Originally Posted by Gator

And yet at the same time United Kingdom is drawing down her Forces in Iraq.

Of course the Prime Minister could have put the drawdown out to cause the Iraqis to sit on their hands where UK Forces are..... genius.

1,500 soldiers transferring responsibility to Iraqi forces is not exactly a huge drawdown. Besides, I read that Britain has only about 7500 troops in total deployed in the Iraqi theater. I'm not sure that those 1,500 soldiers will have a big effect on what the enemy does or plans to do.
I say good for the prince for not shirking his duty to his country and his people.

I say good for him. He joined the military and knew there was a risk of being deployed just like everyone else. Now his unit is being deployed and he's going with so good for him. Also whats with the red heads always being a target thing? Im a redhead and I would like to know.

Originally Posted by DTop

1,500 soldiers transferring responsibility to Iraqi forces is not exactly a huge drawdown. Besides, I read that Britain has only about 7500 troops in total deployed in the Iraqi theater. I'm not sure that those 1,500 soldiers will have a big effect on what the enemy does or plans to do.
I say good for the prince for not shirking his duty to his country and his people.

I happen to like Prince Harry, from what little I know reading from time to time about him in the papers over the years, and I believe it is good for him, and good of him to pull a tour in Iraq with the men he trained with.

I also understand the downside of having him there.... the would be ramifications of losing a member of the British Royal Family in combat, and the fact that not only Prince Harry, but also every member of his squad will be thus become high value targets for the Insurgents and Terrorists in Iraq.

Originally Posted by Gator

I happen to like Prince Harry, from what little I know reading from time to time about him in the papers over the years, and I believe it is good for him, and good of him to pull a tour in Iraq with the men he trained with.

I also understand the downside of having him there.... the would be ramifications of losing a member of the British Royal Family in combat, and the fact that not only Prince Harry, but also every member of his squad will be thus become high value targets for the Insurgents and Terrorists in Iraq.

Let me check.... nope I can't seem to find any instance of me mentioning or alluding to whether or not he'd become anymore of a target than anyone else. Maybe I missed something ?

No need to check Top, 'twas I who alluded to Prince Harry perhaps becoming more of a target.

I will try and stick to the script with my responses in the future.

Originally Posted by jequirity

If he was kidnapped on the otherhand, then that would pose some tricky problems. I'm not sure what kind of position that would put our government in but this situation is probably less likely to happen than his death.

Otherwise, i hope he does well, he's certaintly come along way from his teenage years, he always seemed more fun than william!

What will happen if and i do say if, he is to be {princenapped== kidnapped in iraq} GOD forbid that it will Happen, its just something that i was thinking about,

Having him there would be a morale boost to the Brits - and to him. This should outweigh any heightened risks. I'm sure the royals don't do military training just to prounce around it splendid uniforms.

Can anyone identify what the blue-white medal is that he's wearing?

Probably for completing training padre, other countries seem to hand out medals a lot more generously than Australia. In this I don't mean for bravery just medals for completing training, etc.

Originally Posted by Padre

Having him there would be a morale boost to the Brits - and to him. This should outweigh any heightened risks. I'm sure the royals don't do military training just to prounce around it splendid uniforms.

Can anyone identify what the blue-white medal is that he's wearing?

I think it is the Queens golden jubilee medal which is handed out to almost everyone in uniform.

The Golden Jubilee 2002 medal will be issued to the following personnel:

• All personnel who are in paid effective military service with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force on 6 February 2002, who have completed 5 calendar years service and were enlisted on or before 7 February 1997.
• All personnel who are in effective military service with the Volunteer Reserve Forces on 6 February 2002, completed five annual bounty earning training years and were enlisted on or before 7 February 1997. One of the bounty years must have been the year 2001-2002.
• A member of the Regular Reserves who is in military service on 6 February 2002 become eligible if their aggregated Regular and Voluntary service amounts to the 5 year qualification period.
• Any member of the Military Provost Guard Service whose MPGS paid service equates to the 5 year qualifying period.
• Contracted Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel in service on 6 February 2002 who have completed the 5 years qualifying period.
• Cadet Officers and Cadet Adult Instructors with a total of 5 training years service, providing the service period includes 6 February 2002 and they are part of an established post. The person must have started on or before 7 February 1997 and the year 2001-2002 must be part of the service period.
• A member of the 'front line' emergency services, accessed via the telephone number 999, who have completed a minimum of 5 years reckonable service on 6 February 2002. The emergency services include the Police, Fire and Ambulance Services, the Coastguard, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Mountain Rescue services.

And according to this site he was awarded it in 2003.

http://www.regiments.org/biography/royals/1984harW.htm

By jove, you've got in Monty. It fits the bill. Thanks