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.
Right ON! Harry has a pair. God bless his courageous leadership.
He plays "Fortunate Son" it seems all the time. Well you don't get more fortunate than a prince of England and yet he's off to war.
Yes, I agree. William seems more polished; Harry seems a little more rough around the edges, maybe a bit more authentic.
It seems to me he is doing this simply to match his uncle Andrew, become a hero, and wipe out his prior rep as a frat boy who dresses up as Nazis. Meanwhile, as others have said, he increases the risks to his men.
"This is a tough one."
It is not a tough call. It is his responsibility to go. That is what being a monarch-in-training is about.
There is a phrase that has no meaning in the republican United States, but must be followed in a monarchy, even a limited, constitutional monarchy: noblesse oblige -- the obligations of the nobility. That means that you have to go where the bullets are flying, and put yourself next to the commons of your realm.
I am not a big fan of hereditary government -- in whatever fashion the term is cloaked. (Look at my handle. Read the poem on my freep page.) If a nation has a monarchy, then its leaders must step up to their responsibilities -- as Prince Harry has -- or be prepared to abdicate. Harry, his father (who served in the Royal Navy during a time of peace) his uncle Andrew (helicopter pilot in the Falklands War), his grandmother (served as a woman volunteer in WWII), are the reasons why the Brits still have a monarchy.
Then why is he in the service? Negative. My perspective as a commander on the ground is this: Prince or no Prince, if he is one of my Lieutenants (Cornet) assigned to my company, and we are being deployed, then he gets deployed with us. End of story.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate his royal status, but every last one of the men who serves with him will tell you that they don't want to deploy without their leader. All other considerations aside, the time to be concerned about his being in combat is not on the eve of his deployment. If that wasn't debated and settled before he entered military service then someone wasn't doing their job.
I think this is incredibly stupid and selfish of him! HE's endangering those soldiers around him that he is so desperate to stay with.
Brilliant. Your recommendation has been forwarded to the British Foreign Office for endorsement and immediate redaction. How about lunch at 5 Points?
It won't be difficult to find him. Just look for the tank being hounded by the paparazzi.
Taking the paparazzi into battle will be a good thing for the Prince to do, maybe half of them want return.
Well, actually, it's William who is the fortunate son. He's second in line to the throne, and will not be going to Iraq.
Harry gets a thumbs up from me on this, although the notion of princes and kings and queens and such is so 18th century.
I wish him well and hope he returns home safe.
But then I wish that for every soldier fighting for freedom.
How can this be?? According to Leno, Scarborough and Blitzer, England has given up in Iraq. According to the lame-stream media, England has forsaken the US and Iraq and are pulling out.
He's got more patriotism, more class, and more balls than his father ever dreamed of.
Oh I totally agree. He's someone the Brits can be proud of!
I'm curious--has his father made any public statements about his son being deployed?
Jimmy Stewart flew 25 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters,The Air Medal with three clusters, and the French Croix De Guire with Palm. He retired a Brigadier General.
I have to differ with your assessment of his career.
Harry is the second in line. WIlls is first, and will one day be Prince of Wales, assuming that Charles gets the throne.
Prince Charles is first in line, Will 2nd and Harry 3rd. The queen still occupies the throne.
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