Britain's Prince Harry will not serve in Iraq as a troop commander because of "a number of specific threats" against him, the UK's top general says.
A spokesperson for the 22-year-old prince says he is "very disappointed" by the decision.
Chief of the general staff Sir Richard Dannatt said Wednesday: "I have decided today that Prince Harry will not deploy as a troop commander with his squadron.
"I have come to this final decision following a further and wide round of consultation, including a visit to Iraq by myself at the end of last week," Dannatt said
"There have been a number of specific threats, some reported and some not reported. These threats exposed him and those around him to a degree of risk I considered unacceptable," he said.
Nobody thought about the risk involved before sending 19 year old Daniel Courneya and over three thousand other young men to their deaths in Iraq, yet apparently the Prince is too good to be exposed to that degree of risk.
Wednesday's announcement reverses a statement made in February by the Ministry of Defence and the royal family, which said that Harry would be sent to Iraq with his regiment.
Dannatt commended the prince on his determination.
"Let me also make quite clear that as a professional soldier, Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed.
"He has proved himself both at Sandhurst and in command of his troop during their training. I commend him for his determination and his undoubted talent -- and I do not say that lightly. His soldiers will miss his leadership in Iraq, although I know his commanding officer will provide a highly capable substitute troop leader."
A substitute who will no doubt be expendable.
Appalling.
Submitted by qrswave on Wed, 2007-05-16 17:32
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and they call themselves Benefactors.
Servants of the masses I think not.
"I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"...Voltaire
If England won’t send Prince Harry, America should send its own royalty in the form of Paris Hilton, who would be just as capable a military commander.
She can serve on the front line, rallying the troops while she gets targeted by a Mossad sniper.
That way she will avoid jail while inspiring all Americans.
"There is no way I am going to put myself through Sandhurst and then SIT ON MY ARSE back home
while my boys are out fighting for their country,"
Harry said in an interview in 2005.
Prince Harry 'will go' to Iraq w/ Video - May 1-2007
Sure you didn't mean to send this Prince ?...
Erik Prince, Owner - Blackwater
Or will he just "sit on his arse " back in North Carolina ?
Oh what a shame, Prince Harry is too hansdome to go let himself blow up to bits in real combat ... But he remains the commander of his troopers who, unfortunately, won't be so lucky as to stay behind. Hey, that's the real guts of a true Plantagenet, a real Norman worrier: just express great disappointment for not being able to go, poor handsome little soul ... Yeah, yeah, run all after him girlies, there's a true man to win.
Puke! what disgusting race, the british (deliberate lower case 'b').