Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq

[Alex+R 0]

He can fight. Just not in this war apparently...

well, let's look at it this way. just food for thought, you know? if his unit gets unnecessary attention from the insurgents trying to gain a feather for their hat, would that not affect the morale of the troops he commands? just like you'd probably not want to be the personal secretary for salman rushdie, you know? it's a good idea to be far away from someone who has a death threat on their head.

1. salman rushdie does not have a death threat on his head anymore

2. sounds like the troops he commands are ok with Harry going to war--not arguing for or against his going, just the facts...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Prince is staying away from the battlefield same as the sons and daughters of the elite and leadership of all countries that chose to attack Iraq without cause and due process.

I don't recall the Queen demanding the downfall of Iraq. You'll also note that Soldiers today join the army through choice, there is no draft (yet) they may not want to be there, but it is their job.

Choice to join, but no choice to actually serve. I think ET's point was clear - this is a "privilege" which is only enjoyed (though clearly not in Harry's case) by the elite and advantaged.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The Prince is staying away from the battlefield same as the sons and daughters of the elite and leadership of all countries that chose to attack Iraq without cause and due process.

I don't recall the Queen demanding the downfall of Iraq. You'll also note that Soldiers today join the army through choice, there is no draft (yet) they may not want to be there, but it is their job.

And that has what to do with what I said?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

He can fight. Just not in this war apparently...

well, let's look at it this way. just food for thought, you know? if his unit gets unnecessary attention from the insurgents trying to gain a feather for their hat, would that not affect the morale of the troops he commands? just like you'd probably not want to be the personal secretary for salman rushdie, you know? it's a good idea to be far away from someone who has a death threat on their head.

There's no evidence that any of his fellow soldiers were vehemently against serving alongside him for that reason.

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

He can fight. Just not in this war apparently...

well, let's look at it this way. just food for thought, you know? if his unit gets unnecessary attention from the insurgents trying to gain a feather for their hat, would that not affect the morale of the troops he commands? just like you'd probably not want to be the personal secretary for salman rushdie, you know? it's a good idea to be far away from someone who has a death threat on their head.

1. salman rushdie does not have a death threat on his head anymore

2. sounds like the troops he commands are ok with Harry going to war--not arguing for or against his going, just the facts...

1 - i wonder if everyone agrees with that.

2 - opinions change when you're taking fire

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

He can fight. Just not in this war apparently...

well, let's look at it this way. just food for thought, you know? if his unit gets unnecessary attention from the insurgents trying to gain a feather for their hat, would that not affect the morale of the troops he commands? just like you'd probably not want to be the personal secretary for salman rushdie, you know? it's a good idea to be far away from someone who has a death threat on their head.

There's no evidence that any of his fellow soldiers were vehemently against serving alongside him for that reason.

what, you expect them to go stick their head in the noose by saying they are?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

He can fight. Just not in this war apparently...

well, let's look at it this way. just food for thought, you know? if his unit gets unnecessary attention from the insurgents trying to gain a feather for their hat, would that not affect the morale of the troops he commands? just like you'd probably not want to be the personal secretary for salman rushdie, you know? it's a good idea to be far away from someone who has a death threat on their head.

There's no evidence that any of his fellow soldiers were vehemently against serving alongside him for that reason.

what, you expect them to go stick their head in the noose by saying they are?

Anything the Royals do attracts huge media publicity. If someone were really opposed to serving with him it would likely have shown up in the Sun or Daily Mail before now.

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

Anything the Royals do attracts huge media publicity. If someone were really opposed to serving with him it would likely have shown up in the Sun or Daily Mail before now.

yet doing so makes one the flavor of the month when it comes to duty assignments.

naw, i bet if anyone had reservations about serving with the good prince they'll keep their mouth shut about it.

[no name 1]

There's no evidence that any of his fellow soldiers were vehemently against serving alongside him for that reason.

what, you expect them to go stick their head in the noose by saying they are?

Anything the Royals do attracts huge media publicity. If someone were really opposed to serving with him it would likely have shown up in the Sun or Daily Mail before now.

These people are in the military by choice. If they want to CONTINUE a career in the military you think they'd call up the Sun & put their misgivings out there? Maybe next to Page 3?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

These people are in the military by choice. If they want to CONTINUE a career in the military you think they'd call up the Sun & put their misgivings out there? Maybe next to Page 3?

These things are always leaked especially if there is a buck to be made. And the to-ing and fro-ing over whether or not Harry was going to Iraq featured fairly prominently in the UK media.

In fact the OP article actually represents a U-Turn by the MOD, when only days ago the head of the British Army made this statement.

"The decision has been taken by myself that he will deploy in due course"

Here is the BBC version of the story.

BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said there had been a number of "specific threats", but what the Army was most concerned about was the possibility that Iran would use its security services for an attack on the prince.

Reg Keys - whose son Thomas was killed while on active service in Basra in 2003 - said he found the decision distasteful and questioned whether insurgents could have told the prince apart from other service personnel.

"It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son or the other nearly 150 service personnel who've given their lives," Mr Keys added.

Edited May 16, 2007 by erekose

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If the Prince's presence in Iraq were to have the predictable effect of drawing insurgents to the Prince, isn't that what we want? Isn't the very problem of battling an insurgency that we don't know where the insurgents are and can not predict their next move? What is so wrong with using the Prince as bait to add an element of predictability to insurgent movements?

If the Prince were to die and in the process UK forces took out a dozen or so insurgents, his death would be worth it. He'd be a martyr to the cause of the democracy. We need a well known public figure to go down in this fight if we want most people to take the fight seriously. We need a martyr.

Let him go and die

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If the Prince's presence in Iraq were to have the predictable effect of drawing insurgents to the Prince, isn't that what we want? Isn't the very problem of battling an insurgency that we don't know where the insurgents are and can not predict their next move? What is so wrong with using the Prince as bait to add an element of predictability to insurgent movements?

If the Prince were to die and in the process UK forces took out a dozen or so insurgents, his death would be worth it. He'd be a martyr to the cause of the democracy. We need a well known public figure to go down in this fight if we want most people to take the fight seriously. We need a martyr.

Let him go and die

Going on past performance, Lord Mountbattens assassination didn't create a watershed moment on the Irish "Troubles". Its unlikely it would here either.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's worth a shot. Even if his death means 1 fewer insurgent. Not like his life is worth anything, he's just a meaningless figurehead.

[Mel_and_Daniel 1]

It's worth a shot. Even if his death means 1 fewer insurgent. Not like his life is worth anything, he's just a meaningless figurehead.

Well, in that case, it doesn't really matter what he does now does it? lol

[akdiver 3]

Well BIIIIIG surprise.

Maybe now he can get a real job.

Cheers!

AKDiver