Should Harry be sent to Iraq?

[kshcshbash]

Ello there folks.
Some of you may have read about Prince Harry of the United Kingdom and his possible deployment to Iraq.
I'm curious as to your thoughts on the matter. I'll let mine off later.

Please read
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6604051.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6596653.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6383747.stm

before you comment. Or something equally as informative.

If I catch anyone not having read those or being completely speculative I'll be most displeased. :-)

[Thanatos]

If he wants to, that's his choice.

[kshcshbash]

Thanatos, do you think, given his special status, that it is fair for him to bring the inherent risk that being a royal affords you to the men he is commanding?

There is a good chance that he will become a "prize target", as an Iraqi PM puts it, and that would likely only escalate the situation.

[LoZz]

i have to lmao a bit at this. anti royal's moan the royal famiy do nothing but sit on their arse all day and do nothing, now we have one willing to fight and die for his nation and the powers that be won't let him, typical.


i say let him go, its not as if he will have a big neon sign above his head showing who he is, out their he will blend in with all the other soilders.
i think it will also be good for the soilders moral, i dont see tony blair over their, atlest one of our potencal future kings is willing to ruff it with the lads.
their may be a slight increase in attacks but i dont think it will be anything like what the media says or what people think, i personaly think the terrorists are running at full capacity as it is.

[Francisco Montana]

i have to lmao a bit at this. anti royal's moan the royal famiy do nothing but sit on their arse all day and do nothing, now we have one willing to fight and die for his nation and the powers that be won't let him, typical.


i say let him go, its not as if he will have a big neon sign above his head showing who he is, out their he will blend in with all the other soilders.

Agreed. If the man wants to serve his country then let him.

[kshcshbash]

Agreed. If the man wants to serve his country then let him.

In an ideal world, that'd be great. However, the world isn't ideal. Having Harry in Iraq will escalate things there. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. Things will be escalated though. If he is killed, or worse, captured, by insurgents, do you have any idea how ****ed we are?
With that said, its extremely unlikely that that would happen. The Iraqis have requested that he doesn't go, he's putting a great risk on other people in Iraq. He isn't serving the UK much by being there, and the Iraqis specifically don't want him there.


Why doesn't he head over to Afghanistan or something?

[LoZz]

In an ideal world, that'd be great. However, the world isn't ideal. Having Harry in Iraq will escalate things there. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. Things will be escalated though. If he is killed, or worse, captured, by insurgents, do you have any idea how ****ed we are?
With that said, its extremely unlikely that that would happen. The Iraqis have requested that he doesn't go, he's putting a great risk on other people in Iraq. He isn't serving the UK much by being there, and the Iraqis specifically don't want him there.


Why doesn't he head over to Afghanistan or something?

why should he be treated diffrently then anyone else? of course their is a risk he will be killed, it is war!!! their are loads of people in iraq now dieing, no one seems to care to much for their saftey. if he dies, he dies, life goes on, over 150 uk soilders have died in iraq, atleast if he does die he will be remembered as a hero and would of done his family and country proud

[Benny_DK]

Why not, I mean it's not like he's any better than you and me just because he's royalty, and if he wants to go, I cannot see why he should not be allowed to do so.

I do, however, see how it could become a big mess for Britain if he was killed or captured, but that’s a part of being a soldier.

[Blau&Gruen]

His Royal Highness serves Her Majesty best, if he is not exposed.

[Antagonist]

I can see the arguments for keeping him home I suppose, but I'd certainly support him going out of sympathy with his position ("Remember all that stuff about fighting for your country? Yeah, turns out you're too important for that. Sorry.")

While it would certainly be a public tragedy if something should happen to him, could it not equally be construed as a propaganda victory for the insurgents if he was kept back? Actually, it struck me thinking about it that if I was an Islamist Insurgent Mastermind I would probably avoid trying to do anything to Harry, as any misfortune on his behalf would certainly generate a wave of sympathy in Britain and probably greatly reinvigourate public support for the war. But maybe they don't think like I do.

Antagonist

[Thanatos]

And does the royal family really matter? I mean, all they ever do is do PR visits and stuff. They have no real power.

[kshcshbash]

And does the royal family really matter? I mean, all they ever do is do PR visits and stuff. They have no real power.

Yes, they do. I for one would be thoroughly disappointed if my Prince was to die, even if he is just a joke. He's part of my identity as an English person.

