Posted on 02/22/2007 5:30:31 AM PST by areafiftyone
Prince Harry will be deployed to the danger zones of southern Iraq, it has been confirmed.
The third in line to the throne is to become the first royal to serve in a war for a quarter of a century.
The 22-year-old's uncle, the Duke of York, flew helicopters in the Falklands conflict 25 years ago.
Army officer Harry will join his regiment, the Blues and Royals, in Iraq as part of a long-planned rotation of troops.
The Ministry of Defence and Clarence House confirmed the deployment in a joint statement.
Cornet Wales, his Army rank and name, will take command of a troop from 'A Squadron' of the Household Cavalry Regiment later this year.
The statement said he will be leading "12 men in four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three".
It continued that speculation about precisely where Harry will serve was "potentially dangerous".
Reports claimed the prince had threatened to quit the Army, if he was not allowed to serve abroad in a war zone.
But there are fears that having such a high-profile target as a member of the Royal Family in Iraq could spur on insurgents to attack the Army.
When asked whether the prince was putting troops at risk, royal commentator Alastair Bruce told Sky News Online: "All British soldiers are at risk.
"Prince Harry will know that his team is more important than him and the commanders will ensure no extra risk is placed upon their soldiers by the decision to deploy him."
The news comes a day after Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined a phased withdrawal of British forces from the country with the return of some 1,600 troops within months.
The rank of Cornet is used by a small number of Cavalry units and is the equivalent to 2nd Lieutenant.
God Bless you Prince Harry! GodSpeed!
((((PING))))
Talk about a moving target.
Why do I get the feeling the media is just crossing their fingers something bad happens? A ratings bonanza for them.
As much as they've covered this story, they might as well paint a big bulls eye on his chest.
He will be nothing but a huge prize for the terrorists and will be putting his men at tremendous risk. Half the terrorists in Iraq will be tripping over themselves to try to bag the prince.
Go Harry!
In other things going on in England:
Muslim Council's demands of State Schools in Britain
(at the link, ummm... it's 72 pages long... that's a hint)
http://mavericknewsnetwork.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/muslim_council_.html
He has certainly grown up, and turned into a solid young man. --a long way from the arm band incident, it seems.
Hope he makes it through safely.
Yea I'm not too thrilled the media decided to make this huge announcement about what platoon he is in and everything. What is wrong with them? Besides wanting the U.S. to lose the war in Iraq the media want Harry to be killed. That is despicable!
Oh - not THAT Harry?
There was always something about Harry that I liked better than his brother.
ROFLMAO!
This is a tough one. Like it or not he's not just another soldier. It be like if we had a big Hollywood star (not that is likely to happen anytime soon) over there in uniform.
Ahhh the good old days of Hollywood the 1940's and 1950's
It won't be difficult to find him. Just look for the tank being hounded by the paparazzi.
My quicky prediction: You will see shots of a tank rolling down the street on patrol with a couple of LandCruisers on either side with photographers hanging out the windows. Think I'm kidding? Just wait...
Remember the Marines storming the beach full of reporters and TV cameras?
EWWWW! He gives me the creeps! I can't stand him!
Jimmy Stewart was quite the pilot but they wouldn't let him go into combat. Goebbels would have had a field day if the Nazis had captured him.
Godspeed Harry and salutes from me and mine.
Tear their ass up.
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