Should Prince Harry go to war in Iraq?

Should Prince Harry go to Iraq on the front line?
The are are 2 sides to this, he wants to go but if he does then he will be a prime target and will likely put his men at risk, if he doesnt then its seen as a wimp out, even if he goes but ends up driving a desk, then there are lots of press going to made out of this.

put all the Royal Family on the front line?

keeps everyone else safe...let him go!

If you join up, you should be prepared to go to battle.

If he was irresponsible to pursue a military career and set that example for some people who might look up to him (are there any left!?) at a time when the war he would probably serve in is highly controversial, then yes, he should face the RPGs in my opinion...it's his only chance of any honour or legacy anyway...

If he shaves his head and grows a 'tache then the baddies won't recognise him so no worries.

It's unfair to the other men in his battalion (no idea if that's the right word) that he is such a target and selfish on Prince Harry's part for putting those men in additional danger. I suppose if they voluntarily sign up and are aware of the risks then I can't see a problem though.

Easy init. Let him go, make a big announcement that he is based somewhere in the middle of nowhere, build some fake base there. Wait a few weeks then drop daisy-cutters all around it

On a serious note though, I think he should be allowed to go, but I don’t think he should be stationed with his own chaps, he should get detached and sent to some other random unit, which shouldn’t be disclosed.

Agreed ER but Prince Andrew went to the Falklands.

One of my best mates was his instructor at tank school (although Harry commands a shitty little recon thing) at Bovy in Dorset. Said he was an arrogant, thick little tosspot who no-one liked although he was actually quite a good little soldier. If he's a good soldier then he should go simple as that.

He won't be a target as how the hell are insurgants/rebels/freedom fighters/terrorists* going to know it's him with his head stuck out the top of his Scimitar? He'll have a helmet on for chrissakes and I have a feeling the British Army isn't infiltrated by people who will spread the word of where and when he is patrolling. I don't think it's an issue.

*eliminate as necessary

And he came back too. Someone dropped the ball on that one.

He'll be living in a base serviced by Iraqi personnel. The chances of there being local workers who will provide information on his whereabouts to insurgents voluntarily or otherwise is very high IMO. He's at serious risk if he ever leaves the compound and so are the troops under his command.

I hope there are no army types in Iraq who look like Harry

Good point.

my view is he should go, buts its a hard call on this, will he be a target, the answer is obvious, leave him at home and it says to the other squadies that its all wrong and too dangerous, very bad for moral. I am more concerned about a kidnap rather than him being shot maimed or killed

Shoot him on the plane on the way over and blame it on the insurgants. He goes down with honour and the risk to his guys is removed.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one.

...true and a perfect excuse to bomb Iran and the whole middle-east again

think of the oil people!!

Well the Iraqi insurgents have treatened to capture him and slice his ears off and then send him back...

Oil People? Are they anything like Water People only with stronger fins?

The oil people? Are they like the sand people only stickier?

Yes but what to wear...

If it was Charles nobody would notice.

If I was a ginger squaddie out in Iraq I would suspect my odds of getting my bollox shot away had just increased markedly.

Must admit I am quite surprised that he is going. I know I would be shitting my pants if I had to go there for a day, let alone tour of duty as target #1.

Then again as he is ginger I guess his life is more expendable than a normal person.

I think he's still got a Nazi uniform somewhere at the back of his wardrobe.

It will be Raiders of the Lost Iraqi all over again.

I reckon Kate will let him have a quick go now as well - kinda grudge fuck style. Then again as we are talking royalty we can assume he's already had a spitroast with Charlie anyway.

wonders if we should have a sweepstake

1 he goes
2 comes back ok
3 comes back without his ears
4 comes back in a body bag
5 comes back in a wheel chair
6 he just disappears

He signed up. Therefore, of course he should. After all his dad was a Major in the Army and in the royal family ie King Rat (tabloid description).

It is not his fault we have a genetic freakery royal family type thing in the UK, it is our fault.

As for Australia, this always makes me giggle: Union Jack in the flag, Queen head of state ha ha.

he wants to go though - its everyone else who is considering holding him back. Good on him for being so brave - as JE says, I'd be ridiculously scared going to Iraq, so all credit to him - more guts than us lot sitting joking on a forum

I reckon he has to go really - it is a danger to his squad though and maybe troops in general in the Basra area

Some might say its a plot by "The Firm" to get him offed before it becomes any MORE obvious who his dad is.

If he went to Afganistan and got stuck in with the lads doing some real fighting he would have my admiration. In Iraq he will be very well protected.

he should go.
UK monarchs (and their families) have a history of participating in combat. the risk of kidnapping (for ransom etc)or getting killed has always been there and it has never been any more or less dangerous.

Bit harsh. Wouldn't catch me going near either of those nightmare countries.

If I was Harry - young, royal and minted I would say fuck right off.

What, to get back at William for ditching her?

Jesus JohnnyE, I'm eating my bloody dinner!

Anyway if he does get kidnapped he'll get sent back with a new suit, saving the taxpaper a tidy sum.

yeah because Iraq is a piece of cake johnnyd - keyboard hero

my guess is Harry doesn't want to go. but the Royal PR team are doing the whole reverse-psychology thing (being a chick I know ALL about reverse-psychology) ie telling the world he wants to go, so the world says 'no he shouldn't go he's royal'.

He shouldn't go because he'll be a liability on night operations.

I personally dont think he should go and I dont have any problems with any of the Royal family fighting in wars. Sure Prince Andrew served in the Falklands, but we're talking a very different type of fighting here. Should the worst happen and Prince Harry is caught, there wont be any ransom demands, just a very immeadiate internet beheading.

William is well in to his Army trainging these days, does this mean we'll be having the same discussion on him at some point? Would we send the future King of England in to a war zone?

Kings used to go into battle...

@Moonboot - You said the right word - used to...not anymore.

They used to run countries as well and batter noblemen around the place.

@ 3L exactly...and I wouldn't have a problem today with Monarchs also going into battle. that's how they became Monarchs in the first place.
@ Yeti and they used to sleep with their relatives too...oo think they still do that don't they?

For His Royal Highness Prince Harold his whole life is a piece of cake.
I have the impression that he is a vicious little git so it could be interesting to see what happens to any paparazzi that come too close with him armed to the teeth and thinking that they are responsible for the death of his mother.
Why on earth in this 21st century do we need a royal family. Are you supposed to bow when the king enters the room?

yes but they don't tell any one anymore

Yes he should, I would pay a lot of money to see him get beheaded .

Charming. What's he ever done to you?

...once more into Iraq my friends, or fill up the basars with our english dead...

Why should he not go...I mean a King used to go to battle and in the ol days there would be numerous attempts to de-throne his successors and lots of plots to kill so-so and the only way the King would rule would be by force...in the civilized world this no longer happens and he is having a life of luxury for nothing but being born...why should he be treated differently to any other man also going to war?

A head of state or important people are always a target anyway, to say it will be dangerous to his mates in the unit...well its a friggin war not a paintball competition! Thats what you signed up for...its like saying, "sarge I am not going to be the first one on the beach, its well more dangerous"!!