Mao
04-26-2007, 08:45 AM
UK army review Prince Harry's deployment (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070426104846523C105335)
London - British army chiefs are wrangling over whether to send Prince Harry to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, amid one of the bloodiest months for British forces in Iraq.
The MoD said the 22-year-old's impending deployment was under "constant consideration," following a newspaper report that army bosses had launched a late review of the possible implications.
The Sun newspaper said the second lieutenant could be stopped from being sent to southern Iraq because insurgents could target him, putting his troops in extra danger.
Such a decision would likely infuriate the prince, third in line to the British throne, who has reportedly threatened to quit the army if he was held back from front line duty.
"Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq is, as we've always said, under constant consideration," said an MoD spokesperson.
"It is still our intent that Prince Harry will deploy as a troop leader."
April has been one of the deadliest months for British forces in Iraq since the US-led invasion of March 2003. About 11 lives have been lost, including a corporal doing Harry's armoured reconnaissance troop leader job.
Harry is known as Cornet Wales in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, in which he is responsible for a troop of 11 soldiers and four Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.
The MoD confirmed in February that Harry would be deployed to Iraq. His six-month tour was expected to start in May.
The Sun said the Army was reconsidering his deployment.
"It's very complicated," a source told the newspaper.
"No one wants to gift a PR victory to the insurgents by withdrawing him.
"But there is a groundswell of opinion across senior ranks now that to allow Harry to serve in the open with his men will lead to an inevitable disaster."
The Observer newspaper said Sunday that Iraqi militia groups had drawn up detailed plans to seize Harry as a hostage, citing militants.
An MoD spokesperson told the weekly: "The bad guys know that he's coming and we expect that they will consider him a high-profile scalp."
In an interview to mark his 21st birthday, Harry said: "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst (the elite military academy) and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country."
The Sun said: "As the queen's grandson, he would have been a red rag to extremists seeking a place in paradise."
For the sake of his troops "as well as his, it is right to keep him out of the firing line."
Harry would become the first British royal to see active service since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina.
A BBC radio text message poll found people were hugely in favour of Harry being allowed to deploy.
London - British army chiefs are wrangling over whether to send Prince Harry to Iraq, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, amid one of the bloodiest months for British forces in Iraq.
The MoD said the 22-year-old's impending deployment was under "constant consideration," following a newspaper report that army bosses had launched a late review of the possible implications.
The Sun newspaper said the second lieutenant could be stopped from being sent to southern Iraq because insurgents could target him, putting his troops in extra danger.
Such a decision would likely infuriate the prince, third in line to the British throne, who has reportedly threatened to quit the army if he was held back from front line duty.
"Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq is, as we've always said, under constant consideration," said an MoD spokesperson.
"It is still our intent that Prince Harry will deploy as a troop leader."
April has been one of the deadliest months for British forces in Iraq since the US-led invasion of March 2003. About 11 lives have been lost, including a corporal doing Harry's armoured reconnaissance troop leader job.
Harry is known as Cornet Wales in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, in which he is responsible for a troop of 11 soldiers and four Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.
The MoD confirmed in February that Harry would be deployed to Iraq. His six-month tour was expected to start in May.
The Sun said the Army was reconsidering his deployment.
"It's very complicated," a source told the newspaper.
"No one wants to gift a PR victory to the insurgents by withdrawing him.
"But there is a groundswell of opinion across senior ranks now that to allow Harry to serve in the open with his men will lead to an inevitable disaster."
The Observer newspaper said Sunday that Iraqi militia groups had drawn up detailed plans to seize Harry as a hostage, citing militants.
An MoD spokesperson told the weekly: "The bad guys know that he's coming and we expect that they will consider him a high-profile scalp."
In an interview to mark his 21st birthday, Harry said: "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst (the elite military academy) and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country."
The Sun said: "As the queen's grandson, he would have been a red rag to extremists seeking a place in paradise."
For the sake of his troops "as well as his, it is right to keep him out of the firing line."
Harry would become the first British royal to see active service since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina.
A BBC radio text message poll found people were hugely in favour of Harry being allowed to deploy.