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ARTICLE SUMMARY

HARRY: Goodbye normal life

THE conditions were hardly desirable. In the far south of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Prince Harry has spent some of the past 10 weeks sleeping on a spartan camp bed in a mud-brick ­building within sight of the Taliban trenches.

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CONDITIONS HARDLY DESIRABLE? HARDLY NORMAL EITHER. PRINCE HARRY WAS THERE UNDER THE WATCHFUL PROTECTION OF 3 SAS BODYGUARDS, NOT TO MENTION OF THE GUERKHAS

05.03.08, 2:18am

Prince Harry's deployment was hardly similar to that of the ordinary British soldier. Harry had 3 SAS bodyguards protecting him everywhere he went. That makes a big difference. It's much easier to be a hero when there is no risk. The average British soldier is out there alone, at risk, badly equipped, lacking in food and morale. Not so privileged Harry. Yet he gets back after a 10-day stint and with a medal and kudos for being a hero. How?

In addition, it wasn't just Matt Drudge who knew about this escapade. The Taliban have announced that they knew he was there and had plans for him. It is fortunate for Harry that the Military bigwigs removed him post haste. Had the Taliban had more time, they would have got him, and killed him they say. Quite possibly they would have beheaded him and sent a video of it around the world. The news blackout was of no consquence in the face of Taliban intelligence - which is as good as that of the British, the Americans, the Israelis. Someone underestimated everyone else and not just news people around the world. This has all the earmarks of a staged PR stunt. Sorry Harry, I do not believe that was your intention.

Goodbye Normal Life? He'd better believe it and get real. This stunt has brought out the worst of the Muslim terrorist loudmouth clerics. There is no doubt a price on his head. He is a prime target. There are plenty of Muslim no-goods in Britain looking to be heroes themselves.

This article was obviously written before the Taliban had its say. It served everyone's purpose to denigrate the American journalist on an American website as putting Harry's life at risk. He put his own life at risk - except not quite given the SAS bodyguard.

Talk about spoon feeding the British populace with canned news, doctored news, this is a good example. The British newspapers thought they had fooled everyone. On whose orders I would ask. But they didn't fool Matt Drudge who refused to get into line with them. He is honest and straightforward. He wouldn't have gone along with this game.

Now the Harry had better think twice before resuming his night life. It is gone forever because the Al Qaeda fanatics will seize the opportunity. They are in a vengeful mood, as the Taliban spokesman has announced. No wonder when Prince Harry is reported as saying bombing out there (civilians included understood ) is "not very nice." It is murderous Harry, but how would you know in the protective arms of the SAS.

This story stinks to high heaven. Hero indeed. I have nothing against this young man but he lives in cloud cuckoo land. He'd better get real. The Muslims have and the Taliban has spoken on the part of the Afghanee civilians - and Al Qaeda.

What a foolish escapade.

• Posted by: Rothaymere • Report Comment

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HARRY: GOODBYE NORMAL LIFE

01.03.08, 7:45pm

I have a sincere respect for Prince Harry because of his attitude to be "normal". For mere mortals on this earth it's impossible to understand what drives individuals like Prince Harry. Was his stint in the army just to help him 'find' himself or was it for real? Historians will be writing long into the night about the Prince.
Unfortunately Prince Harry is in the same boat as most 23 yr olds trying to figure out life. Myself at age 23, I was already married with one child and happily working the working man's hours trying to make it all work out. For me life worked itself out ok, but not so well for everyone else.
Life doesn't change from one generation to another, everyone needs to a reason for being.

• Posted by: Taurus40cal • Report Comment

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THE REAL WAR IN AFGHANISTAN: READ SEAN LANGAN'S WELCOME TO HELL

01.03.08, 7:44pm

It is not prettyied up as with Harry, no amount of effort can do that to the war in Afghanistan.

Sean Langan reports from Helmand Province where he risked death by firing squad to talk to Taliban commanders and a would-be suicide bomber aged just 14. Sean Langan: Welcome to Hell (Part 1). Fighting The Taliban documents the bravery and increasing exhaustion of British soldiers as their supplies of food and ammunition run low, and morale ...

Helmmland, let me see that is where Harry was for 10 days ... and the foregoing doesn't exactly describe what he encountered.

I resent the duplicity of the press in all this. I have nothing against Harry. He and his brother William are a credit to their mother, Diana. But this is going too far. And I for one question why? Somehow the Daily Express headline: PHILIP AND THE NAZIS comes to mind.

Is the collective press brotherhood trying to make amends for the bad publicity after Fayad had his say at the Inquest and spectacularly accused the Royal Family - reported with glee by the British press? I am very, very skeptical.

• Posted by: Rothaymere • Report Comment

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C'MON!

01.03.08, 2:41pm

If Harry was worth half the salt the nation has paid for his upbringing, he'd be using his postioin to stop these illegal invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, rather than trying to glorify himself by killing some Arabs with the aid of the US murdering machine.

Janda

• Posted by: janda • Report Comment

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