Harry off to Iraq

This isn't something many Irish people would say but fair play to Prince Harry and the Royal Family. The Price is heading off to Iraq with his regiment called the Blues and Royals. He didn't have to go, being a Prince it would have been very simple to get his superiors to announce for unit safety reasons he would not be sent to Iraq. Instead it appears Harry put his foot down and insisted on going with the other members of his unit. I'm reminded of that scene from Fahrenheit 9/11 when Michael Moore stood on a street corner asked members of congress if they would sign their kids up to go serve in Iraq. At least the British can now come up with an answer that doesn't involve running down the street.

Considering the bad publicity the British government has been getting about the poor equipment and supplies the British Army in Iraq are forced to use, and die in, I'd bet the last thing the members of Harry's unit will have to worry about is the thickness of the armor plate on their Landrovers. Though at the same time I wouldn't want to be the private sitting in a fox hole beside the British prince when the locals start shouting Death To Britain.

Interestingly even though Harry's older brother Prince William serves in the same regiment he can never be sent to Iraq because members of the direct line of succession cannot go to war. Kings leading armies into battle is sooo first millenium.