Prince Harry will be sent to Iraq despite misgivings over security

[spindrifter]

Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday April 27, 2007
The Guardian


Prince Harry will be deployed with his regiment, the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, on the frontline in south-eastern Iraq next month despite concerns among military commanders that he might attract fire from insurgents and rogue elements within Shia militias.

That was the message last night from the Ministry of Defence, but officials did not rule out a late decision to leave the prince at home when his regiment begins its tour, whatever the consequences for his army career. Clarence House said it would not seek to influence the military on the matter. Friends of the prince have denied reports that he would leave the army if he was not allowed to accompany his men to Iraq but they told the BBC he would be "very disappointed" if he were kept away from the battlefield.

In a statement the MoD said: "Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq is, as we have always said, under constant consideration. It is still our intention that Prince Harry will be deployed as a troop leader."

A defence official said: "He would fulfill the normal role of a troop leader going out on patrol but spend a certain amount of time behind a desk". The prince is likely to be assigned a special "minder", probably an experienced non-commissioned officer though not a member of the special forces, defence sources have said.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/monarchy/story/0,,2066791,00.html

[Botany]

1. Come home safely Harry

more guts than the bush / Cheney /Karen Hughes/ College republicans have.

Harry keep you head down and to the press & stuff do not report where he is
for God's sake.

[XOKCowboy]

2. I've got a lot of respect for Prince Harry... True Class

He's on record as saying that he'd never have even enlisted if he thought he would have to abandon his unit if they were deployed.

What I find ironic is that the Brits are caught in a Catch-22. If they keep him home then the terrorists win. If they let him deploy and he's kidnapped/killed (and he's already been targeted)then the terrorists win. The more scrutiny his deployment gets the more dangerous it is for him and his unit.

Well sorry Britain. You chose to follow our resident madman so deal with the consequences.

Good luck Harry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. The grandson of the Queen has volunteered to fight in Iraq. Here in the U.S....

Umm, Jenna? Barbara?








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