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ATTN So Called Iraq "freedom fighters"; Your Meal Ticket to Heaven is now Boarding!
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| LazFX |
I am just dumbfounded by this. I mean; Hats off to the boy, but this is kind of playing a risk...
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Prince Harry ‘will deploy’ with his unit in Iraq, confirms Army headMichael Evans, Defence Editor
Prince Harry will definitely go to Iraq with his Household Cavalry unit, the head of the Army confirmed yesterday.
The announcement came as the Army named the latest soldier to be killed in the country as Rifleman Paul Donnachie, 18, of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles. He was killed by small-arms fire during a patrol in Basra on Sunday.
After speculation that the rise in attacks against British troops in Iraq this month could force a rethink about the deploying of the Prince, General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, said: “He will deploy.”
Defence sources said that Harry, 22, who is known as Cornet Wales, would also be carrying out his normal duties as a reconnaissance troop leader with A Squadron of The Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry. They said this meant that he would fulfil all the responsibilities of commanding a troop of 11 soldiers, equipped with four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles.
One of the reconnaissance roles in southern Iraq includes patrolling the border with Iran in Maysan province where two soldiers were killed last month when a roadside bomb blew up their Scimitar. They were among 12 soldiers who were killed in action in Iraq in April.
General Dannatt made his original decision to send Harry to Iraq in February after consulting Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. The Ministry of Defence then confirmed that the general was carrying out a constant review of that decision, taking into account what was happening in southern Iraq and whether it remained appropriate for the third in line to the throne to fulfil the role for which he was trained.
Yesterday, in a statement, General Dannatt made it clear that he was satisfied he had made the right decision. He said: “I, as Chief of the General Staff, will take the decision and have taken the decision as to whether he should or should not deploy.”
The Prince has said that he wants to be treated like anyone else in the Army. General Dannatt was aware of the threats that have been made against Harry by insurgents in Iraq. But threats have also been made against all troops, and it is acknowledged that nowhere in the British area of responsibility in southern Iraq is considered safe.
The Prince will deploy to Iraq this month, but the timing of his arrival will be kept secret.
General Dannatt’s confirmation that Harry will be going will be welcomed by the Prince, who made it known that he would be “very disappointed” if he was not allowed to serve in Iraq. He has been training on Salisbury Plain with his unit in recent weeks and has said that he could not wait to get out to Iraq. General Dannatt will continue to monitor the security conditions in Iraq. Part of his decision-making was to ensure that the presence of Harry would not unacceptably heighten the risk of his unit being targeted by insurgents.
Abu Hossein, a member of the Mahdi Army in Basra, said: “He is welcome as a guest if he comes as a guest. But he is not, he is coming as a fighter and we are waiting for him. His presence will not be good for the other British soldiers.”
Last night Rifleman Donnachie’s commanding officer praised him for his professionalism and his willingness to be in on the action whenever possible. “He never wanted to be away from where the action was,” Major Alex Baring, his company commander, said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Maciejewski, his commanding officer, said: “We are grieving the loss of a superb soldier who wanted to make a difference.”
Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, who acknowledged that British troops were facing “great risks”, was in Basra yesterday and thanked the units who are about to return home after completing their six-month tour.
In waiting
“ It sends a strong message, which shows a big commitment by Britain to Iraq. It’s a very positive thing. [But] however much he tries to act like a normal soldier, he’s not – he’s a prince and terrorists will put a very high price on him to kill or kidnap him.” Haidar al-Abadi, MP and adviser to Iraq’s Prime Minister
“ Most people from Basra are really happy because Prince Harry is coming to serve in the Army. Saddam never sent his sons here. I am very happy, but at the same time I want him to stay on the main base at the airport, not to leave the camp. We consider him a guest in our country, but there are people in Basra who will put IEDs and shoot at him.”
Kerim, resident of al-Zubair, a mixed Sunni-Shia town near Basra
“ He is welcome as guest if he comes as a guest. But he is not, he is coming as a fighter and we are waiting for him. His presence will not be good for the other British soldiers in general.”
Abu Hossein, member of the Mahdi Army in Basra
“ We will be very angry if he comes. He is not welcome and we’ll do our best to attack him. Why do the British send Harry anyway – do they want to make more trouble? They want to kill many people”
Spokesman for the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr |
SOURCE
| quote: | | “ We will be very angry if he comes. He is not welcome and we’ll do our best to attack him. Why do the British send Harry anyway – do they want to make more trouble? They want to kill many people” ....Spokesman for the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr |
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| Q5echo |
| i'd hate to be his Commanding Officer. |
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| Krypton |
| I wouldn't want him in my unit. Whoever is is essentially playing Secret Service bodyguard. The target to kidnap/kill/whatever. |
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| venomX |
| At least the british are actually comitted to the war, even when it's not theirs. I don't see the US aristocracy sending any of their boys to war. They support the troops, but their family never enlists. Plenty brave they are, as long as others fight they're war. |
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| LazFX |
| quote: | Originally posted by venomX
At least the british are actually comitted to the war, even when it's not theirs. I don't see the US aristocracy sending any of their boys to war. They support the troops, but their family never enlists. Plenty brave they are, as long as others fight they're war. |
Well as a member of the US aristocracy, ;) I served....
and you are right,, |
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| shaolin_Z |
| Diana would probably be pretty embarrased and disgusted by this PR stunt. |
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| LazFX |
| quote: | Originally posted by shaolin_Z
Diana would probably be pretty embarrased and disgusted by this PR stunt. |
he he ;) |
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| Magnetonium |
Gotta love the title of this thread though ;-) true, its a dumb move, the prince is an idiot. Oh well, he wants to die and take a bunch of troops from his unit as well ... I guess he wants to die early then. This move failed as a political stunt I have to admit. |
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| ResonantDrag |
| quote: | Originally posted by Magnetonium
Gotta love the title of this thread though ;-) true, its a dumb move, the prince is an idiot. Oh well, he wants to die and take a bunch of troops from his unit as well ... I guess he wants to die early then. This move failed as a political stunt I have to admit. |
he's just mad that his brother is going to be king |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by shaolin_Z
Diana would probably be pretty embarrased and disgusted by this PR stunt. |
hmmmm. you reckon the prince went through all the training, and now is gonna go risk his life in iraq- just as a PR stunt?
who is getting the good PR? honestly, i dont understand. |
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| Sunsnail |
| Knowing the british, calvary will mean actual horses. |
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