- Charles is also close to King Abdullah of Jordan. His glamorous wife Queen Rania is a close friend of the prince's partner, Camilla Parker Bowles and is a regular guest at St James's Palace.
BTW, regarding Prince Charles...haaaack-SPIT
Posted on 02/08/2003 4:40:22 PM PST by Pokey78
A SERIOUS rift has opened up between Prince Charles and the government because he is seen to be AGAINST a war on Iraq and AGAINST America.
Whitehall also believes the prince is sympathetic to the view of his Arab friends that war on Saddam Hussein is a bid by the US to grab a stake in the Middle East's oil.
Yet despite being colonel-in-chief to 17 regiments, Charles has shown little public support for the soldiers, airmen and sailors who are about to risk their lives in a Gulf conflict.
There are also worries that he makes no secret of his anti-American views in conversations with members of Arab royal families and their leading officials.
A Whitehall source said: "Downing Street tries not to involve the prince in anything— because they have concerns over how he will react.
"He has this lunatic view he is the voice of the people."
Formal
And a diplomatic insider said: "It would be very unhelpful if the prince were to indicate anything other than unswerving support for the government."
The prince's stance was illustrated last week when—in his role as colonel-in-chief of the Paras—he said a stiff, formal farewell to his men as they prepared to leave for the Gulf.
His visit to the Parachute Regiment barracks in Colchester does not merit a single line on his official website. It was not announced by his own office.
Yet his opening of an Islamic education centre in Leicester two weeks ago is reported on the website with 19 paragraphs, two pictures and a full transcript of his speech.
Charles is rightly feted for his pioneering work creating understanding and tolerance between Islam and other faiths.
He also holds many honorary military positions, including chief to the Welsh Guards, the Paras and the Gurkhas. He is Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, Air Marshal in the RAF and Lieutenant General in the Army.
Critics say the prince likes to cut a dash in the Paras' coveted red beret—strutting around with a chestful of medals on his tunic. But they ask how the men of the Parachute Regiment would feel if they knew their colonel's true feelings on the war.
The prince's views have led to a worrying split with the American leadership. Two months ago, Charles had to abandon an official visit to the US because the White House made it clear he wasn't wanted.
The snub—directly from President Bush—came after security sources advised that Charles's presence in America would be "very unhelpful".
Washington diplomats were concerned the prince would show his disapproval during meetings with President Bush.
Charles—who reads the Koran every day and often adopts Islamic dress at home—spends long hours discussing the Middle East's problems with Saudi royal family members.
One of his closest friends is the former Saudi ambassador Ghazi Algosaibi who wrote a poem in praise of the first woman suicide bomber.
Algosaibi said that the "doors of heaven are opened for her". He once described the Israelis as worse than Nazis and he was a regular guest at Highgrove—Prince Charles's country home—before he was recalled by his government last year.
Charles is also close to King Abdullah of Jordan. His glamorous wife Queen Rania is a close friend of the prince's partner, Camilla Parker Bowles and is a regular guest at St James's Palace.
In private the prince talks about "Americanimperi-alism" collapsing the whole of the Middle East.
"Of course Saddam is an evil man, but American imperialism will not solve the problem," he said in one discussion.
He sympathises with his Saudi royal friends when they talk about their fears of America's true intentions in Iraq.
One close friend said: "They believe the US intends to collapse the whole Gulf economy and take control of oil.
"Once that happens the tensions in Israel and Palestine will explode."
Fraught
Charles's meeting three days ago with French President Jacques Chirac was fraught with diplomatic concerns.
Before the meeting the Foreign Office asked the Prince of Wales's staff if he would promise not to discuss Iraq.
They said yes, but Charles would feel free to give an opinion if Chirac raised Iraq first.
Downing Street is understood to have washed its hands of winning Charles's support.
"At such a sensitive time his views are wrong, wrong, wrong," said a Whitehall source.
"Unfortunately he is making them a little too widely known."
As they say:
Habe nun, Ach!,
Philosophie, Juristerei und Medizin (well, not really),
Und leider auch Theologie
Durchaus studiert mit heissem Bemuehn
Da steh ich nun als armer Tor
und bin so Klug als wie zufor....
Funny - I'm a lawyer too. I practiced for 12 years, now working for a judge. I wrote my thesis on military history, specifically the War of Northern Aggression (I had some original family documents unpublished at that time.)
You can keep the math. One of the reasons I selected my college was that there was no math requirement for graduation! I married a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and HE handles anything requiring large numbers. And a good thing too . . .
One of those monologues every educated person should know...
And you wrote on the Late Unpleasantness? (or The War as my 1871 Tennessee-born grandmother used to say). Very good. One of my greatgrandfathers died in the War, but the other was a minister who, though staying South, freed his slaves before the War. My only personal connection beyond that is through membership in a select Corps that, in an earlier incarnation, turned the tide at New Market in 1864 and provided a home for Professor Jackson in the 1850s.
BTW, regarding Prince Charles...haaaack-SPIT
I'm glad he did because I never would have met him otherwise, but in tradition and courage VMI stands behind no one.
I had four great-great grandfathers who were in. All survived, although three were wounded and one was "never the same" as they say. Lost quite a number of cousins killed, died of wounds, and died of disease though. Until very recently (when she died age 98) I had a great-aunt who still referred to "THE War" as though Vietnam, Korea, WWII, WWI, and the Spanish-American war had never occurred.
I see that my co-religionists (at least about 350 of them) are keeping up the old traditions . . .
But this crowd are up on the roof, hugging the chimney pots. :-D
Blessed Lord, in Whose sight the death of Thy Saints is precious, we magnify Thy Name for Thine abundant grace bestowed upon our martyred sovereign; by which he was enabled so cheerfully to follow the steps of his blessed Master and Saviour in a constant meek suffering of all barbarous indignities, and at last resisting unto blood ; and even then, according to the same pattern, praying for his murderers. Let his memory, O Lord, be ever blessed among us, that we may follow the example of his courage and constancy, his meekness and patience, and great charity. And grant that this our land may be freed from the vengeance of his righteous blood, and thy mercy glorified in the forgiveness of our sins: and all for Jesus Christ His sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
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