Feb

Front Line Harry

Posted by: Mike's America @ 2:11 pm in Afghanistan, War On Terror | 1 views

And war critics say that only the poor and underprivileged choose to serve in the Armed Forces?
Scott covered the story from his perspective. Here’s another:

Prince Harry gives an interview after embargo on news reports of his service in Afghanistan is lifted. Note the U.S. flag on his cap.

The Daily Mail has full coverage. Like most U.S. troops Prince Harry is loyal to his fellow soldiers and demanded to be permitted to go to combat along with them.

Your mother would be so proud: what Prince William told Harry when he went to fight the Taliban
The Daily Mail (U.K.)
28th February 2008

• ‘This gives me my best chance to be normal … All my wishes have come true,’ says Harry
• Harry: ‘William wrote to tell me our mother would be proud’
• Harry: ‘I would never want to put someone else’s life in danger by being a bullet magnet’
• Prince was told by the Queen he would go to war
• MoD praises British press for keeping Harry’s deployment secret until foreign media leaked it

More photos…

Not exactly a palace: Harry’s living quarters.

Prince Harry sits with Lance Cpl of Horse Chris ‘Dougie’ Douglass atop a Spartan armoured vehicle in the Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan.

More photos at the Daily Mail.

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45 comments so far

Alec Rawls

Good for Harry. Silver lining of having his deployment outed: I suspect he’ll get a chance to kill a few.

February 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Scott

I saw a kinda similar story today about a soldier here in the states waiting for his 3rd tour in Iraq. He stopped at a gas & sip, bought a lotter ticket, and won a million dollars. Still plans to go to Iraq, and isn’t spending it until after he gets back. He talked about the commitment he made, and didn’t sound forced etc. It was a good piece. Wish I’d saved the link.

Good people doing great things.

February 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

Dan

He’s a cavalry officer.

Looks like he’s enjoying himself.

February 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

suek

Maybe there’s hope for GB after all…!

February 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

M. Murcek

Am I missing something or is that an American Flag on his ball cap in the first picture? If so, that’s great!

February 28th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Mike's America

M.Murcek, the US flag is the reason I put that photo up front.

Scott is referring to this story:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/WaterCooler/story?id=4358724

February 28th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Curt

That picture of him with the flag on his cap is awesome. Good to know how the man really feels. The fact that he is over there fighting the good fight when we all know he didn’t have to says it all. Too bad they couldn’t just skip over Charles and put this guy in….he would do the country proud.

As for the media outing him, who’s surprised. They care little if it gets his ass killed, its all news to them.

February 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

joe from Chi

ya big whip. King (Mayor) Daley’s kid just went there. why don’t the aristocts send their kids to Iraq??

February 29th, 2008 at 12:07 am

ChrisG

Joe,

Several have but never make the news.

Good for Prince Harry. All that and a CAV guy too!

Though the US CAV Stetson and the Aussie plume bush hats are cooler

February 29th, 2008 at 6:56 am

Theresa, MSgt (ret), USAF

Unfortunately the jihadis in the UK will be gunning for him. I certainly hope any and all attempts fail and that if they try anything it becomes the final insult to the British people. They do love their royals.

February 29th, 2008 at 7:50 am

wesmorgan1

Yeah, it’s a shame that (apparently) it was Drudge’s report on Harry’s service that “blew his cover.”

February 29th, 2008 at 7:50 am

ChrisG

Actually Wesmorgan1 it was not Drudge, but an Aussie paper that “blew his cover”.

This was cited on the previous post concerning the prince.

As usual though, I lie circles the Earth three times before the truth gets its boots on.

February 29th, 2008 at 8:51 am

wesmorgan1

Hmmm…I had read that Daily Independent’s piece (at )…yes, there was apparently an article in an Aussie women’s magazine, New Idea. However, the major media (and certainly the US media) didn’t pick up on it until Drudge reported.

So, while his may not have been the first, it seems to have been the more damagaing.

Regardless, it really stinks that the story was blown open to the public. There’s no way he can stay now; that area, and his unit, would become obvious targets.

February 29th, 2008 at 9:12 am

wesmorgan1

hmmm…posting the comment removed the HTTP link.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/princes-cover-in-afghanistan-blown-by-drudge-report-789335.html

February 29th, 2008 at 9:13 am

wesmorgan1

“As for the media outing him, who’s surprised. They care little if it gets his ass killed, its all news to them.”

Actually, the UK media made (and honored) a pledge of silence on the matter. It was, if previous reports are accurate, an Aussie publication and the Drudge Report that “blew the story.”

In fact, Reuters reports the following:

‘An Australian Web site got wind of something in January, but not enough to make it stick.

German newspaper Bild ran a gossip item on Wednesday, but again the Ministry of Defence hoped the chatter would quickly die down. Until the U.S. Drudge Report blog picked it up.

