Britain's Prince Harry May Command Troops In Iraq...
 

Or, maybe not because of who he is but, here's a link...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...1/nharry01.xml

If he wants to do it, is apparently good at it, why not let him?

It's not like he's first in line, or will probably ever see the throne.

Hell, let's send Bush over there with him...or Cheney at the very least.

He absolutely should go. Kings always went to battle in centuries past, there is no reason he shouldn't now.

Both Princes could technically go - but both would have to have permission from the Queen... I can see Harry might have a chance (he has formally requested it according to the reports I have seen), but William as a potential heir has less of a chance.

Of course if the both went, William would be at the HQ as per his role in the regiment... while Harry might actually be on the front-lines so to speak being a Recce officer and all.

Now from a official point of view it would be advantageous for either or both to do a tour -1. it looks good on the Royals; 2. good for moral of the Army; 3. a finally it assures that William/Harry would be allowed to head some of the ceremonial orders and wear some medals that Charles can't (Queen can cause she served as a war-time nurse during the Blitz).

A final point - they might not serve in Iraq simply because the UK is pulling out... however Afghanistan is a distinct possibility given the UK troop's role there.

RACooper, William isn't in the military is he?

I think Harry should be treated as any other soldier. Better for him to make his career in the military than to be a "useless" royal who just lives off the name Windsor.

If I remember correctly, their uncle, Prince Andrew, commandeered a fighter helicopter during the Falkland Island War. He was in several of the battles.

He had to be a pretty brave guy. He was married to Fergie...

Just kidding.

Sarah Ferguson is actually a very nice woman who has done a lot of good charity work in the UK. Most of the royals have pokers shoved up their arses.

He's going to Sandhurst too I believe.

Really? I thought it was a semi-big deal that he wasn't interested in the military. Is Sandhurst basically an officer academy?

I think so, and yeah, Will is going to Sandhurst now that he's graduated uni. Needs to do something with his life.

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is the officer training school for the British Army. Unlike our service academies, which combines military training with a college education, Sandhurst students have already graduated from a college or university. The Royal Air Force's equivalent to Sandhurst is RAF Cranwell.

Both 'Lef-tenants' Wales are Sandhurst grads.

Thanks for the info. It's just that you hear a lot about Harry being in the military and nothing about William being there. :)

william graduated from sandhurst a month ago...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6181761.stm

William graduates from Sandhurst

Prince William
The prince is joining the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals

The Queen, Prince Charles and other members of the royal family attended a parade marking the end of his training at the royal military academy.

His girlfriend Kate Middleton also watched the 24-year-old prince, who is second in line to the throne.

William, who has been described by fellow trainee officers as "a normal guy", will become a 2nd Lieutenant.

The ceremony comes the day after the official investigation into the death of William's mother, Princess Diana, concluded she died in an accident.

Both William and his brother Prince Harry welcomed the "conclusive findings" of Thursday's report by Lord Stevens and called for speculation surrounding their mother's death to come to an end.

The Sandhurst ceremony involved up to 465 cadets, including 78 women, with more than 220 officer cadets such as the prince passing out and receiving their commissions.

Prince William acted as a marker during the Sovereign's parade to ensure the cadets marched in a straight line.

He will officially be awarded the title of 2nd Lieutenant at midnight.
(the article goes on..

So, how hard is it to go to the same school as your little brother, military academy or no? ;)

It helps to be to be in the line of Royal succession...:D (No, Sandhurst isn't that exclusive.)

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_M...demy_Sandhurst

Yeah I looked it up :p I'm a nerd too.

I'm sure it does help, but to be Behind your little brother, military school or not ;)

This is a much different type of warfare though. I'd think a British Prince over in Iraq would be too much of a target for a kidnapping.

True, but there's a level of "this shit you don't want" in that. On September 11, I remember some Palestinian group taking responsibility for the attacks. Shortly after this the leader of the group came out and denied it. Though they might ordinarily take credit for things, there is some shit they don't want to touch.

Either prince's fellow soldiers would not let him go willingly, and the last thing they should want to do is piss off England to the point where they realign themselves more strongly with the US.

Not saying they wouldn't do it, just that it's stupid.

Then your contention is that your average jihadist in Iraq is smart?

The average jihadist will be of average intelligence by definition. Seriously though, they have leaders of at least moderate intelligence. The truly stupid ones wouldn't make it very far.

Besides I'm not denying the possibility, just acknowledging the idiocy of it. Whether Will should be on the ground in Iraq is a much different question than whether Harry should be. Just on the basis of succession alone.

And what do you base this on?

So the head people tell the poor people to go blow themselves and other people of their relegion up?

I guess I am missing something here?

Tom, as you can see, we're not talking about suicide bombers, but yes, the more elite terrorists send other people to accomplish that job. They're all about exploiting one-another's talents and values for the sake of their cause.

