Cornet Wales (Prince Harry)
 

Does anyone else out there feel that possible service of Prince Harry in Iraq has been getting far too much media coverage? What about the rest of the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and the work they're doing? What about the repatriations of those who have died on this Government's latest misadventure? I know we're downsizing but it's not a one man Army surely? Either he goes and and that's that or he doesn't and he sticks to his promise to leave. Just wondered if anyone else was getting as sick as I am!

Personally I don't give a monkies about whether Harry is getting p***y about not being allowed to serve in Iraq, but all this extra publicity surrounding his units deployment will make the soldiers he is so concerned about leading all that more at risk from trophy hunting insurgents. Good luck all those deploying :ok:

There is the valid argument that his scalp will be much sought-after by the insurgents, and so all his squadron/regt will be on the receiving end of even higher numbers of attacks/IEDs, which does make the risk to them all much higher.

Did they sign on to be such a target? - probably not.

letsgoandfly

Yes I agree with you also, I'm sick of hearing about it.
I think he should have just gone out there and got on with it - endex. Unfortunately, all this hype from the media about will he? won't he? when will he go? when will he come back? has frankly been the cause of all of this.
He should have gone, without the media or the press or the public knowing about it and got on with the job, if that's what he wants. Maybe when he got back, something quiet and sensible could have been released to the press along the lines of 'hey you lot 'Arry's back from Iraq' Hoorah!

TSM

But Harry wants to fight, ......... lets face it, he has had plenty of practice, but maybe he is scared that AQI might hit back unlike newspaper photographers.


Anyway, who :mad: cares.

Just hope the poor lads he 'commands' stay safe, and ALL return home Safe and in one piece.

Folks, think about it...he's already there, has been for a while. In that environment the bad guy wouldn't spot him from anyone else and because the baddies understandably would view him as juicy target worth putting an extra effort in to, the best way of throwing them of the scent would be to fuel a media debate as to whether he should go or not - thereby implying that he isn't already...

Whilst it raises the profile of the forces in Iraq, then surely it is a good thing? If he does deploy, Iraq is a safe bet for the front pages. If he doesn't, then unless something happens, he will be remembered as the little upstart that he is. Of course he can also exercise the option to resign his commission, and wait for JPA to sort out his payments....

Corrona

So who was it watching Liverpool and Chelsea (with Chelsea) yesterday:confused: :confused:

there you go, the bloke at the game, was just another one of hewitt's kids - if you couldn't tell the difference how could them them lot hope to from ???yds??

Brandnew
 

I think you have missed the point. Like you, we in the military have always appreciated the fact that our Royaltiy join the military and take part. In fact kings lead the charge in medievil times. I would welcome his participation in Iraq if it wasn't for the form of warfare we are currently involved in and if it wouldn't be such a political windfall for our enemy. If he goes to Iraq, the soldiers he serves with will be at greater risk than if he didn't. Do their parents, wives and children desrerve that?

I believe he really wants to serve but also believe his serving will be of great concern to those who have familly members that serve with him.

Had this situation not received the media coverage that it has then the matter may not have arised.

Sharmine

It seems to me that the insurgents are already going all out for our people in Iraq, so there probably isn't much 'extra' risk for the troops that Harry commands.

He is a commissioned officer, he is trained & ready, & should go - to not do so would be to imply that his life is worth more than any other & therefore too valuable to risk out there. Yes, it would be a coup for the insurgents if he was killed, wounded or taken hostage, but it's probably no more likely to happen to him than any other serviceman out there. The Royal Family have always served in the military, as they should do, & they should not be above being put in harm's way for their country.

It would be good to see some of the politicians' kids in uniform!

Well that is you lot told again.

BTW Brandnew I think your spell checker is broken.

Oh, you also forgot to put "treatment" after appalling.

:ok:

Brandnew, I doubt any of what you are saying is anything other than your idealist opinion. Maybe you should of preceeded your tirade of drivel with IMHO?

You cannot possibly know the level of increased risks to those soldiers serving alongside Harry and IMHO I doubt they appreciate the extra risk that the General Haigh characters seem willing to dismiss as part of serving in the army, even though its alongside Harry.

brandnew
 

I fully agree with all you say at Post #11. Why cant the media just leave the guy alone. As for giving these b******** spouting all this s*** of what they will do to him airtime,whose bl**** side is the BBC on?

Brandnew

You still haven't got it right have you

You said to your last spelling corrections offered


Yes, instead of correcting/deleting your errors why don't you delete your crappy comment

Use it yourself first if your going to comment on others.

People who live in glass houses......:= :=

Well, if this is going down to the vote then mine goes to Brandnew, well said IMHO!

Brandnew, I too agree with you. HRH is a qualified officer and as such has "signed on" with the rest of us. I would be interested to hear the comments of the mother of Prince Harry's replacement should the Prince not be allowed to deploy. We just need to media to back off.....

I also usually find that those people who resort to personal insult have lost the argument, so judging by some comments on this thread it appears that you are right.

:D

MoD spin doctors in a tiz?
 

In my opinion Mr Wales should stay with his unit regardless of the posting, however the MoD is in a no win situation on the spin doctoring front what ever happens.

If they don't send him to Basra then the media will say he is getting better treatment than the average servicman.

If one of his troop gets killed the press will say that he was the target and encourage the greaving relatives to publicly go after the MoD, Queen and who ever else in the system the press can think of to give a hard time on the grounds that Mr Wales being present created "extra" danger for the others in his troop.

The worst situation for UK PLC is if he is taken prisoner, that would be a PR disaster for the MoD that would run and run.

If Mr Wales was unfortunate enough to be killed the PM would have to answer to the Queen (that would be a very interesting conversation that I hope won't happen).

That is enough of putting the goverment type PC attitude, in my opinion Mr Wales is correct when he says that he would loose credability if he is withdrawn from the deployment, this is also true of UK PLC if the goverment is commited to this policy in Iraq then is should show the world that commitment and and be ready to endure what ever happens as a result of that policy.

The question is will the goverment have the same amount of courage when facing the press as British (and other) servicemen show each day in Iraq and Afganistan?.............. I think not!

He takes his Mums shilling so he should go.

However, the increased threat to his Unit cannot be ignored and so is it really fair on them?

Any comparison to Andrews efforts does not count, IMHO. He fought in a War that had a clearly defined and identifiable enemy. Also, it enjoyed the overwhelming support of the British Public. None of that is the case in this latest adventure. So, as well as the increased threat, his participation could well do further harm to the already diminishing support for the Royal Family in this country. Personally, I think it is high time the Royals found some other train set to play with other than the Military. Some of them treat their uniforms like dressing up clothes anyway.

Hat on.