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| Britain |
| British Prince Demands Combat Roll in War On Terror |
| 2006-04-24 |
| Prince Harry would be involved in "the fullest range of deployments" if his unit is sent to Iraq, but he might be kept out of situations where his presence would jeopardize his comrades, the Ministry of Defense said Monday. Harry, the 21-year-old second son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, recently completed his training at Sandhurst military academy and is a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry. The Mail on Sunday newspaper, quoting unidentified sources, reported that Harry had threatened to resign from the army if he is held out of combat roles. Make this young Prince King of England some day. |
| Posted by:Gromosh Elminegum5705 |
| #17 Good for him - while I'm sure his father and grandmum the Queen, etal. will worry for his life and safety, I see no better way for the troubled monarchy to score points before the Brit people than them seeing a Prince(s) of England go into harm's way like everyone else, or at least Henry V. * "Once more into the Breach, my dear friends /brothers". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-04-24 20:52 |
| #16 Sorry, while he may want to lead, he cannot be an asset to his unit. In training they can treat him as "one of the lads"; but in the real thing he could get killed, or worse, captured. Every other man in his unit knows and accepts that they are expendable, and they take responsibility for their own lives. But how many could not resist trying to protect His Highness from taking shrapnel or a bullet? They can't do their job and cover his butt at the same time, and nobody can order them not to defend someone who may be their future king. The fact is, that there are some damned honorable men who more than anything else wish to serve in the trenches, but cannot. Because they are just too valuable elsewhere. Harry's problem is that he sees what life he is mostly condemned to follow, and craves a real life beyond that gilded cage. In truth, he is right, but it is possibly up to him to re-define what it means to be of royal blood. With a willing conservative parliament, which it may be by then, he may have a chance. Were I in his shoes, I would instead be calculating out what could be done for my country with the billions of dollars kept by grandmother. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-04-24 20:00 |
| #15 Nimble, You're on the nuts with that one. 28 |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-04-24 17:31 |
| #14 and Andy bagged Koo Stark while she was still a looker |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-24 17:04 |
| #13 Mike, I think you are very young or ignoring Andrew's service in the Falklands aboard the Invincible. The same MOD grannies tried to get him put ashore sailing a desk, but his Mum insisted he do his duty and that was the end of that nonsense. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-24 16:41 |
| #12 This makes him the first piece of British Royalty to qualify as a man in my lifetime. If they would only let Americans vote on who sits on the throne, he IS the boy that would be King. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-04-24 16:36 |
| #11 If Charles has secretly converted to Islam, as the rumors suggest, then his turban just torqued. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-24 16:34 |
| #10 The lad wants to stand for something. I give him credit. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-24 16:31 |
| #9 Putting a bit of the 'stiff' back into the English upper lip. I hope the UK military recruiting surges as a result. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-24 16:26 |
| #8 Exactly, 6. How many soldiers do you think would follow Slick Willie into the Valley of Death and do you think he had the balls do do so? Example is a good way to lead. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-04-24 16:23 |
| #7 there is absolutely nothing he could do in combat that is of higher value than what by birth is planned for him. I disagree, he can set an example. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-24 15:47 |
| #6 Give "Mr. Prince" what he wants. He's being groomed. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-04-24 15:22 |
| #5 King Harry the Lionhearted. Has a nice ring about it. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-24 15:08 |
| #4 I'm impressed by Harry and hope he gets his posting. It's an act of leadership he owes the nation, protecting it overseas before it becomes necessary to save it at home. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-24 14:50 |
| #3 However, to be really credible and earn the loyalty of such a regiment, I suspect he needs some actual operational experience. As the *second* son that is his duty and right, it seems to me. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-04-24 14:05 |
| #2 His Leftenant Highness should be sat down by a very senior, grizzled Command Sergeant-Major and have a few facts of life explained to him. First of all, the difference between an enlisted man, an NCO and an officer. And why. Second, why there is absolutely nothing he could do in combat that is of higher value than what by birth is planned for him. Third, if in future he ever wants to accomplish anything, it won't be by demanding, it will be by painstakingly "getting his ducks in a row", to get either what he wants, or accolades for what he doesn't want. One or the other. Not both. Fourth, and by far the most important. If he really wants his country to survive, once its military is officially absorbed into that continental disaster, he will have to build a new army himself, with his grandmother's money. That is, unless he wants to see England someday occupied by a foreign army, your highness is going to have to spend his life building and maintaining an offshore army whose sole loyalty is to you. It will have to be kept far away, as secretly as possible, and you can only use it once. It will be your "Excalibur" Regiment, as it will be the sword that someday saves England. And that, Your Highness, is your purpose in life. To save England. No nobler task exists for an English King. So, with that stern jaw you would have as a young Leftenant, you will instead have to be a stern-jawed General, ready to act only when the moment is ripe, with our nation being at stake. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-04-24 14:03 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-24 13:38 |