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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think prince Harry is being selfish

67 replies

lisad123 · 07/09/2012 17:03

Saw this on the news today www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19516079
I'm sorry but telling the world where the prince is fighting and when he is there puts all his team in more danger.
I understand he wants to go and fight but seriously, I think it's very selfish to put his wants before that of his team.

OP posts:

spamm · 07/09/2012 17:37

Poor chap - he cannot do anything right for some!

My dh worked with him when he was at one of the training centers. DH is not a royalist by any stretch of the imagination, but was impressed by Harry. He said he sent his lads off after the training session and stayed behind himself to clean up and make sure everything was in place before they finished - he had a staff car and security team, and could have left early but chose not to. He was polite and pleasant. Not the actions of a selfish young man.

He was obviously based in housing very near us at the time, cause i saw him running a couple of times as well. Seemed nice enough.

Anonymumous · 07/09/2012 22:02

Isn't that the whole reason that he re-trained as a pilot - so he could go back out to Afghanistan without the same level of worry that the Taliban would be able to target him? I don't think it's selfish - it's brave.

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 07/09/2012 22:05

My brother ran the army base he was sent to for a while

Quote of the day!

kim147 · 07/09/2012 22:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 07/09/2012 22:13

The cynic in me thinks, "how amazing that this story came out just after the nude photos, gosh, how not a coincidence". The nicer part of me thinks, "at last a useful, fun and brave Royal. About bloody time". I always likes Andrew too. Maybe we should scrap all but the second in lines.

sooperdooper · 07/09/2012 22:14

Another vote for not selfish at all, I think it's great that he's doing the job he's been trained for and doesn't appear to be asking for, or getting any special treatment because of being royalty, he's simply being sent to do his job

I can't see how he makes it any more dangerous for anyone he may work with, being in a dangerous situation is something they all have to accept when they sign up, it's hardly a surprise

sooperdooper · 07/09/2012 22:16

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange, gotta say the cynic in me totally agrees, it's got PR stunt written all over it

While we're talking about Harry, I think the whole nude photos thing was nonsense and totally unnewsworthy, I couldn't care less if he went to a party and stripped off, I'm sure a lot of squaddies do a lot worse

ronshar · 07/09/2012 22:24

If I was off to Afgan for 4 months I also would get totally smashed up and play naked billiards

greencolorpack · 07/09/2012 22:29

I think it's good he is serving the Army and it does wonders for his popularity, I do think we should only be wise after the event, ie only know about his deployment afterwards and not before. hate to think of the Taliban rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of getting him.

sooperdooper · 07/09/2012 22:32

Just had a thought, the whole press release could be totally made up and he's actually somewhere completely different? There's no way we'd ever know

ChazsGoldAttitude · 07/09/2012 22:32

I thought it was a hell of a punishment for a few nude photos.

"Look here Harry, we're a bit fed up with this prancing around in the altogether stuff old chap so we're y'know popping you over to Afghanistan to cool your heels for a bit... Now remember, DON'T suggest naked billiards to the locals!"

He's a soldier, he's been posted to one of our main theatres of operations, err that's it really.

EdithWeston · 07/09/2012 22:36

Just to expand on Chaz's post:

"He's a soldier, he's been posted with his squadron to one of our main theatres of operations on a regular roulement err that's it really".

Pre-deployment leave is part of a normal work up.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 07/09/2012 22:46

Are these the same papers that used to report things like 'British armed forces are planning an attack on Helmand Province...' or Troops will be moving into Baghdad...' during the gulf war?
What do you expect!?

grimbletart · 07/09/2012 23:45

The cynic in me thinks, "how amazing that this story came out just after the nude photos, gosh, how not a coincidence"

Ah, the good old conspiracy theory....bit difficult though as the media were reporting months ago that he was going back to Afghanistan in September.

ShellyBoobs · 08/09/2012 00:02

Is he not just trying to live a little of the life of countless other single, forces personnel?

I think that some naked cavorting in Vegas is probably the perfect prequel to risking life and limb in Afghanistan.

He also manages to fit some official visits and charity work in, let's not forget.

NurseBernard · 08/09/2012 00:14

What an odd thread.

So you admit he didn't tell anyone. How is he being selfish, then?

CoolaSchmoola · 08/09/2012 00:28

ALL of our service personnel are targets to insurgents, every single one of them. He is a higher value target, sure, but he's also technically safer than the majority of them on the ground.

The Taliban have very little (practically zero) capability to shoot an Apache out of the sky.

What he is doing is a hugely important task - and he's bloody good at it. Why shouldn't he? And what on EARTH is selfish about serving your country at war?

My husband has served in Afghanistan more than once (and in a lot of other nasty places). He's seen far more than anyone should have to and HE doesn't have an issue with Harry being out there, he doesn't think he is putting anyone else at more risk - because they're all at risk all the time anyway. Service personnel have a lot of respect for Harry - because he stands side by side with them. If the people who are doing or have done the job don't have a problem with it, and the MOD and chain of command have sanctioned it it's because it's deemed not to place extra risk on anyone.

So why do a load of people on the internet think they know better?

Fair play to Harry - at least he's doing his bit. Better that than being a keyboard warrior....

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 08/09/2012 00:31

I would be worried, though CoolaSchmoola that they will focus all their very tiny ability on the Apaches if they think that Prince Harry is there and in one. I know nothing about this though.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 08/09/2012 00:38

Excellent post Coola.

Can I just say to all of you either serving yourselves or who have loved ones in the forces a big thank you. DH is ex Army and I have so much respect for all of you and the sacrifices you make.

I think Harry is my favourite Royal. Brave. Dedicated. Hard working. Great at his job. And fun.

randomfemale · 08/09/2012 00:41

He's a soldier and it's what he's trained for. Prince Andrew did an excellant job during the Falklands war , Prince Harry is just doing his job.

AdoraBell · 08/09/2012 00:52

I doubt that he, or his superiors, would publicise the exact location he is serving in. The press have ways of getting information, that is a different thing. No service personnel are behaving selfishly when they risk their lives to serve their country, regardless of their family and background.

CoolaSchmoola · 08/09/2012 01:28

As far as I am aware they simply don't have the surface to air ordnance to bring an Apache down - so even if they throw everything they've got at it they might make things interesting and inflict some damage - but they won't kill the whirlybird. That thing is an absolute beast. Armoured to hell and back and loaded with weapons. One of the best pieces of kit we've got.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 08/09/2012 02:10

He/they picked well for a job for him to do then.

arghhhmiddleage · 08/09/2012 02:20

The MOD announced a few months ago that he would go back to Afghanistan later this year. It clearly has nothing to do with high jinks in Vegas. And no way would the MOD be making this public if they thought it was a risk.

I think he's a real assest to the country in many, many ways. And I can't help wondering if strip billiards is the worst thing those people who keep criticising him have ever done.

diaimchlo · 08/09/2012 05:08

IMHO Harry is definitely not being selfish, he is a young British male who has decided to fight for his country. In his position it would have been very easy for him to have secured a "desk" job in the Army but he has made the choice to go shoulder to shoulder with his fellow soldiers and deserves to be commended for that.
As for the nude pictures, most people have done something very similar in their youth, the only difference is that the media actually think that we are interested when it is a public figure and especially a Royal.
Good on you Harry:)

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