When does Prince Harry go to Iraq?
May 3rd, 2007 by ashish
This is fast becoming the major question on everybody’s mind. It is a very difficult topic for decision makers in the United Kingdom. At one level, they would certainly not want to give an impression that because he is a royal, he is different from other people in the military and be exempted from service in Iraq. In addition, the prince seems very eager to also deploy to Iraq.
On the other hand, things are not so cut and clear. Iraq is overrun by insurgency on a scale little scene in other battles. Attacks on armoured soldiers and their locations is common. The Prince is a trophy that any insurgent would strive to capture, no matter the cost. If by chance Prince Harry is captured, it will mean immense issues for the British Government as well as the US Government. The risk is too high. Even if you want to stand on principle, there has to be realism in decision making. The risk of capture or other harm and its repurcussions are too high.
The other point would be that his presence would be a magnet for attacks on his company. As soon as his identity and location is known (and given that the Iraqi Government leaks like a sieve), wherever he is located, his company will face numerous attacks. The other soldiers of his company, even if they seem brave in public, will face risks more than other soldiers in the field.
