Posted on 05/16/2007 10:35:29 AM PDT by bedolido
LONDON --Britain's Prince Harry will not be sent with his unit to Iraq, Britain's top general said Wednesday, citing specific threats to the third in line to the throne.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt said the changing situation on the ground exposed the prince to too much danger.
Prince William and Prince Harry, right, parade in suits and bowler hats with the Combined Cavalry Old Comrades' Association, in Hyde Park, London, on Sunday, May 13, 2007. The tradition of officers wearing black bowler hats and carrying umbrellas goes back to the First World War.
(Excerpt) Read more at charlotte.com ...
Laurel and Hardy used to wear bowlers. They looked funny 80 years ago.
Harry looks like Philip. Wills looks like his mother.
“Churchill would have said send him with his unit and al Qaeda be damned.”
Not in this instance he wouldn’t have. He was a staunch monarchist and would have put the future of the institution first. The Queen is one of al Qaeda’s top targets and the lengths they would go to in order to capture or kill Harry would be immense. I feel terrible for him, but it’s better for the country and other servicemen if he doesn’t go.
I looked at the figures for this once. The British Monarchy has a net annual cost of roughly £36m. Compare this (for instance) with the cost of the Republic or Democratic National Conferences. The Queen costs UK citizens like myself 50p a year - pretty cheap for an invisible shield against tyranny.
invisible shield against tyranny.
“The Queen is one of al Qaeda’s top targets and the lengths they would go to in order to capture or kill Harry would be immense.”
All the more reason to send him to Iraq. His presence there sould surely help flush out some of the Islamic cockroaches and give the Coalition Forces a chance to squash a few more of ‘em than otherwise might be possible. I’m sure the prince wouldn’t mind being bait if it meant killing off a bunch of al-Qaeda.
You are so correct, it is better for all concerned, if the Prince doens’t go. But don’t think a little fact like that will get in the way of folks who want to take shots at the British Monarchy. Where is MadIvan when you need him?
In the UK the Head of State is different from the Head of Government. Have a little think about how useful that could be - if say one had a head of Government who was ripping down a countries consitutional barriers. Chavez, Mugabe, Hillary Rodham Rodham ...
I thought about it. They’d be useless.
“Nobody wants Charlie to be king (except Camilla)”
Not true...
“The only thing aristocrats were ever good for was their willingness to fight for king and country, and their military prowess. Lose that, even now, and they’re just a drag on the economy.”
Actually, Harry DOES want to fight. And the royal family only cost each taxpayer 61p ($1.20) a year (far less than most presidents), but you cannot put a price on what we (and the people of the other 15 countries of which she’s head of state, and the 53 commonwealth nations) get in return.
Which reminds me, has anybody seen or heard from George P. Bush lately? Something tells me he just might have joined the service.
You should probably look up King Juan Carlos of Spain, who thwarted a coup in the 1980s.
“Just let the kid kick Sean Penn’s butt! That will be serviced served!”
What’s Sean Penn been up to?!! I presume you’re talking about the actor? Have I been missing something?!
He’s always an a$$ who just needs a good butt kicking at any time for no particular thing.
Monarchies are the biggest welfare recipients on the planet.
Republican sentiment and activism never even get off the ground despite scattered tepid efforts spanning more than a century.
The reign of the House of Windsor will continue long after you and I and threats of global warming have expired.
Leni
From everything I read, Charlie's not a popular man; he's certainly a complete buffoon who gets worse as the years go by. I'm just not impressed by the family - hasn't been a clever one since Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. I suppose it's heritage of descent from 4 of the sureties for Magna Charta.
But the Queen has the ultimate power of being able to dissolve parliament - she’s the embodiment of the people. She also commands the forces, so if a government refused to budge, she could have them forcibly removed. In theory, she could also turn the forces on the people, but aside from being highly unlikely, I don’t think your average squaddie would be up for it!!!
Ah... we have a few of those on this side of the puddle...
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