“Once Drudge had it, it went global and the agreement was basically over,” the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.’

February 29th, 2008 at 9:17 am

ChrisG

Yes it is tragic because by all accounts, the British Army has been good for Prince Harry’s growth and maturity. Leading a combat platoon does that.

It is bad that they will probably recall him as he is a huge target in Afghanistan, but I hope they will not. In Afghanistan, he has himself and his unit to protect him. In the UK, he is just as much of a target, but has less ability to defend himself from terrorists within the country. By that I mean in a warzone, it is pretty easy to see who should be where and doing what as compaired to an armored limo procession twisting through London streets.

Also by being deployed, he could return honor to the royal family of England which has been marred in scandal and soap opera twists for the last few decades. He even shows the responsibility demanded by his station in life.

I would say let him stay and lead his men, but my opinions count for jack with the UK MOD.

February 29th, 2008 at 9:39 am

ChrisG

Here is what I meant by him being safer in Afghanistan where he is armed and in command of his platoon with supporting and allied commands around him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=522552&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

Now he will be a prisoner in his own country.

February 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am

Curt

You guys are late to the party

http://www.floppingaces.net/2008/02/29/prince-harry-to-exit-afghanistan-early-due-to-drudge/

February 29th, 2008 at 9:49 am

pagar

” In Afghanistan, he has himself and his unit to protect him. In the UK, he is just as much of a target, but has less ability to defend himself from terrorists within the country.” I would guess he is more of a target in England and the left will insure that he has no chance to defend himself in England. The absolute last thing the left wants in England is a Royal defending himself or England. The more ineffective a Royal is, the better the left looks.

February 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am

Mike's America

That’s a good point pagar. And I imagine that every member of the Household Cavalry with which he serves feels exactly the same way.

These are the same troops that protect the Queen and two of their members were killed on that duty by IRA terrorists in an attack on the Household cavalry in 1982:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_2515000/2515343.stm

Seven incredible horses of the Household Cavalry were also killed or had to be destroyed in that attack.

I’d much rather see Harry and his unit in a tank with the ability to call in air strikes than on a horse in Hyde Park.

February 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am

Alaska Paul

The ball cap Prince Harry is wearing is a 5.11 Tactical ball cap. I get a free one when I order enough stuff from LA Police Gear. Good on Prince Harry. He has more on ball, including character, than his worthless dad.

March 1st, 2008 at 7:05 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Re: “” In Afghanistan, he has himself and his unit to protect him. In the UK, he is just as much of a target, but has less ability to defend himself from terrorists within the country.” I would guess he is more of a target in England and the left will insure that he has no chance to defend himself in England. The absolute last thing the left wants in England is a Royal defending himself or England. The more ineffective a Royal is, the better the left looks.”

Let me see if I understand this correctly.

Matt Drudge, Right-wing blogger, is part of an American leftist conspiracy to “get” a member of the royal family by revealing his presence among the British troops in Afghanistan so that he will be sent back to the UK where he is an “easier” target.

Did I get that correctly?

And there is not one single Conservative here who disagrees with pagar’s assesment of the situation?

March 3rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Mike's America

Did I get that correctly?

No… As usual, you are just looking for an opportunity to pour out your bile in reaction to what was an original and well thought out comment.

Go take your medication and call your anger management counselor before commenting again.

March 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Ok then. Exactly what was pagar saying?

March 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm

Mike's America

I would have thought it was self evident.

March 3rd, 2008 at 10:54 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Then you should have no problem re-stating it.

March 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am

Mike's America

It was clear enough to me. I don’t know what your problem is…

On second thought, I DO know what your problem is.

March 4th, 2008 at 11:50 am

Philadelphia Steve

What is obvious is that pagar actually believes in hist post (19) that American Leftists conspired with Matt Dridge to have a member of the British Royal Family sent back to the UK where they could “get” him.

And that you believe this to be true as well.

Your stalling on repeating it means that you are afraid to actually type those words, because they indicate how truly bound Conservatives are to outlandish conspiracy theories. Hiding behind personal insults of me is just another typical Conservative tactic that, among Conservatives, appears to be considered “wisdom”.

I stated, in shorter terms, exactly what pagar said. You lack sufficient courage to admit, and be accountable, that you agree with the post (19).

March 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Mike's America

“And that you believe this to be true as well.”

It’s not surprising to me that someone so clearly poisoned by his own bile would so wildly mischaracterize the comments of Pagar.

But then, to transfer your total lack of comprehension to ME is simply further confirmation of the underlying emotional/intellectual deficits you demonstrate daily.

March 4th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

ChrisG

I look at the Drudge Report often. A vast amount of his stories are just links to other news outlets, yet you call him a “Right-wing blogger”. The usefulness of the Drudgereport is that it links to almost every news outlet and many major blogs (both left and right) from around the world. Our S2 used to use it in accessing the North Korean State “news” for his “what the other side is thinking” briefs.

