Posted on 02/04/2008 5:02:14 PM PST by Aristotelian
LONDON: While Prince Andrew declares himself a fan of the United States - and his cellphone ring tone comes from the American TV drama "24" - the man who is fourth in line to the British throne has some critical words for America's Iraq policy and thinks that Washington should have listened to advice from London.
In a rare Buckingham Palace interview ahead of his departure Tuesday for a 10-day U.S. trip to support British business, the prince described the United States as Britain's No. 1 ally but conceded that relations were in a trough. There are, he added, "occasions when people in the U.K. would wish that those in responsible positions in the U.S. might listen and learn from our experiences."
The prince has a full-time role as a trade envoy for Britain but for 22 years he was in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands conflict, and Iraq is a preoccupation.
Because of its imperial history, Britain has experienced much of what the United States is going through, Prince Andrew said.
"If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all," he said. "We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."
Prince Andrew's view that post-invasion chaos in Iraq could have been avoided if President George W. Bush's administration had listened more is widely shared in Britain.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Prince Andrew is well enough acquainted with the real world - 22 years in the Royal Navy, including being at the sharp end during the Falklands campaign.
I like the Brits, but this asshat doesn't know his history. It's not as if the US is trying to take over some countries for itself, like some OTHER "imperial" powers of the past.
And Im supposed to take advice from a poofter like him?
Like someone on another thread said.....the BRAINS really did leave Britain about 200+ years ago.....
Ive got one word for him....inbreeding
Are you serious? From Churchill’s Grandson:
‘Meanwhile, I have a confession to make: It was my grandfather, Winston Churchill, who invented Iraq and laid the foundation for much of the modern Middle East. In 1921, as British colonial secretary, Churchill was responsible for creating Jordan and Iraq and for placing the Hashemite rulers, Abdullah and Feisal, on their respective thrones in Amman and Baghdad. Furthermore, he delineated for the first time the political boundaries of Biblical Palestine. Eighty years later, it falls to us to liberate Iraq from the scourge of one of the most ruthless dictators in history. As we stand poised on the brink of war, my grandfather’s experience has lessons for us.’
Excellent point.
Yeah, nice job of boundary drawing there, Andrew. We’ve had our fill of the British Experience, thank you very much.
perhaps the Prince should be turning his sights to Londonistan, and the Muslim “no go” areas in his own country. colonialism - nay, internal security, your RH.
“Royal Twit!”
Just what the h#ll are you talking about? We gave them the MND SE (Basra AOR) to administer and just look how that turned out! They kept the administration to themselves and marginalized the locals who have a heavy Iranian influence. They chose not to confront the criminal syndicates and Iranians and were subsequently rolled up by the Al Quds, Mahdi and local Shia crime factions. In their aversion to battle and casualties they ended up losing face nearly every step along their way to be finally humiliated by piracy and confined to the airport!
Thank God we did things totally opposite from the Brits. We earned the respect of the Iraqis and now, grudgingly, the Iranians. And when we takeover the MND SE we'll have to clean up the mess they left behind which means stomping the now emboldend and coordinated Iranians, regional syndicates and local mobs and all their organizations in the AOR. It will be similar to the 2 years it took pacifying Anbar, maybe worse.
Go get a job you welfare POS and stop living off the British people!!!
I don’t do royalty, but is the one that the Brits decided not to send to Basra? Or is this the other one?
Your Royal Highness, If you don’t wish to offend USAians, remember they are barbarians, and think that the customs of their tribe are the laws of nature
Well, perhaps, the fact that America is not a colonialist power? That we rejected the idea that one's birth has anything to do with one's ability 250+ years ago? That the US has no desire to take the advice of the UK, considering that their colonial empire collapsed spectacularly, causing many of today's problems? That the "knowledge" of the British has managed to make Basra one of the few areas in Iraq not sharing in the reduction of violence, to the point where the Brits have slunk away with their tails between their legs, turning over the security of the region to unprepared Iraqis of questionable loyalty?
Like I said, what reason could we have?
Andrew my friend, you’ve got more than you can handle in your own country. Correction: You can’t handle what you’ve got.
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