The Royal family is extremely symbolic.

@ boofhead: Yeah. That's the least I'd like to see. You have to do right by everyone, not just Harry. I think that's part of what soldiery is about, it'd be interesting to see what any veterans/enlisted men have to say.

[boofhead]

It's up to him, but the men of his battalion should also be asked, as they would be in greater danger. But I am pretty sure they would be fine with him going - soldiers have balls.

It's probably any insurgent scum with designs on killing him who have more to worry about. A great target automatically draws the greatest defences.

[Vanquisher]

Let him go, he is a sign of true British defiance in the face of terrorism, as the general said the other day, They are a load of rable and will not have the foggiest where he is. Show them we're not detered and don't let their scare tactics get the better of an entire nation, it's people, the media and the government. I'm glad the military still have some good fellows and I'm proud as hell of them, just get the bloody government off their backs. Which means the people and in line the media.

[kshcshbash]

Let him go, he is a sign of true British defiance in the face of terrorism, as the general said the other day, They are a load of rable and will not have the foggiest where he is. Show them we're not detered and don't let their scare tactics get the better of an entire nation, it's people, the media and the government. I'm glad the military still have some good fellows and I'm proud as hell of them, just get the bloody government off their backs. Which means the people and in line the media.

A link to the General's statement, please?

Don't get me wrong, I'm damn ****ing proud of each and every enlisted man out there, and I'll be the first to join them. With that said, you're seriously downplaying the fallout of Harry dying, on his first tour of duty.

AbrahamShalom: Yep. Or, if he is exposed at a more appropriate time.

[Saxon Huscarl]

If Harry did go to Iraq I wouldn't be surprised if the British media published the GPS coordinates of his base

I don't have a problem with Harry going though, it will send a good message to the world that we will even send our royalty to fight for us, also he's third in line to the throne and quite likely won't ever be the king of England.

[TangleRED]

first of all lets think about the world in general, its a risk to send him there globally, globally his presence adds the risk of escalted combat to the middle east region. same thing happens regionally. for Iraq the natin it puts a burden on them not to strike down a toyal prince while they are doing thier own fighting ( the last thing the nation of Iraq wants is to kill a british prince)

for england its advantagous to put harry in the field, for many reasons, if he were attacked and killed, he becomes a martyr, if he were attacked and survives he becomes a hero, he also puts a national face on the mission, its no longer just an extension of british power in the middle east, its now the support of the british nation in the middle east. ( the difference being the personal attention it shows). also it will give a little more umpf to the royal family who haven't looked good since dianna's tragedy. for the british army unit it offers a point of pride of actually serving in combat under a prince ( someone could get knighted out of this). for the prince himself, It would probably give him an increased confidence and image of competincy.

so yeah sending the prince is a win for britain and a threat to the middle east. overall, but in the long term its an added risk for global stablity.

[MareNostrum]

He should go..
along with "15 look-a-likes.."

then we start a new reality tv program
"the hunt for Prince Harry"

Fair game, fair rules..

if the terrorists manage to kill the real harry,
then UK is forced to withdraw

if the real Harry manages to survive for one Year,
then he will be rightfully be crowned the new king of Iraq,
and the terrorists should disarm and pay tribute to their king and its new regime..

Program hosted by Baghdad Bob....with live broadcast each day.. sponsored by Mecca Cola...

This would be a good show...
send a message* to 6565 and predict the outcome of next week's episode...


* 1,00 euro, if you are under 16 then send one too, **** your parents, who needs permission anyway?

but seriously he should go..
you dont defend the honour of your nation,
by sitting at home wearing shiny medals and an uniform
If he will go to Iraq, then the UK will show how commited they are
in the war against terror... "no fear, bring it on unshaven bunch of wackos.." Why joing the miltiary in the first place, if you dont intend to meet the threat on the battlefield. Ultimately it should be his choice.

[kshcshbash]

LoZz: Stop thinking ideally. He IS a Royal, and he always will be. We're not debating the importance of the Royal family, or lack thereof.

Antagonist: I agree, for the most part. I think some kind of a compromise should be reached, such as deployment to Afghanistan where he can pick up some experience, and then Iraq.

[Francisco Montana]

I think some kind of a compromise should be reached, such as deployment to Afghanistan where he can pick up some experience, and then Iraq.

Sound proposition. Now we can close this thread and call 10 Downing with our plan.