To think that Prince Harry is putting soldier's lives at risk and shouldn't be on active service

[wiggofan]

Relieved to hear that he's safe after the recent attack and "his life was never in danger" but this isn't likely to be much comfort to the relatives of the two soldiers killed.

It wasn't about Harry though.

It was stated by the Taliban that it was in retaliation for the film about Mohammed wasn't it?

Harry being there does put Soldiers lives at risk, there is no two ways about it. Al Quieda (or however you spell it) have stated that they will target him. but it's not as simple as just keeping him away. He has rights too, and if he wants to do his job he should be able to. There is always the possibility that his group will have extra resources because they are a bigger target, so the colleagues he has with him could be safer than they otherwise would be. Let's not forget that their lives are at risk out there anyway.

Its a very difficult situation, but on balance, I think it's right that he is there.

Why did we pay for his training then?

Salmon Trutta - the BBC are reporting that the Taliban are stating he was their target.
Its geeat hes there but i think he should come home now not for his own safety but for the safety of the people he is working with.

He joined the armed forces to fight for his country, just like every other serving soldier. My cousin was in the forces in the 80s and just missed out on the Iraq war (the first one). He was rather pissed off that he spent 10 years training to not put his skills to use.

What would be the point in Prince Harry joining up if he was given 'special privileges'. His comrades wouldnt be too happy that Harry stays in training camp polishing the silver for their return, and Harry would be frankly pissed off too.

I was also under the impression that the media were always vague about his whereabouts for that reason. (although AQ would find out anyway)

Prince Andrew served during the Falklands War. He was in exactly the same position as Harry (in relation to Royal Lineage) at that time.

Really Red? - they must have updated I think. Or maybe I misunderstood this morning. Which is more likely, frankly.

Either way - he wants to do his job. Andrew did it during the Falklands.

The BBC and other channels were reporting this morning that the Talibs had said it was both co-ordinated with the other protests and because of Harry. The first is probably the underlying truth and the latter a bit of opportunistic propaganda.

Other major camps have been attacked like this in the past and Bastion was bound to be a target, irrespective of his presence.

X-post with Martha. Yes, he was actually second in line too at the time.

Andrew was second in line during the Falklands that is

Oh yes thats right Salmontrutta - i forgot Harry is third in line (i always seem to discount Charles for some reason!!) So yes, Prince Andrew was a more prominent target.

It's not Harry's fault though, but it should not have been publicised that he had gone. I am a Forces wife and my DS1 is going for his initial Army interview next week.

When the MOD announced to the world that Harry was out there they didn't give a flying fuck about the rest of us. It has made me very angry TBH.

Yes he is trained, yes we paid for it, but he is one person and his presence has and will put others at risk and ultimately kill them and that is too much to ask of everyone else IMVHO!

I don't quite see how him being there is putting other soldiers at risk. They're out there and at risk anyway. They're targeted by the Taliban whether he's there or not. And presumably the Taliban won't know exactly where he is to target him.

I don't presume they're going to up their attacks because he's there, they may however blame him for particular things which were going to happen anyway, for propaganda.

His training has cost a small fortune, why not let him be of some use to the country?

The Royal Family cannot win: if they don't have a 'proper job' they're layabouts who sponge off the taxpayer and if they do have a job then they're putting other people's lives at risk. You can't please everybody!

In the Falklands, every Wessex helicopter was a target. In Afghanistan, every Apache is a target already anyhow. The identity of the pilot isn't really a factor, especially as they are so unlikely to be able to establish when or where who is flying.

I think a Wessex was lost in FI (anyone know for sure?) and so it would be only luck it wasn't Prince Andrew; no British Apache has yet been brought down (feel as if I should touch wood at this point).

It's quite simple: stop paying for them, abolish the monarchy, and he can do whatever damn job he likes.

They are targeting both Harry and other service personnel!

We hear of it because there are other deaths and injuries..... Do you know how many terrorist attacks on mainland Britain are prevented by security services? No, because security officers are not allowed to make it public knowledge!

Keep some perspective!

I don't think Harry wants to be on active service out of a sense of duty or altruism. A lot of young men would love to do what Harry's doing - be one of the lads, fly a big helicopter and fight in a war and see action - but at the same time know they're very unlikely to be harmed because they're royal and well protected.

well if he sat on his arse living a playboy lifestyle 24/7 you would hear the cries of disgust

hes trained for this long and hard and still thats not good enough for some

They didn't attack the Apaches though, they attacked the base. 2 US marines were killed and others injured. I don't necessarily disagree that Harry shouldn't be there, I just don't think that it should have been announced like it was.

I would have thought that there were other jobs he could do-it´s just tradition, isn´t it?

Maybe there aren´t many other jobs where it´s possible also do "Royal duties."