'Arry the 'Ero

[KukriKhan]

Third in line does his duty

and the Brit press keeps mum for 10 weeks. Unbelieveable!

At any moment he must be prepared not just to call in the aircraft to strike at the enemy but also to open fire with his own rifle. In deploying to Afghanistan Prince Harry has put his life on the line, just like every other soldier. I for one salute his bravery, and the bravery of all of our fighting men and women in Afghanistan.

As do I, along with his unexpected and non-mandatory willingness to share the bad times

Pre-SENT...

h'Arms!

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Military service has been a tradition among many noble families of Europe, and I don't see why he shouldn't do it. After all, he is "the spare", and William the "heir", to use M:TW terminology.

After all, even in the days of the Hohenzollern Reich, we in Germany had a long-standing tradition of making our nobles fight in the danger zone - stray artillery shells from miles away are still fatal.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That's actually not completely fair - von Bismarck's son fought, William I was a soldier-king first and foremost, and I could go on. Such is life.

[Proletariat]

There is no sane reason for him to do this, EMFM. Forget tradition, this guy could live like Britney Spears or Robert Downey Jr easily and this is what he chose?

The cynicism isn't surprising. He's royalty and it's a hated war. He still has impressive character for following through with this. Hats off for that alone

[Lemur]

Actually, I think it's telling that he was ordered not to serve in Iraq, but given the okay for Afghanistan. Could be the queen mum thought 'stan was more manageable. Could be that 'stan is seen as a much more valid war. Them royals need to think about the publicity angle, mush like everybody else, only moreso.

There's something kinda old school, very heir-and-the-spare about him being in a shooting war. But kudos to him for wanting to serve.

[Beirut]

If King Henry could do Agincourt - Prince Harry can do Afghanistan.

[InsaneApache]

Aye, good on the lad. He wants to be with his mates in the thick of it.

As for Drudge; imprisoned in the tower and off with his head or somesuchthing.

[HoreTore]

Bravery? Bah. His ancestors fought in the middle of the front line hacking at the enemy.

This one had to be tucked away and was afraid that the enemy would find out that he even was there.

Royals have lost their grandeur these days.

[Mooks]

Bravery? Bah. His ancestors fought in the middle of the front line hacking at the enemy.

This one had to be tucked away and was afraid that the enemy would find out that he even was there.

Royals have lost their grandeur these days.

His ancestors didnt have to deal with sniper bullets or rpg's.

[HoreTore]

His ancestors didnt have to deal with sniper bullets or rpg's.

BAH!

There were assassins etc those days too. I don't think being showered with arrows was a pleasant thing to do, for example.

Face it, world leaders these days are wimps compared to the kings of old. Can you even imagine Henry IV, Louis XIV, Napoleon, etc hiding in the ranks as a common soldier? Heck no, they announced their presence for everyone to see!

Harry went there knowing there was a 99% chance he'd come home. I won't call that bravery. Especially not so for a royal.

[InsaneApache]

Bravery? Bah. His ancestors fought in the middle of the front line hacking at the enemy.

This one had to be tucked away and was afraid that the enemy would find out that he even was there.

Royals have lost their grandeur these days.

I'm no fan of the royals, far from it. My understanding is that he volunteered to go, getting granny to apply pressure on his behalf. The reality is that if it became public knowledge he would become a bullet magnet, so it was made subject to a 'D' notice that requested the media not to report his whereabouts.

Kudos to the guy.

In contrast, how many kids of the politicos who started the war have volunteered to go into action? I reserve my contempt for the Blairs and Shrubs of this world.

Harry went there knowing there was a 99% chance he'd come home. I won't call that bravery. Especially not so for a royal.

[Fragony]

At least there is one royal in europe who isn't afraid to be excommunicated, way to go Harry.

[Tristuskhan]

If King Henry could do Agincourt - Prince Harry can do Afghanistan.

What? Killing the french soldiers around?

[caravel]

He know's full well he'll be bailed out by the ruling classes that make up the upper echelons of the army, so he can effecitvely volunteer for anything and can count on being pulled out when it gets too dangerous - as with Iraq where he whinged about not being able to go but turned up with his brother hosting a big charity concert soon after while the "guys" were out there getting shot at. This is so farcical it's laughable to see how many people fall for it. The press exposure comes at the right time as the MoD are apparently now looking into his role again. (read: getting ready to pull him out and send him back to mumsy)

[Fragony]

He know's full well he'll be bailed out by the ruling classes that make up the upper echelons of the army, so he can effecitvely volunteer for anything and can count on being pulled out when it gets too dangerous -

He already has been pulled out.

