Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Report: Prince Harry may serve in Afghanistan

Second Lieutenant Harry Wales of the Household Cavalry was to deploy to Iraq as a member of the 'A' Squadron of the Blues and Royals. He would have been the first British royal to serve in a war zone since Prince Andrew during the Falklands war. Harry is third in line to the English throne, and there had been widespread talk amongst the royals and military about forbidding him from going, but he was reported to have threatened to quit the military if he was not sent.

Prince Harry could still fulfil his dream of serving in a war zone after Army chiefs drew up plans for him to serve with UK forces in Afghanistan this summer.

Desperate to salvage some credibility from the debacle of his cancelled mission to Iraq, top brass are considering sending him with fellow officers to help train the Afghan army.

The young prince was due to deploy as a troop commander with his Blues and Royals Regiment to southern Iraq this month, until the head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt decided it was too dangerous both for him and his fellow-soldiers.

Now the Daily Mail has learned that an alternative plan is being developed for Harry to fly to Afghanistan to join the 6,500-strong UK force battling Taliban insurgents.

Read the rest at the Daily Mail

Related Link:
Read the rest at the Daily Mail

Related Link:
Top general: Prince Harry will not serve in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Prince Harry's deployment delayed

Related Link:
Report: Special forces sent to Iraq to protect Prince Harry

Related Link:
Denmark sending special forces to 'solve a special problem'

Related Link:
Analysis: For the British, a wild west in the east

Related Link:
Report: Militia groups hoping to seize Prince Harry during Iraq deployment