It has been announced that Prince Harry will shortly be serving in Iraq. His uncle, Prince Andrew, served in the Falklands war so it won't be the first time high ranking royals have served.

BBC News

So many people going to Iraq.

One of my best friends-we graduated high school together- she just came back from Iraq in November. Right before Christmas, her parents set up a coming home celebration, that I went to. Her husband is also in the service, and they have a cute little girl who is actually turning 2 soon. It was really hard for my friend being away from her baby.

I also have a neighbor(a guy) who also just came back from Iraq.

I was posting it really as he is third in line to the British Crown. Everyone who serves in the armed forces is to be admired but unfortunately are not as newsworthy.

I assume that when his time comes that they will not allow Prince William to serve in the front line although Prince Andrew was second in line to the throne when he served in he Falklands.

He serves in the 'Blues and Royals' which is very much a front line regiment, specialising in armoured reconnaisance and patrols. Iraq is now in such a chaotic state that anyone venturing outside a military barracks is effectively in the 'front line' and I feel pretty sure that Harry will not be treated any differently from other officers and soldiers, nor indeed will want to be.
In the Falklands War, Prince Andrew participated in many dangerous tasks, including flying 'decoy' close to warships, whereby his helicopter might divert enemy missiles away from the ship itself.

I cannot help agree with some views that the soldiers he will be serving with will be under increased risk as it is like hanging a carrot in front of a donkey.

Like many others Our Harry will do his job as best he can. No doubt his family will be proud and worried in equal measure. May God bring him and all the others back safely.

He is serving his country and even though he is Royalty, he is a young man and should be allowed to do what he wants to do, even if it means putting his life on the line.

On the other hand, he is 3rd in line for the throne and should be careful what he does.
I personally agree with the fact that he is young and should be allowed to do what he wants to do.

As I said, I am really concerned not so much for his safety but for the safety of the men who serve with him. I still feel that it is an open invitation to increase the violence towards the British in the hopes of actually killing him.

It is admirable that he wants to serve, but I agree that his presence there could be a danger to his comrades.

Both he and the military are 'between a rock and a hard place' on this one. Harry is clearly a fully trained young officer, and wants to serve with his fellow soldiers, not being treated any differently. If he was given a 'comfortable' posting when the rest of his regiment was sent to Iraq, there would be a public outcry, and possibly justified objections from the families of other soldiers sent to the war zone. Equally, it would be completely unpractical, and unfair, if the whole of his regiment were to be deployed to a non-combat zone - especially as they are a fast deployment, mobile, armoured corps.

As a serving officer the young Prince will obey orders and do what he is told to do, as will the men serving under his limited command. His wishes now are, and should be, irrelevant. It is true, that by virtue of his birth he may well be an encumbrance to his CO, who might well have second thoughts about sending him into the fray. However, after a skirmish or two his men will quickly adapt to his presence in the field and regard his ability as soldier as more important than his high social status.

I'm thinking that military personnel would probably find it an honour to serve with him, regardless of the danger.
That's my thinking about the military folks I know.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54405

Osama targets Prince Harry
Code-breakers say top al-Qaida leader wants Iraq-bound royal – 'dead or alive'
Posted: February 23, 2007
9:28 a.m. Eastern

Editor's note: The following report is excerpted from Joseph Farah;s G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence newsletter published by WND's founder.

LONDON – Osama bin Laden personally has targeted Iraq-bound Prince Harry, saying he is wanted "dead or alive," says an exclusive breaking report today in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Code-breakers for MI6, Britain 's external intelligence agency, have cracked al-Qaida's secret communications system and discovered Prince Harry is named as a prime target for the terror network when he goes on active service to Iraq .

The MI6 code-breakers also have discovered the first real evidence in over a year that bin Laden is alive and personally has authorized the capture of the young prince – third in line to the throne – "dead or alive."

The phrase is a chilling echo of that used by President Bush about bin Laden after 9/11.

Bin Laden has a $40 million bounty on his head after five years of evading capture. The U.S.-led hunt so far has cost over $1 billion.

While no reward so far has been offered by al-Qaida for Harry's capture or death, the terrorist group recently published a reminder: "We do not forget that our enemies will pay well to capture our beloved Sheik Osama. When the time comes we will also reward those who kill our enemies."

Both the queen and Prince Charles have been separately told by their private secretaries of the mounting intelligence concerns after they met with MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett.

"The Royals recognize Harry is no 'ordinary soldier' and that his capture would be a priceless propaganda prize for al-Qaida. What would Blair do if they threatened to behead Harry?" asked a senior intelligence officer.

The work of these young men is dangerous enough without them being specifically targetted.

It makes you wonder what 'them up there' were thinking about when they publically announced that he would be going to Iraq. Why on earth they couldn't have quietly posted him without all the hoo-haa?

It really doesn't bode well.

My thoughts precisely. No doubt they'll be publishing his patrol routine, and making certain the media are made aware of his location - I'm not joking by the way!
Making public any information about his, or his regiment's, deployment was and is wholly unnecessary, and is like 'throwing down the gauntlet' to Al Qaeda and their supporters.
The military should consider military objectives only, and strictly within their 'Rules of Engagement'. I cannot see how discussing details of any individual, let alone a high profile officer, meets any military criteria. Prince Harry should have been treated like any other officer, and no personal announcement of his deployment either made, nor confirmed.

