<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Feb 18 2007, 07:46 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Feb 18 2007, 07:46 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->This news is just a gossip. Harry is good for desk job. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->[right][snapback]64582[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Apparently, Harry wants it to be more than gossip and has threatened to quit the army otherwise:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070222/19/12ifo.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 06:18 AM
<b>Britain's Prince Harry to serve in Iraq</b>
Britain's Prince Harry, who is third in line to the throne, is being deployed to Iraq where he will become the first British royal to serve in a war zone for 25 years.
A defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday the red-haired prince would be sent to Iraq with his "A" Squadron of the Blues and Royals regiment "over the next few months" as part of the latest British troop rotation.
<b>But the deployment of the younger son of the late Princess Diana may be a major security headache for military commanders as the prince could be a target for insurgents and a magnet for suicide bombers.</b>
<b>"This is like President Bush sending a son to the frontline. The decision is both dangerous and courageous at the same time," said Evening Standard royal correspondent Robert Jobson.</b>
(Bet the Iraqis would like to see Bush senior's son Dubya in the frontline. He should put himself where his troops are and feel the love...)
"It is a success for Harry but he has become the number one target for insurgents."
Harry could be the first member of the royal family to face combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War. Harry's great-grandfather, King George VI, saw action in World War One.
The announcement comes a day after Britain said it would be withdrawing almost a quarter of its 7,100 troops from Iraq in coming months. But British soldiers would remain in the country into 2008 if Iraq wanted them to provide support and training.
Harry's regiment will leave for Iraq in May or June and could serve up to seven months there, Defence Secretary Des Browne said in a statement.
<b>The 22-year-old prince,</b> who as a Second Lieutenant has the rank of Cornet in his regiment, <b>had reportedly threatened to quit the army if not allowed to serve on the frontline.</b>
(Royal tantrum: 'I will quit unless I can go. What do you mean I should go ahead and quit then? I'm going to tell daddy on you. Daddy!'
Also, British aristocracy - not to mention royalty - always got straight into officer positions in their army. It comes with the christian caste system. They never needed to be foot soldier first like the lower classes, who were rarely considered for serious promotion anyway, even if they survived the wars.
In WWI and WWII, British officers' ranks didn't mean they were experienced or adept. It just meant their upper class mummies and daddies paid their way or pulled some strings. They thought they were born 'in the saddle and the uniform' - that leading, strategy and military tactics were in their blood.
Probably high-ranking positions are still held by British Royalty, even if the aristocracy can no longer claim it.)
Harry, the younger son of Charles, the Prince of Wales, has trained to become troop commander and will be leading 12 men in four <b>Scimitar</b> armoured reconnaissance vehicles.
Urging media restraint on Harry's posting, the Defence Ministry said: "Speculation about precisely where Cornet Wales will serve or the exact details of his role is potentially dangerous."
(His red hair will give him away to the Iraqis though.)
Harry, who once sparked international outrage for wearing a Nazi uniform at a costume party, graduated from the elite Sandhurst military academy last year, saying he wanted to fight for his country as a frontline soldier.
Harry has always said he wanted to put his training into practice.
"There is no way I am going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he said on his 21st birthday.
"That may sound very patriotic, but it's true," said Harry, dubbed a royal "wild child" for underage drink and drugs antics.
(Patriotic is when one doesn't get one's men in trouble, which they will be if they had to keep an eye on him.)
His elder brother Prince William is also in the Blues and Royals but is most unlikely to serve in a war zone because he is second-in-line to the throne.
The pair won worldwide sympathy as forlorn children walking head bowed behind their mother's coffin at her funeral in 1997.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Can't see what is gained by Harry going off to Iraq at all...
He'll only be causing more trouble and concern for his countrymen stationed there. They'll have to expend more energy, since they'll have to look after him (since he's royal and all).
And he's still a kid in many respects - just let him stay home. No harm's done. He has said the needful and the media has noted it.
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->[right][snapback]64582[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Apparently, Harry wants it to be more than gossip and has threatened to quit the army otherwise:http://au.news.yahoo.com/070222/19/12ifo.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Friday February 23, 06:18 AM
<b>Britain's Prince Harry to serve in Iraq</b>
Britain's Prince Harry, who is third in line to the throne, is being deployed to Iraq where he will become the first British royal to serve in a war zone for 25 years.
A defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday the red-haired prince would be sent to Iraq with his "A" Squadron of the Blues and Royals regiment "over the next few months" as part of the latest British troop rotation.
<b>But the deployment of the younger son of the late Princess Diana may be a major security headache for military commanders as the prince could be a target for insurgents and a magnet for suicide bombers.</b>
<b>"This is like President Bush sending a son to the frontline. The decision is both dangerous and courageous at the same time," said Evening Standard royal correspondent Robert Jobson.</b>
(Bet the Iraqis would like to see Bush senior's son Dubya in the frontline. He should put himself where his troops are and feel the love...)
"It is a success for Harry but he has become the number one target for insurgents."
Harry could be the first member of the royal family to face combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War. Harry's great-grandfather, King George VI, saw action in World War One.
The announcement comes a day after Britain said it would be withdrawing almost a quarter of its 7,100 troops from Iraq in coming months. But British soldiers would remain in the country into 2008 if Iraq wanted them to provide support and training.
Harry's regiment will leave for Iraq in May or June and could serve up to seven months there, Defence Secretary Des Browne said in a statement.
<b>The 22-year-old prince,</b> who as a Second Lieutenant has the rank of Cornet in his regiment, <b>had reportedly threatened to quit the army if not allowed to serve on the frontline.</b>
(Royal tantrum: 'I will quit unless I can go. What do you mean I should go ahead and quit then? I'm going to tell daddy on you. Daddy!'
Also, British aristocracy - not to mention royalty - always got straight into officer positions in their army. It comes with the christian caste system. They never needed to be foot soldier first like the lower classes, who were rarely considered for serious promotion anyway, even if they survived the wars.
In WWI and WWII, British officers' ranks didn't mean they were experienced or adept. It just meant their upper class mummies and daddies paid their way or pulled some strings. They thought they were born 'in the saddle and the uniform' - that leading, strategy and military tactics were in their blood.
Probably high-ranking positions are still held by British Royalty, even if the aristocracy can no longer claim it.)
Harry, the younger son of Charles, the Prince of Wales, has trained to become troop commander and will be leading 12 men in four <b>Scimitar</b> armoured reconnaissance vehicles.
Urging media restraint on Harry's posting, the Defence Ministry said: "Speculation about precisely where Cornet Wales will serve or the exact details of his role is potentially dangerous."
(His red hair will give him away to the Iraqis though.)
Harry, who once sparked international outrage for wearing a Nazi uniform at a costume party, graduated from the elite Sandhurst military academy last year, saying he wanted to fight for his country as a frontline soldier.
Harry has always said he wanted to put his training into practice.
"There is no way I am going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he said on his 21st birthday.
"That may sound very patriotic, but it's true," said Harry, dubbed a royal "wild child" for underage drink and drugs antics.
(Patriotic is when one doesn't get one's men in trouble, which they will be if they had to keep an eye on him.)
His elder brother Prince William is also in the Blues and Royals but is most unlikely to serve in a war zone because he is second-in-line to the throne.
The pair won worldwide sympathy as forlorn children walking head bowed behind their mother's coffin at her funeral in 1997.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Can't see what is gained by Harry going off to Iraq at all...
He'll only be causing more trouble and concern for his countrymen stationed there. They'll have to expend more energy, since they'll have to look after him (since he's royal and all).
And he's still a kid in many respects - just let him stay home. No harm's done. He has said the needful and the media has noted it.