It's pretty sad when your best value to a political cause is as an explosive device.

Don't be giving away Tom's voting techniques...

Yes... and he had to be official ordered by the Queen not to go to Canada when the Canadian Airborne was being disbanded - he was the honourary Colonel and dearly loved the Regiment (and they him), and participated in some training and a number of jumps. There are rumours that he fired off a nasty phone call or too directed at the PM - and while that may or may not be true he did in fact he gave the PM quite the earful when next he was in the UK...

The odds of that happening... well it just wouldn't - the Blue and Royals would literally die to a man stopping that; it's part of their job description as the Household Cavalry.

But face it the Royals in the military have always faced some threat, and the threat of terrorist attacks is nothing new for them either (ie. the IRA). So operating under an elevated level of threat is pretty much par for the course.

Well it looks like the speculation about Prince Harry deploying to Iraq is picking up again, with the MoD dismissing a newspaper report that he'd deploy by the end of the month as "entirely speculative"... of course if troop rotations keep to the standard pattern late spring is a strong possibility.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6372291.stm

I have a hard time believing that he'll see battle.

Harry is much more likely to see combat than William. You'd think William would be guarded even more carefully (and perhaps kept closer to home) The whole heir and a spare sort of thing. I'm blanking on the rest of the royal family.

Who are Charles' siblings? Just Prince Andrew? (Should say Harry and Will die or something, who follows Charles to the throne?)

I think the birth order for Charles and his siblings goes:
Crown Prince Charles
Princess Anne
Prince Andrew
Prince Edward (married to Sophie, who kinda looks like Lady Di)

Queen Elizabeth II's children in birth order

Charles (1948)
Anne (1950)
Andrew (1960)
Edward (1964)


Charles's sons, William and Harry, are 2nd and 3rd succession to the throne. Anne has two children, Peter and Zara. Her her discretion, neither carry a royal title. I am not sure if they are in succession to the throne. Andrew has two daughters by his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie, both of whom carry the title of Princess. Edward has one child, a daughter named Louise, given the title of "Lady".

So succession is Charles, William, Harry, Andrew, Edward, Anne, and then the daughters? I guess I could look this up ;)

I think so, but I'm not a Royal Family'ologist. I wonder if QEII will bypass Prince Charles and give the crown to Prince William. Plop...put the crown on his forehead!

Can you imagine? LOL
Would that even be "allowed"? :eek: :D

It's official
 

He's going to Iraq...


http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe...raq/index.html

I'm not really trying to 'play favorites" because he's a prince and all, but I really don't think it's a good idea... I think it will do more harm than good by sending him to Iraq b/c that has 'prisoner video' tattooed all over it. I think he's going to be a prime target for those crazies who kidnap and torture people. I'm sure the 'insurgents' would try to "use him as an example" for anyone helping the allied forces (i.e. The U.S.)

I'd think it would only piss the British off. It'd be like our reaction to 9/11. As I said before, some shit you do not want.

Ahh that article clarifies that William isn't eligible for combat service. Makes sense

I don't think it'd be quite the level of the 9/11 reaction, but there'd be a outpouring of outrage and anger over his death to be sure..

As for some shit you don't want - the IRA was well aware of that and off'ed a cell that was planning to kill the Queen Mum back in the 80s... now that would have resulted in something like or greater than the 9/11 reaction since she was seen as the kindly old grandmother by most of the population (and dearly loved by the military, especially the Scottish units).

Well another wrinkle/twist to the story of Prince Harry deploying to Iraq has been Blair's announcement of a British troop withdrawal from Iraq starting next week... so it looks like if Harry goes he'll be part of a much reduced force, and perhaps even there for the final withdrawal of British combat forces from Iraq (a Royal to witness the final hand-over?)

Blair announces major withdrawal of British troops from Iraq
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/07022...d/britain_iraq

Both a shame and a wonderful thing. On one hand, we won't get to see Harry function as a commander but on the other, sending those troops home is the best that could happen since the war started.
Hopefully Blair will inflate his popularity ratings before he leaves office.

Actully Your Post Doesn't mean crap!

If He is gone, then He is gone!:rolleyes:

If a Royal is in the line of fire is not your decission is it?:(

Why do you not join the fight and see if You wish to be in the line of fire!

Oh, Line of Fire is with real bullets coming at you or bombs going off that can blow your body into parts or have to go to rehab!

Granted the British Troops are there, they are in a much lower area of danger. Good for them!

Now, why do you not worry about The American Military that are getting killed?:eek:


Let us flee from Iraq, let the asses wipe them selves out!

So, that will not mean that We Infandels will not die from their swords or Bombs.

God, You are fantastic!:rolleyes:

Because she's British and HATES America. Are you happy now?

Shut up and go away. Your post doesn't make an ounce of sense (like we're surprised) and you just dragged up something I didn't say in order to illiterately rant about it. How do you remember to breathe?