Prince Harry current events 13: January 23 - March 5 2007

[corazon]

we can to wait until tomorrow, the times when andrew was to malvinas are VERy differents that now. Andrew was the last member of the royal family in a war ans now harry but I think now is very very danger for harry, especially for the ''rebels'' in irak

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Lady Bluffton

Reflecting on the "Will Harry go to Iraq" story. Seems to me that when Prince Andrew went to the Falklands, two things were in play: (i) was there as much danger to him there (i.e. days before Al Qaeda style terrorism) other than just the regular battlefield combat worries; and (ii) hadn't William been conceived or born by then?
...

It wasn't just the Falkland Islands which had been invaded and we had to defend, we still had serious trouble with the IRA. Those charming chaps and chapesses used to plant car bombs, fire rocket launchers at forces bases on the mainland etc.

I wouldn't have called the Falklands a safe environment for Andrew either, especially after the sinking of HMS Sheffield, HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope, MV Atlantic Conveyor and HMS Coventry, any of which he could have been on.

Any and all conflict zones are dangerous!

[kpusa1981]

William was not born until after the Falklands war was over.

[milla Ca]

Harry´ to be sent to Iraq´

BBC NEWS | UK | Harry 'to be sent to Iraq'

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

It wasn't just the Falkland Islands which had been invaded and we had to defend, we still had serious trouble with the IRA. Those charming chaps and chapesses used to plant car bombs, fire rocket launchers at forces bases on the mainland etc.

I wouldn't have called the Falklands a safe environment for Andrew either, especially after the sinking of HMS Sheffield, HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope, MV Atlantic Conveyor and HMS Coventry, any of which he could have been on.

Any and all conflict zones are dangerous!

Good point about the IRA. In this discussion we mustn't forget them and their tricks and in particular what they did to Lord Mountbatten and his family. Is there really much difference between the IRA (as they were then) and Al Quaeda? Probably not, except for reasons associated with the fact that the members of Al Quaeda and their ilk come from a different cultural and religious background and have some different tricks up their sleeves. The intention and intensity of hatred is possibly the same though, and the IRA targeted individuals for special treatment.

I think an important difference between what Harry is facing and what Andrew was part of is that the Falklands war was more a "traditional" war between "traditional" armies/navies. Being lost in the sinking of a vessel at sea is an accepted risk of naval service - the same risk faced by his father and great-uncle and many other members of his family, and all other naval personnel who serve on ships. As far as I know, the risk to Andrew was no greater because of who he was.

Harry, however, faces post-9/11 issues, and weapons and communications technology 25 years more advanced, and the very real threat of being kidnapped and tortured on TV by masked terrorists holding guns at his head or knives at his throat threatening to execute him in front of millions of viewers - precisely because of who he is. He would be a magnet for terrorists, and I believe he would be at greater risk because of who he is and would put his comrades at greater risk for that reason. If it weren't for that fact I would say it's his decision and he should go if he wants, as I believe he must be aware of the risks.

And Iraq or Afganistan, the risks are the same, IMO.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

the very real threat of being kidnapped and tortured on TV by masked terrorists holding guns at his head or knives at his throat threatening to execute him in front of millions of viewers - precisely because of who he is

Very true Roslyn. I often curse the media for showing such disgusting behaviour, if they didn't get the coverage, they might give it up Every British soldier faces the same threat and I would be as upset for their family as I would for Harry's.

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

Harry, however, faces post-9/11 issues, and weapons and communications technology 25 years more advanced, and the very real threat of being kidnapped and tortured on TV by masked terrorists holding guns at his head or knives at his throat threatening to execute him in front of millions of viewers - precisely because of who he is. He would be a magnet for terrorists, and I believe he would be at greater risk because of who he is and would put his comrades at greater risk for that reason.

All the more reason why I don't want him to go. As other people have pointed out, we've all gotten "attached" to the RF and if a member of said family was in that situation, I personally would feel like it was a member of my own family there, not just a British prince. Harry can serve his country without putting his life and the lives of his fellow soldiers at even more of a risk.


With Blair withdrawing troops, perhaps this will all become a moot point.

[Avalon]

Originally Posted by Sister Morphine

With Blair withdrawing troops, perhaps this will all become a moot point.

