Thursday, May 17, 2007
British prince won't go to Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - The military career of Prince Harry was left in doubt on Thursday after commanders decided Iraq was too dangerous a mission for the third in line to the British throne. Defense analysts said the 22-year-old, who graduated as a junior army officer a year ago, would have trouble carving out a military career if he could not lead his men into active service.
Reg Keys, who lost his son Tom there, said "It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son's or the other nearly 150 service personnel who have given their lives there." "If it is too dangerous for Harry, it is too dangerous for the rest of the troops out there," said Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon died in the conflict. Harry had been due to be deployed in Basra, in southern Iraq, with his Blues and Royals regiment in the coming weeks as part of the latest British troop rotation.
He had been determined to serve alongside his troops, saying "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst (military academy) and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country." Britain's Ministry of Defense said specific threats made by insurgent groups against Harry, including listing him as a kidnap target, had made any deployment far too risky.
"I've decided the risk to Prince Harry is too great," Richard Dannatt, the head of the British army, told reporters. "I've also decided that the risk he brings to his troop and his squadron ... is also too great." Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, told Reuters: "What this does show is that the state of affairs in southeast Iraq is pretty dire."
April was the most dangerous month for British forces in Iraq since the war in 2003 -- 12 soldiers were killed.
"The politicians have set the military an impossible task. The British have become targets of opportunity. It is completely unsafe to have people like Harry going in there," Rogers said.
Reg Keys, who lost his son Tom there, said "It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son's or the other nearly 150 service personnel who have given their lives there." "If it is too dangerous for Harry, it is too dangerous for the rest of the troops out there," said Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon died in the conflict. Harry had been due to be deployed in Basra, in southern Iraq, with his Blues and Royals regiment in the coming weeks as part of the latest British troop rotation.
He had been determined to serve alongside his troops, saying "There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst (military academy) and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country." Britain's Ministry of Defense said specific threats made by insurgent groups against Harry, including listing him as a kidnap target, had made any deployment far too risky.
"I've decided the risk to Prince Harry is too great," Richard Dannatt, the head of the British army, told reporters. "I've also decided that the risk he brings to his troop and his squadron ... is also too great." Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, told Reuters: "What this does show is that the state of affairs in southeast Iraq is pretty dire."
April was the most dangerous month for British forces in Iraq since the war in 2003 -- 12 soldiers were killed.
"The politicians have set the military an impossible task. The British have become targets of opportunity. It is completely unsafe to have people like Harry going in there," Rogers said.
Labels: Basra, Blues and Royals, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Prince Harry
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Prince Harry will go to Iraq
Security
(The Guardian) - Prince Harry will be deployed with his unit to Iraq, Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, made clear yesterday in a move designed to end growing speculation that the young officer would not go despite his wish to do so.
Controversy over his planned deployment to southern Iraq this month (May) with his regiment, the Blues and Royals, has been fuelled by the deaths of twelve British killed by insurgents or rogue Shia militia in southern Iraq in April, the worst month since the invasion of the country four years ago.
However, Clarence House has said it would not seek to influence army commanders who have had to consider the consequences for all British troops who might be exposed to extra danger as a result of the prince's deployment. Shia militia leaders have claimed that Prince Harry would be a prime kidnap target in prononcements denounced by the Ministry of Defence as "blatant propaganda".
Sir Richard, who first announced in February that Prince Harry would serve in the Iraq, said in a statement: "I, as chief of the general staff, will take the decision and have taken the decision as to whether he should or should not deploy."
He added: "And I do so as chief of the general staff and having full command of every member of the Army including Prince Harry. Second, the decision has been taken he will deploy. Third, I will of course keep that decision continually under review and if circumstances are such that I change that decision, I will make a further statement." He is believed to have discussed the prince's deployment regularly with the royal family, including the prince's father, the Prince of Wales.
However, Clarence House has said it would not seek to influence army commanders who have had to consider the consequences for all British troops who might be exposed to extra danger as a result of the prince's deployment. Shia militia leaders have claimed that Prince Harry would be a prime kidnap target in prononcements denounced by the Ministry of Defence as "blatant propaganda".
Sir Richard, who first announced in February that Prince Harry would serve in the Iraq, said in a statement: "I, as chief of the general staff, will take the decision and have taken the decision as to whether he should or should not deploy."
He added: "And I do so as chief of the general staff and having full command of every member of the Army including Prince Harry. Second, the decision has been taken he will deploy. Third, I will of course keep that decision continually under review and if circumstances are such that I change that decision, I will make a further statement." He is believed to have discussed the prince's deployment regularly with the royal family, including the prince's father, the Prince of Wales.
