Prince Harry to go to Iraq in May to lead a unit near Basra.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

I commend him for doing what the families of other politicians won't do, but do you think he will be more of a sitting duck because of his status?

[LynnTheDem]

1. Right now, I don't think Iraqis give a damn about who an invader is.

They just care about getting rid of all the invaders.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

4. I don't think the Iraqis would be the greatest concern.

I imagine any of the thousands of terrorist groups over there might consider the grandson of the Queen quite a feather in their cap.

[Benhurst]

11. Yeah, sure. The Iraqi people love us,

as shown by:

Poll: Iraqis back attacks on U.S. troops by DFA Staff
Published Thursday, 09/28/06 @ 6:00 pm

No big surprise here:

About six in 10 Iraqis say they approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces, and slightly more than that want their government to ask U.S. troops to leave within a year, a poll finds.

www.blogforamerica.com/view/7239

But then why shouldn't they love us? A little "Shock and Awe" never hurt anyone, and getting rid of 600,000 surplus civilians has undoubtedly strengthened the country.

Yeah, it's the terrorists. The Iraqis love us.

[LynnTheDem]

17. "any of the thousands of terrorist groups"?

Huh??!

[madeline_con]

33. I second that "HUH?" n/t

[NNN0LHI]

2. He wants to go kill people so corporations can plunder Iraqs oil

You commend him for that?

Interesting.

Don

[BushOut06]

9. So, we encourage the rich to send their kids to war...

...and when one of them actually does it, we're going to lambast them for it?

I'm sorry, but we can't have it both ways.

[NNN0LHI]

10. What is this "we" stuff may I ask?

I have never encouraged rich kids to go kill Iraqis so BP and Exxon can steal their oil.

You must be confusing me with some other poster perhaps?

Don

[BushOut06]

16. Well, 98% of DUers then

We've always lambasted the rich, the "chickenhawks", the conservatives who send the poor to fight their wars. We don't know what Prince Harry's motives are, how do you know that he's going there to fulfull some bloodthirst? Isn't it better to commend someone who could have very easily taken the Bush twins' approach? He could be partying with Blair's kids. Instead, he's going to be putting himself in harm's way.

[MyNameGoesHere]

27. whoohoo

98%.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

12. I don't know his thoughts about the war, but if he believes that

UK troops should be there, then I commend him for physically going into battle. Bush, Cheney, etc. won't send their kids.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Would you feel the same way about some rich Iraqi teenager who felt...

...it was his duty to come over here to the US to kill Americans for what we have done to his country and its citizens?

Would you put that Iraqi kid on the same pedestal as you are putting this British kid on just because they both come from wealthy families? And would you commend that Iraqi kid for physically going into battle against Americans over here?

Don

[madmunchie]

20. YES, IF I were an Iraqi and all that I saw were the poor and some

middle class fighting in an unjust war. This isn't about whether or not the war is right or wrong, we all know that it is wrong. What this says is that not only will the middle class and the poor be involved with this insidious war and in harms way, what this also says is that the burden of this egregious error will even rest on the wealthy..... That is all that this is saying. AND whether I agree with his reasons or not, it is also admirable to see him "put his money where his mouth is" another quality lacking in most of the very rich and powerful.

It is that simple, it isn't about "the war", it is about "do you feel exempt because you are rich and privileged or are you willing to take your lumps along with everyone else that has no say in this fiasco."

[madeline_con]

34. "... going into battle." Like THAT would happen! eom

[peacebird]

3. I think he will be a target, and that his unit will also be a target...

He refused to be sidelined and given special treatment, it seems that Charles and Diana's boy has the makings of a fine young man and potential to become a strong leader. I commend his bravery and willingness to go serve beside his fellow soldiers, but I fear it may not end well....

[NJCher]

7. aw, c'mon peacebird

If he was really a fine young man, he'd be out on the streets with a protest sign.



Cher

[WI_DEM]

5. Are the Bush girls still partying in South America, somewhere?

[WinkyDink]

6. IMHO, Harry is following his family tradition: not to flee from war.

Plus, he is showing he is a man of the people, not above the literal fray.

IOW, Harry is walking the walk.

[Benhurst]

13. Given the immorality of the invasion, Harry is walking the walk

which shouldn't be walked.

But to his credit, at least he's not a coward.

[WinkyDink]

23. True, for sure, about the illegality. I was hastily just thinking of how,

e.g., his uncle fought in the Falklands, and today, how we note that the children of OUR PTB sit at home, safe.

