We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:45:32 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification No, not a typo-damaged lust for under-age cetaceans... rather young Prince Harry of A Squadron, the Blues and Royals. Prince Harry has threatened to quit the Army if commanders refuse to send him to the front line. He told senior officers before recently passing out of Sandhurst as a Second Lieutenant: "If I am not allowed to join my unit in a war zone, I will hand in my uniform." Good on you, Lieutenant. That's what I want to see in a young officer. Of course, it isn't that simple, now is it? Like it or not, Prince Harry is... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:57:44 -0600 He should serve in whatever role any other newly commissioned officer would serve. Otherwise, what's the point of his commission in the first place? I wish OUR 'upper crust' had the same sense of honor - when did military service cease to be expected of America's (I don't want to use the work 'elite', but that's really the only one that works)? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54522 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54522 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:32:45 -0600 JMH - Right you are (what *else*?). Plumb forgot about Mum's side. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54519 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54519 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 06:17:41 -0600 I believe George VI was a midshipman at Jutland. Jr. turret officer, or something. Of course his genetic cull older brother was Heir. Lotta in-breeding in those old aristocratic families, that's why it was a good idea to bring in the Spencer girl, for her genotype, if not her (very) mental phenotype. Elizabeth II knows stockbreeding; her horses usually win. I think Bil and Harry are each taller than their Dad. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54518 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54518 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:51:58 -0600 I don't know how this works, but couldn't Harry also decide to voluntarily remove himself from any claim to the throne? I believe he has already stated that he wants to be career military; this would simply confirm that decision. It would likely reduce his value as a target, and probably serve as a morale boost for his unit to boot. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54517 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54517 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:46:41 -0600 Bill Not quite: Battenburg-Saxe-Colburg-Gotha. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54511 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54511 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:46:35 -0600 Actually, if George V hadn't gotten huffy over his cousin Wilhelm's troops hobnailing all over the Benelux, we'd be cheering Leftenant Harry Saxe-Coburg-Gotha for making his stand. Dollars to donuts you're going to see the whole cav squadron go into spontaneous Bodyguard Mode when they hit Kandahar -- and woe betide *anybody* who even looks cross-eyed at the young Ell-Tee... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54502 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54502 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:02:10 -0600 It's a complex situation but really why train and prepare otherwise? If he's treated special then he really has to be treated special and not placed with a regular unit. I think he should be allowed to just go and do his job. If the worst happens we all know it was always possible. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54500 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54500 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:27:42 -0600 I suggest asking for volunteers to serve as his unit, thus making sure every person serving under his direct command is fully willing to take the "additional" risk caused by his lineage. Most likely, the regular troops already in the unit would request to continue their tasking and very few new folks would be needed in the unit. This approach would serve to satisfy his desire to serve in a combat zone as fitting his duty and to preserve the career of the chain of command he would be part of. Those who wish to lead must first learn to serve (a quote grabbed from somewhere in English literature, maybe Roman or Greek lit.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54496 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54496 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:38:46 -0600 Let him lead his men... I've no doubt that his unit will ensure his safety... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54480 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54480 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:24:27 -0600 Prince Harry has had this attitude for a while now. He's a VERY cool young man. I'm glad to see so much of his Mom in him. The world lost a lot when Princess Diana died. Both boys are carrying out her legacy of humanitarian aid. It's so wonderful to see. Like you said John, Prince Harry will make a very fine officer. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54478 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54478 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:51:45 -0600 http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/PrinceHarryToJoinBluesAndRoyals.htm Cheers]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54475 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54475 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:16:20 -0600 Windsor?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54474 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54474 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:05:41 -0600 Well, if I'm not mistaken, the other brother is not in any risk of that. So, Harry's danger is only that for his unit and self; the risk is to the propaganda value, in either direction, of his injury or demise. On the other hand, as John pointed out, the Royals have gone into active combat AND put themselves at risk with their citizens for many decades. King George VI actually went out to North Africa and to the Beaches of Normandy shortly after invasion to visit the troops. Not to mention appearing in uniform about London during the Blitzkrieg. That's without leading men. If I am not mistaken, one of his cousins in line for the throne served in Egypt in direct combat. The risk to the throne is actually very limited since not only is there William and Harry, but the sons and daughters of the other princes and princesses. Thus, the big risks are to the men on the ground and the propaganda value. But, if played right, even if Harry was injured or died in battle, he'd be just as valuable for propaganda to the west. And even more so as it would show that the Monarchs share the cost with their citizens, in good and bad times. It could immediately mitigate the continuing downslide of support for the war in England. Not completely, but they would get a boost out of it. The final question is, what flag officer has the cajones to risk his future career in ordering the prince to the front? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54473 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54473 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:50:00 -0600 let Wales go fight, but just don't have both brothers deployed in both zones at the same time. basic risk mitigation. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54470 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54470 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:15:42 -0600 I'm not sure there's an easy answer here, but it all is to Harry's credit. Well done! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54468 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54468 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:28:07 -0600 I think that he should deploy and fight with his unit. If the commanders didn't want him to go, then they should not have permitted him to join the unit - knowing it would deploy. It would be unfair to him, and just as unfair to his men, to remove him - definitely a morale buster! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54466 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/12/i_like_young_wa.html#comment-54466 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:24:12 -0600