complete waste of time and lost cause. Our people should not die for a pipeline right of way.

The Taliban will wait forever, and when we leave they will take over again.

The US had an isolationist policy at the beginning of WWII... that turned out well for them, don't you think?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by FireFly

The US had an isolationist policy at the beginning of WWII... that turned out well for them, don't you think?

Id say it turned out rather well for not only them but the whole world.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by FireFly

The US had an isolationist policy at the beginning of WWII... that turned out well for them, don't you think?

I support the war but throwing out arguements like those only make yourself look foolish... the Swiss have had quite the isolationist policy for hundreds of years... they are the safest country in the world according to a recent survey. We are not there because of a pipeline we are there because of September 11th (something that according to some wouldn't happen if the United States was more isolationist in their policies) and the Taliban's refusal to give up Osama who was said to be hiding there at the time.

[jolinar of malkshor]

There are reports that Harry is training in Suffield right now.