[wakeme2008]

8. blair why is your son over here

living the good life with * friends :grr:

[Cameron27]

14. The whole monarchy thing

drives me nuts. What Harry, Prince of England, signifies is ... nothing at all.

[malaise]

18. Ditto n/t

[Flubadubya]

19. He's kind of "expendable" if you know what I mean...

He's a little low on the totem pole for succession to the throne. You see they are NOT sending Prince William, of course. :eyes:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

21. William didn't choose a military career as Harry did.

But being as this is an unpopular war in the UK as it is here, I believe there would be a major backlash if Harry were to be killed there.

[MacGregor]

24. William actually just completed Army training and received his commission this month. (eom)

[tinfoilinfor2005]

30. Yes, you are correct, but I believe his military career is more

in preparation for his future role as king. Per Wikipedia:

"After his gap year, Prince William attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland from 2001, graduating in 2005. He embarked on a degree course in Art History, but later changed his main subject to Geography. William earned a Scottish Master of Arts degree with upper-second class honours, the highest academic achievement of any heir to the British and other Commonwealth Realm thrones. At St Andrews, the Prince used the name William Wales.

Like many of his predecessors, Prince William has chosen to serve in the Armed Forces. On 15 December 2006, Prince William graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The passing out parade was attended by the Queen and Prince Charles, along with other members of the Royal Family and Kate Middleton, Prince William's current girlfriend. Prince William will officially receive his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant at a midnight ceremony on 15 December. Following the announcement in September, Prince William will follow his younger brother into the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) as a troop leader. Prince William will now spend four months at Bovington Camp in Dorset, training to become a troop commander in an armoured reconnaissance unit.

Prince William and Prince Harry have both indicated that they would be prepared to undertake active service. Given his position in the succession and the reluctance of previous British governments to allow the Heir to the Throne to be put into dangerous situations, it remains to be seen if this wish will be fully realised however Major General Sebastian Roberts, general officer commanding the Household Division and Prince William's new boss, indicated it was possible that the prince could be deployed to a conflict zone. There seems to be further proof as Prince Harry is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq in May of 2007.

Unlike Prince Harry who will continue as a career soldier, Prince William will go on to spend time with both the RAF and the Royal Navy to prepare him for his future role. He will also increasingly carry out public engagements in parallel to his military career."

[madeline_con]

35. He's the spare to the hier! Important role! eom

[AnnieBW]

22. When Are the Twin Princesses Going?

I give Prince Harry full credit for wanting to be treated like any other soldier and be shipped off to the front. Good for him! What I want to know is when the * Princesses will be in uniform and shipped over to Baghdad?

Oh, they're too busy partying and (in Jenna's case) banging hot, Argentine guys to even bother with Daddy's pathetic little war.

[baby_mouse]

25. I have horrible thoughts about this.

Horrible ones.

I would try not to have them but they are so often true...

[sofa king]

26. He'll probably be okay.

As a Cornet (2nd Lieutenant anywhere but the Blues and Royals) leading a troop, he'll be in charge of eleven men--all of them buttoned up in four "light tanks." (As best I can tell, the Brits retired their Scorpion light tanks in 1994; they must be talking about some sort of tracked armored fighting vehicle, perhaps similar to our Bradley.) Those "tanks" rarely go anywhere without at least a platoon of screening infantry (30-40 soldiers), and the command tank will be in the center of that larger and quite formidable formation. That's a lot of tough guys to get past just to try to kill a single tank--which has turned out to be really hard to do in Iraq.

The way tank commanders most often get killed in urban warfare is when things start to get confused and the tank commander insists on sticking his head out of the vehicle to see what's going on. Since troop leaders are trained to manage the battle from within the vehicle at all times, we can hope that the young Prince won't make this single, most fatal mistake.

[Karenina]

28. I can only wish the boy well.

He is harking to the call of responsibility his mother taught him and to which he is heir. May his presence not endanger another and may he use his position well. GO HARRY! MAKE YOUR MOM PROUD.

[Horse with no Name]

31. I agree.

While I don't agree with the war...I commend him for his bravery.
However, after all of the fine work Princess Diana did against land mines...I shudder to think of how this might end.:(

[951-Riverside]

29. When will memorial services be held? n/t

[madeline_con]

32. He'll be so heavily protected

DUH-bya will be a sitting duck in comparison.

[madeline_con]

36. THIS BASRA?

http://www.basra.org/safety.html