[Husar]

It's an ambiguous issue for me, someone who didn't serve and didn't want to serve, I think there are better things to do than getting shot at, whether you're a royal or not. Yeah, we humans make it look all noble and brave to "fight for your country" but IMO he is fighting for another country there as the existance of his country isn't really at stake (in that case I might just fight as well myself).
And while that may offend some, I think calling every soldier a hero just underlines what HoreTore said, if we have to lower the "standards" for heroism to signing a piece of paper and surviving basic training then we're just a bunch of *******.

Now on the other hand, I like the idea that we go to Afghanistan to help the people there and I think that's a pretty noble thing to do (no heroism yet), the only problem being that we didn't care about them before their overlords decided to hide someone who wants to get us out of our misery by bombing us.

On another thought, the fact that we talk about this particular soldier going to war only because of who his mom and dad are could be said to be quite telling about how we still don't see all (wo)men as equals today.#

Have a nice day.

[caravel]

He already has been pulled out.

Of course... and that wasn't planned all along, oh no.

-Edit: So now it is indeed official: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7270743.stm

[InsaneApache]

He know's full well he'll be bailed out by the ruling classes that make up the upper echelons of the army, so he can effecitvely volunteer for anything and can count on being pulled out when it gets too dangerous - as with Iraq where he whinged about not being able to go but turned up with his brother hosting a big charity concert soon after while the "guys" were out there getting shot at. This is so farcical it's laughable to see how many people fall for it. The press exposure comes at the right time as the MoD are apparently now looking into his role again. (read: getting ready to pull him out and send him back to mumsy)

You want him in a bodybag?

[Ronin]

I´m betting his squad mates won´t be very happy with the extra enemy "attention" that this is gonna bring them

[caravel]

I´m betting his squad mates won´t be very happy with the extra enemy "attention" that this is gonna bring them

You're recycling the classic line. That having a royal in there midst would make them more of a target. If he were sat on a horse in a bright red uniform, accompanied by standard bearers then perhaps this argument would be valid.

[Viking]

On another thought, the fact that we talk about this particular soldier going to war only because of who his mom and dad are could be said to be quite telling about how we still don't see all (wo)men as equals today.#

Royals.

[Andres]

On another thought, the fact that we talk about this particular soldier going to war only because of who his mom and dad are could be said to be quite telling about how we still don't see all (wo)men as equals today.#

Indeed.

What's so special about this random guy joining the army and going to Afhganistan? There are plenty more like him. Is this important news?

Bah, another argument to stick to my "don't buy newspapers" policy.

[JR-]

good for harry.

[Tribesman]

You want him in a bodybag?

Now now IA , don't forget he has a new mumsy nowadays .
Perhaps a nosebag would be more apt .

[caravel]

mumsy, as in the queen.

[Ronin]

You're recycling the classic line. That having a royal in there midst would make them more of a target. If he were sat on a horse in a bright red uniform, accompanied by standard bearers then perhaps this argument would be valid.

you say "bright red uniform" I say "massive media coverage"...

you say tomato....I say....


I think you get the idea.

[Mikeus Caesar]

mumsy, as in the queen.

I knew the royals were messed up, but that's just wrong

[InsaneApache]

Now now IA , don't forget he has a new mumsy nowadays .
Perhaps a nosebag would be more apt .

I just had a thought. No one can accuse the Germans of not doing enough now. Ich Dien indeed!

[Redleg]

You're recycling the classic line. That having a royal in there midst would make them more of a target. If he were sat on a horse in a bright red uniform, accompanied by standard bearers then perhaps this argument would be valid.

Care to explain the reports that indiciate that AQ believed he was going to Iraq and put a bounty on his head?

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21634116-2,00.html

Your arguemnt would indicate that its all propaganda.

[caravel]

Care to explain the reports that indiciate that AQ believed he was going to Iraq and put a bounty on his head?

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21634116-2,00.html

Your arguemnt would indicate that its all propaganda.

[HoreTore]

I'm no fan of the royals, far from it. My understanding is that he volunteered to go, getting granny to apply pressure on his behalf. The reality is that if it became public knowledge he would become a bullet magnet, so it was made subject to a 'D' notice that requested the media not to report his whereabouts.

He's a bloody Prince! His ancestors wasn't afraid of being a bullet magnet, and neither should he.

I won't be satisfied until I see him leading the cavalry charge into kabul swinging a big axe...