Whatever you think of the Iraq War or the British Royal Family, and I don’t think much of either right now,? you’ve got to respect this:
Sometime later this year, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana will be deployed to Iraq as the first Royal Family soldier to serve in a war zone in 25 years. Now known officially as Cornet Wales, a rank equivalent to 2nd lieutenant, the ruby-cheeked prince will serve in Iraq for six months commanding a squadron of 12 men in four Scimitar armored reconnaissance vehicles.
Speculation about whether Harry, 22, would see combat, which has been percolating since he entered the elite Sandhurst military academy in May 2005, was put to rest Thursday in a statement from Defense Minister Des Browne. Harry’s elite Blues and Royals regiment is part of a restructuring plan announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Tony Blair, in which British forces in Iraq will be reduced from 7,100 troops to 5,500 in the coming months
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For his part, Harry is on record demanding not to be treated like some china doll prince. He has reportedly threatened to quit the army if not allowed to eat Iraqi dust alongside his mates.
“There’s no way I’m 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 a rare, often-quoted and charmingly off-color interview marking his 21st birthday. “That may sound very patriotic, but it’s true.”
In that interview, the free-spirited son of one of the world’s most famous and beloved women said he envisioned a long military career: “I do enjoy running down a ditch full of mud, firing bullets. It’s the way I am. I love it.”
Hey, whatever works I guess.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
And I used to think the older brother was the hot one! Not anymore.