But since he is not Kos, Steve attacks him and while no one here is defending Drudge’s decision to link to the other news sources, since we are not calling for his head, we are all terrible conservatives who will always rally around whoever Steve in his delusional rants calls out.

As for the rest, I agree with Mike above.

March 4th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

pagar

Here is what my post #19 says:

“” In Afghanistan, he has himself and his unit to protect him. In the UK, he is just as much of a target, but has less ability to defend himself from terrorists within the country.” I would guess he is more of a target in England and the left will insure that he has no chance to defend himself in England. The absolute last thing the left wants in England is a Royal defending himself or England. The more ineffective a Royal is, the better the left looks.

How that was unclear to anyone is unclear to me. How Matt Drudge is supposedly added, when his name is not in my email is unclear to me?

‘”Matt Drudge, Right-wing blogger, is part of an American leftist conspiracy to “get” a member of the royal family by revealing his presence among the British troops in Afghanistan so that he will be sent back to the UK where he is an “easier” target.

“Did I get that correctly? ”

No, you did not. Not a single word of what you added is what I wrote.

March 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Mike's America

pagar: Philly Steve has fallen into the trap that is so common among his ilk and invented his own reality to suit his prejudices. His case of delusion has clearly advanced to the point where his sanity is in question.

March 4th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Philadelphia Steve

OK then.

Please tell me how my characterization of pagar’s post was incorrect and what he actually meant.

March 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Mike's America

If you can’t understand plain English there is no hope for you.

March 4th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Once again, a dodge.

What exactly, for those of us not as enlightened as yourself, was pagar actually saying, in your own words?

March 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am

Mike's America

Do you think I have nothing better to do than teach reading comprehension to liberals whose mental facilities have been damaged by Bush Derangement Syndrome?

Go see a doctor!

March 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Let’s try this again.

I stated that pagar [post 19] made the assertion that Drudge’s posting of information regarding Prince Harry’s presence in Afghanistan was a “Leftist” plot to have him returned to the UK where it was easier to “get” him.

Conservatives here excoriated me for that re-statement of pagar’s belief, along with evaluation of it’s credibility as being nil. Each Conservative, between invective, declared how wrongly I re-stated it.

So, being cooperative and open to correction, I have repeatedly asked what the “Conservatively Correct” interpretation was.

To this point, responses to my request have been coyly written comments about the obviousness of pagar’s post, along with a few token personal insults (which on this site are tolerated, if they are directed at Liberals).

If it is so evident, why is no Conservative here capable of taking fingers to keyboard and declaring what the “right” meaning is?

My conclusion: the Conservative psoters here know how inane pagar’s conspiracy story is. But, knowing that pagar is a fellow Conservative, they are perfectly willing to lend legitimacy to the statement, since it attacks “Leftists”, and truth or accuracy is of no import to a Conservative bent on promulgating more hated of us across the blogosphere. So Conservatives post insults, but insulate themselves from the accountability of actually saying they themselves believe this inanity.

It is both cheap and the kind of moral cowardice that William F. Buckley decried, but modenr Conservative embrace.

March 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

ChrisG

Steve,
Do you have quotas in your two minutes hate for how many times you can put “conservative” in a derogatory and negative way?

If we offend you so much, why not go to Salon, DU, Kos, and others?

March 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

Mike's America

Steve: I’m done pampering you on this topic. Pagar’s statement is clear enough to me and your twisted restatement is nothing more than a transparent attempt to raise phony issues.

I’ll delete the next comment you leave on this thread.

March 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Philadelphia Steve

D E L E T E D!

March 5th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Mike's America

I completely understood the point Pagar made Steve.

You completely twisted it around to suit your prejudices.

You have wasted my time and that of every reader here who is less interested in your mental disorder than you are.

March 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Philadelphia Steve

Re: “I completely understood the point Pagar made Steve.”

Then why can’t you restate it?

You will, of course block this message as well. go ahead. I know what I said was accurate. And I know that you are censoring me to prevent my accurate description fro being read, and that you will never make yourself accountable enough to admit that pagar’s fantasy makes no sense because he is a fellow Conservative.

I have my proof. You can prevent anyone else from seeing it, but that is your power, and I accuse you of abusing it.

March 5th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

Mike's America

Steve: You’re working my last good nerve. How many times have I told you that I thought Pagar’s statement was clear?

I don’t dance to your tune pal and I am not required to do or say anything at your direction.

You continue to display symptoms of a psychological disorder which requires medical attention and I would encourage you to get the mental help you clearly need.

Once again, you provide further documented proof of the emotional and intellectual disorders which prevent you or your fellow Bush Deranged libs from making any meaningful, positive contribution to the much needed political dialogue.

March 5th, 2008 at 9:40 pm