I assume British troops are rotated at some point (new troops are sent instead of the=ose soldiers, who'd been there for some time, at least it is so with Armenian troops), so even if some troops are withdrawn, Prince Harry (his regiment) can still be sent.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Sister Morphine

All the more reason why I don't want him to go. As other people have pointed out, we've all gotten "attached" to the RF and if a member of said family was in that situation, I personally would feel like it was a member of my own family there, not just a British prince.
With Blair withdrawing troops, perhaps this will all become a moot point.

I am puzzled that some people see a difference between the life of someone, who by an accident of birth is called 'a prince' and the life of everyone else. Take a minute to think about it, are you really all saying that you would be more upset if it was Harry being tortured and killed, than someone elses child! Far from believing that Harry should not go, I believe that he is no more important than any other soldier that is in the armed forces and should, like them have to take his chance.

Blair is not withdrawing all the British troops from Iraq, just 1600 at this time. He is also sending more to Afghanistan!

Yes Avalon, British troops are rotated, the same as in your country.

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

I am puzzled that some people see a difference between the life of someone, who by an accident of birth is called 'a prince' and the life of everyone else. Take a minute to think about it, are you really all saying that you would be more upset if it was Harry being tortured and killed, than someone elses child! Far from believing that Harry should not go, I believe that he is no more important than any other soldier that is in the armed forces and should, like them have to take his chance.

I didn't say that nor did I imply that, and I'm hurt that you think I think that way. If it was ANYONE in that situation, I would be devastated, but like others have said we've all come to "know" members of the Royal Family, and because of that, we would react differently than if it was another soldier. We would react as though it was a person we were personally acquainted with. That is absolutely NOT saying that no one would care if it wasn't Harry or that we would not feel sadness or sorrow for that soldier and his family.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Sister Morphine

I didn't say that nor did I imply that, and I'm insulted that you think I think that way. If it was ANYONE in that situation, I would be devastated, but like others have said we've all come to "know" members of the Royal Family, and because of that, we would react differently than if it was another soldier. We would react as though it was a person we were personally acquainted with. That is absolutely NOT saying that no one would care if it wasn't Harry or that we would not feel sadness or sorrow for that soldier and his family.

Perhaps I misread this sentence "I personally would feel like it was a member of my own family there". Having lost family members, there is a world of difference between the upset most people feel for the loss of a relative and someone they only read about.
It was not directed just at you and I meant no insult.

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Perhaps I misread this sentence "I personally would feel like it was a member of my own family there". Having lost family members, there is a world of difference between the upset most people feel for the loss of a relative and someone we only read about.

I refer to even my friends and acquaintances as my "family". They are not blood-related to me, but they are still very close to me. That's what I was talking about. I was saying that I would feel like it was someone I knew, someone I was familiar with that was there.

[Roslyn]

I think all people in that situation become like friends or at least acquaintances to us. We get to know them, because we see them in distress in need of help and that automatically brings out the protective instinct in us, and we are told a lot about them and their families and so we feel we know them. I mentioned in an earlier post that when I see individual servicemen/women giving those Christmas messages they become individuals I "know" and I can relate to them more.

I simply cannot feel the same way about people who are only statistics to me; I need a name or face. When I see an unmarked white cross at a war cemetery I feel sadness, but feel more when I see a nameplate and age, etc. And I think the better you know someone, the more you feel. It's a sliding scale, with the unmarked white cross at one end and a close family member at the other, but I think that's only natural.

[Elspeth]

I think it's precisely because of the emotional attachment that Harry is more at risk. Terrorists know they can get more mileage out of capturing and threatening to behead him on TV than by doing it to a soldier unknown to anyone but his immediate family and friends.

[ysbel]

I don't get the personal attachment to celebrities either. It would be sad if Harry were killed but I'd be a lot sadder if my own brother were killed in the war.

I understand that people personalize celebrities whose faces and life details they know but to me, that's not the same thing as knowing a person personally and feeling the loss when they're gone.

Quite frankly, I'd feel quite differently if a close relative or friend died than I would if Harry or another royal died. Its hard to explain.

[sara1981]

Harry's won the right to fight
The Sun Online - News: Harry's won the right to fight

[Royal Fan]

WOOHOO! The Boys heading out!!!!!!!!! IM BLOODY PROUD hes doing this!
may God Be With Him and may they all Icluding come Home Safe God Save The Queen! :)