Quote:

---

LONDON: Britain's Prince Harry will be sent to Iraq as late as possible to give his comrades vital time to assess the dangers posed by militia groups in the strife-torn country, army sources said on Thursday.

The move gives troops in the Royal's unit, the Household Cavalry's A Squadron, the chance to be in position and let them gain combat experience before his arrival, The Sun tabloid quoted sources as saying.

Defence chiefs also want to keep Harry's presence there as secret as possible from the Islamic extremists who want to kill him.

They hope the fewer people who are aware of his movements, the safer the young cavalry officer and his men will be.

"If the men are all familiar with their new surroundings before Harry arrives, they will be far sharper to the dangers of the inevitable first attack," the sources said.

"Whether he likes it or not, the timing of his arrival means he is being treated as a special case. Everyone in the regiment is sick of hearing about Harry's deployment and the risks to himself and what that means for us."

"None more so than Harry himself who is desperate to just get out there and get on with the job he has been trained for. Getting him out late is no bad thing for the rest of the lads," the source added.

Harry's unit begins its six month tour of duty this week with most of his colleagues flying out over the next seven days.

The Royal's 1 Mechanised Brigade replaces 19 Light Brigade as the main fighting troops in southern Iraq, which has witnessed massive increase in violence in recent months as insurgents battle to oust British forces early.

---

I can certainly understand Prince Harry's desire to serve his country, and I can genuinely admire his bravery, as I admire the bravery of all men and women who serve in combat for their countries. But, I do feel that, to send him into combat, in this particular controversial, and unpopular, war, at this particular time, is a dreadful mistake.

Unquestionably, Prince Harry will be a specific target for the terrorists and the insurgents. Not only will he face a higher degree of danger than the average soldier, he will significantly increase the danger to those around him. And, to what end? Will Britain be any safer or more secure with Prince Harry fighting in Iraq? If he is killed or captured, would this sacrifice really be worth it? He is no ordinary soldier, and this is not just another instance of a brave young man willing to give his life, if need be, for his country.

This is a highly unpopular war which is essentially already lost. Little, if anything, will be gained from further fighting in Iraq, and the death toll just continues to escalate at an alarming rate. I am extremely upset at my own President's decision to send in more troops for one final "surge". This war, which never should have been started in the first place, is over. It was badly conceived, and we have lost. To continue to send in additional forces, and needlessly sacrifice more lives, is just insane. To send in someone who is third in line to the British throne, and such an obvious target for death, at this particular time, is sheer madness because it is so pointless.

Should something happen to Prince Harry in Iraq, would the average British citizen really feel as though he sacrificed his life for a worthy cause?

Personally, I would rather see him serve his country in some other part of the world. I would rather see him use his influence to bring about positive changes in the world which would truly be to the benefit of his countrymen and countrywomen. There is so much good that this young man will potentially be able to do with his life, that it just makes no sense to me to deliberately place him in the line of fire in a war which is all but over and which is essentially already lost.

Since my feeling is that no one should be fighting in Iraq, it never should have started, it is not a question of whether he should go at all. No one should go.

I tend to agree with both of you, we ought to get out of Iraq, also to send Harry at all is stupid. It will put too many soldiers at risk.

Then we have William, should we let him serve in a war zone too? Definitely not.

If Harry is killed perhaps it might speed up the removal of the British troops.

It's crazy, he will be putting so many lives in danger by being there and for what? to prove he's just like the rest of us?

It looks as if the army has been reading this thread and taken note as it has now been announced that Harry will NOT be going to Iraq as it would put too many people in danger.

BBC News

I have a question:
They can make a prince serve in a war? I didn't think that was allowed, but I guess it is after all! I don't know that much about it, but was curious. What happens if he went to war and got killed or badly injured? He is a royal, after all.

Prince Andrew was on active service in the Falklands War but that wasn't likely to put the lives of other serving men at extra risk. If a prince gets killed then they get killed. I would imagine that William wouldn't be allowed to serve but Harry is only third in line to the throne, not first or second.

It isn't a case of 'making him', he is a soldier and soldiers go to war. If you read the links supplied, he WAS to have gone but the army have changed their minds as they now realise what everyone else could see from the start, that is that him serving in Iraq would put the other soldiers at a greater risk as he would be a specific target. It just took the army longer to work that one out than most of us.

What I meant was, can a prince be drafted? That's what I meant by "making him" go to war. Sorry, I guess I worded that wrong!

Re ilovecats question about Prince Harry being drafted; there is no draft in Britain or Ireland, personnel sign up for service of their own free will, but in Britain soldiers have to go where they are sent. Ireland is a neutral country (southern Ireland)although we have an army we do not partake in any wars, our soldiers are involved mainly in peacekeeping roles with the United Nation's. The majority of our soldiers volunteer for overseas peacekeeping duties to any war torn country that requests a U.N. presence.