COMMENT: Prince Harry would be a prize and a propaganda victory for the insurgents so they are likely to increase attacks on the coalition in the south, particularly the Brits. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Blues and Royals, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Prince Harry
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Prince Harry prime target for insurgents in Iraq
Security
(The Guardian) - Prince Harry will be a prime kidnap target for insurgents in Iraq, a commander in the Mahdi army, the Shia militia loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, has told the Guardian. "One of our aims is to capture Harry, we have people inside the British bases to inform us on when he will arrive," claimed Abu Mujtaba, who commands a unit of around 50 men active in the Mahdi army in Basra.
In comments denounced by British defence sources as "blatant propaganda", Abu Mujtaba told the Guardian: "We have a special unit that would work to track him down, with informants inside the bases. "Not only us, the Mahdi army, that will try to capture him, but every person who hates the British and the Americans will try to get him, all the mujahideens in Iraq, the al-Qaida, the Iranians all will try to get him."
The Guardian has seen evidence that Abu Mujtaba has a number of men under his command as well as weaponry including rockets, but there is no independent evidence to substantiate his claims that militias have infiltrated British bases, or established a unit to target Prince Harry. Abu Mujtaba continued: "For me he is just a British soldier and he should be killed if comes to Iraq, but let's be realistic, we can kill hundreds of British soldiers before forcing them to withdraw - like what's happening with Americans now - but Harry is a bigger catch and we will force the British to come on their knees and talk to us."
A senior Iraqi defence ministry official said that militias could overrun Basra relatively easily because they had successfully infiltrated local security forces. "When the Brits formed these forces they depended on these militias for lists of recruits," he said. The Ministry of Defence yesterday maintained its previous official line, that Prince Harry's deployment on a six-month tour to south-eastern Iraq with his regiment, the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, was under "constant consideration". It added: "It remains our intention that Prince Harry will be deployed as a troop leader."
The Blues and Royals are part of a mechanised brigade to be deployed next month. They will carry out reconnaissance using armoured cars. Reports that an attack by a roadside bomb on an armoured vehicle in Maysan province last week that killed two British soldiers was a "dry run" for an attempt on the prince's life were treated with scepticism yesterday by senior defence sources. However, it was the first time British soldiers have been killed in that type of vehicle in south-eastern Iraq by hostile action and security has been stepped up in the areas where the Blues and Royals will be based.
A final decision whether or not to deploy the prince will be taken by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army. While in Iraq, the prince - known as Cornet Wales - would carry out a troop commander's role, involving leading a troop of 12 men in four armoured reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three.
April has been the bloodiest month for British service personnel in south-eastern Iraq since the invasion four years ago with 11 killed so far.
In comments denounced by British defence sources as "blatant propaganda", Abu Mujtaba told the Guardian: "We have a special unit that would work to track him down, with informants inside the bases. "Not only us, the Mahdi army, that will try to capture him, but every person who hates the British and the Americans will try to get him, all the mujahideens in Iraq, the al-Qaida, the Iranians all will try to get him."
The Guardian has seen evidence that Abu Mujtaba has a number of men under his command as well as weaponry including rockets, but there is no independent evidence to substantiate his claims that militias have infiltrated British bases, or established a unit to target Prince Harry. Abu Mujtaba continued: "For me he is just a British soldier and he should be killed if comes to Iraq, but let's be realistic, we can kill hundreds of British soldiers before forcing them to withdraw - like what's happening with Americans now - but Harry is a bigger catch and we will force the British to come on their knees and talk to us."
A senior Iraqi defence ministry official said that militias could overrun Basra relatively easily because they had successfully infiltrated local security forces. "When the Brits formed these forces they depended on these militias for lists of recruits," he said. The Ministry of Defence yesterday maintained its previous official line, that Prince Harry's deployment on a six-month tour to south-eastern Iraq with his regiment, the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, was under "constant consideration". It added: "It remains our intention that Prince Harry will be deployed as a troop leader."
The Blues and Royals are part of a mechanised brigade to be deployed next month. They will carry out reconnaissance using armoured cars. Reports that an attack by a roadside bomb on an armoured vehicle in Maysan province last week that killed two British soldiers was a "dry run" for an attempt on the prince's life were treated with scepticism yesterday by senior defence sources. However, it was the first time British soldiers have been killed in that type of vehicle in south-eastern Iraq by hostile action and security has been stepped up in the areas where the Blues and Royals will be based.
A final decision whether or not to deploy the prince will be taken by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army. While in Iraq, the prince - known as Cornet Wales - would carry out a troop commander's role, involving leading a troop of 12 men in four armoured reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three.
April has been the bloodiest month for British service personnel in south-eastern Iraq since the invasion four years ago with 11 killed so far.
Labels: Abu Mujtaba, Basra, Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry, Cornet Wales, General Sir Richard Dannatt, insurgents, Iraq, kidnap, Mahdi Army, Prince Harry
