GolfHos

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/16/iraq.harry/index.html


What type of message does this send to the other troops?  Why did they even let him join?

Seems pretty stupid they'd even let it be known it was under consideration.  What a propaganda coup it would be if the enemy got him as a hostage or killed him.

But I have it on good authority that the main reason is the lack of in-breeding opportunities in the desert.

edit:  The British Royal family has a long history of service.  Oddly enough it's usually the second in line for the throne (and beyond) who finds himself in harms way while #1 sits it out somewhere.  Andrew was a helicopter pilot and served in the Falklands.  Coincidentally, that's where he formed his obsession for Asian hookers.

Wasn't his Nanna happy for him to go??

It's typical 21st Century PC bull*feces*.

The Royal Family has a shedload of tradition of being in action, well after they were born Royal.

Not like being a soldier in action before they went and ran for govt.

PC bollox because we wouldn't survive a Royal being killed these days...

Ugh.

The sad story of Pat Tillman didn't help.  He was a shining light.

In your next life, try harder to be a member of the lucky sperm club.

i was hoping for some pork chop bustin

Harry will never be elected President of the US with this on his record.

Honestly, if you were a foot soldier would you want to serve alongside the guy with the huge bullseye on his back?  He'd be such a high profile target that he would've endangered everyone around him.

I tried to stay strong but the temptation was too great............

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c189/FuzzyPhotos/pteamcopy.gif)

LOL

Uggg, what a bunch of BS.

There's no comparison between Tillman, who wanted to go and did, and Harry who wants to go but can't, for what I have to suspect are perfectly valid reasons as determined by the Chain of Command.

Also, there's really no comparison between this:

(http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/WORLD/europe/05/16/iraq.harry/story.camouflage.gi.jpg)

And this:
(http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0Je5mWXxktG9FQAgz.jzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBsMW5yM3VoBHNlYwNwcm9mBHZ0aWQDSTA2Nl84OA--/SIG=12llv866c/EXP=1179457559/**http%3A//www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/images/JennaBush-thumb.jpg)

Take your 'The Evils Of Political Correctness' back over to FIGS where the usual suspects will enjoy it to no end.

Besides, the Brits are leaving at years end, why put one of the biggest targets in the world directly in harms way after it's all but over?

If you get the tradition of noble service, from Dukes, Lords, Earls right up to Princes and Kings you also get that someone from every generation has put their life on the line during troubles/war/battles.  Harry considers it a duty.

This is the time they say no to Harry, after (as the OP said) they not only let him join but run him through the training and officer requirements.  He was to be in charge of a Scimitar squad.

It's not a new thing for the Royals to be targets.....

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWmountbatten.htm

is an example.








The Tillman tragedy did make an impression in my opinion.  A famous and rich person who wanted to serve.  The event, the cover up, the coming clean.

If Harry died over there by friendly fire or at all it would go on for decades.  Heck, Princess Di is still headline news and she hasn't been alive this century.

The Royals have been threatened for years, it's no shock to the commander that one or more would come now.  He's an idiot if he didn't see them coming.

It's dangerous over there?  No *feces*, it's a war zone and that's what the lad and the other soldiers have been training for these last years.  The whole thing looks dumb, maybe they thought it would all be over by Christmas, at least before Harry was ready to ship out?



Every generation but this one.

Thought he was German?  Oh, that's right...  ;)

Bit like Bush taking out a dingey on the Euphrates.  Silly blue blood anyway.






* Not condoning terrorist activities here.  Paddy with a conscience.   8)

Maybe somebody could correct me:

I'm under the impression that nobody in direct succession to the throne served as a small unit commander in Northern Ireland between 1920 and 2007

 [sm_devil]

WTF?

The British Royal Family has a distinguished history of service.  In recent times, George V, George VI, Phillip, Charles and Andrew have all done their bit.  Even the ladies have served as Auxillaries or such.  Granted, those in line for the throne probably have never led a patrol through The Bogside but I think that's an unrealistic expection.  Yes?  No?

The Royal Family is an artifact of another age and a complete joke.  From my perspective it represents power, greed and unbridled excess.  They should be put out to pasture and Balmoral should be turned into a golf resort.

But impugn their military service?  Sorry, that's just not in the cards.  They've definitely performed their duty in this regard.  And compared to others on the list of the richest families in the world?  No contest.

Defending the Royal Family.  Good God, I never thought I'd see the day.

The analagous situation isn't Mountbatten's service in WWII, it would be Charles leading a squad on patrol in Derry sometime around 1972, which as near as I can determine didn't happen.

If you want to talk symbols of 'The Evils Of Western Imperialism' or some such, one would be hard pressed to find a better one than the British Royal Family.

So the answer is "no" then. 

As I said, I have no use for them.  That's separated completely from their service record.  George VI saw combat action in WWI.  Philip Mountbatten served in WWII and was part of the invasion of Sicily.  Charles was a naval aviator who as far as I know never saw combat.  Not every soldier/sailor does.  Andrew had a 25 year naval career and served in the Falklands War. 

I'm not sure what you're looking for here.  They suck, fine, I agree.  I happen to have little use for Joseph Kennedy either.  It doesn't lessen the service contributions of his sons.

This is beginning to smell of FGI. Please...my friends...stop.  ;)  :D

When Mom and Dad would argue like this I would get uncomfortable and start to crack jokes.

"LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME, GUESS WHO I AM GUESS WHO I AM"
(http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l209/gvandel454/TV%20and%20Movie%20Stuff/chandlerface.jpg)

I'm out. 

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Inuteropromo.jpg)

I vote for this one.

 ;)

I try hard never to agree with Beattie Noonan, so we should get back to talking about rangefinders soon.

 [sm_beertoast]

Peace out my brothers.