Rerpisals feared after Prince Harry Admits to Taliban killings
This was the headline screaming out at me, demanding my immediate attention in this morning's copy of the Metro while taking the subway to work. The headline caught my attention, not because of it's supposedly incredible revelation, but for it's naivety. 'Well, how about that! You mean to tell me that a soldier serving in an active combat region of Afghanistan had to actually engage in active combat???!' - Pardon the sarcasm, but you'll get used it it.
Of, course, the British tabloids and other world media are exploiting this to the enth degree. Headlines such as, "Royal Sensation Harry: I Killed Taliban" and "Harry: I Have Killed" were splattered all over newstands on Tuesday following his return from a second tour of duty in the war-ravaged country.
So, HERE'S MY THING:
Prince Harry is a soldier. He has been for the last seven years, ever since he was commissioned in April 2006 as a Second Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry. "In February 2008, he completed more than two months' service with the British Army in Helmand province, Afghanistan, as a ‘Forward Air Controller’ for NATO forces. On April 13th 2008, Prince Harry was promoted from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant, and in January 2009, he began a two-and-a-half year training course to become a fully operational, full-time Army Air Corps helicopter pilot." (http://www.princehenryofwales.org/prince-harry/biography)
It is during this last tour, his second 20-week deployment to this tumultous territory where the Taliban wage war against civilians and soldiers without discrimination everyday, that Prince Harry acknowledged shooting Taliban insurgents while operating as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner. When asked by media reporters after his return if he had killed, he responded, "Yeah, so? Lots of people have." OH BOY! Now I don't have to tell you what kind of fuss that unpolished - yet typical for a 20-something-year-old - response garnered! His comments were 'arrogant and insenstive' stated Lindsey German, leader of the Stop the War Coalition.
How about, he's just stating the facts? He's a soldier, and they're in Afghanistan... what do you think they do, sit around and braid the Taliban's hair and sing Koombaya??? Of course we would love it if he came off the plane with his hair pefectly set in place, flashing us a flawless Royal smile, waving perfectly manicured hands, and responding to every question with unfaltering political correctness and charm. But that's not real life. Real life is, he's a 28-year-old young soldier who wasn't at his most articulate and just wanted to convey that he's a soldier, doing a soldier's job. Nothing more, nothing less.
My next question to those who would sensationalize his affirmative response to killing is.... what would the tabloids' reaction have been if they were greeted by the aforementioned Prince Charming in all his glory and, when asked the same question, he had responded, 'Me? Engage in Active Combat? Heaven's no! I'm afraid that's completely out of the question.' The tabloids would turn this comment into an excuse to label him a poser. A prince who is only playing at a very dangerous profession in which other men fight and die. The poor bugger's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't!
Lastly, in regards to the very first headline that eludes to a Taliban reprisal for Prince Harry's role in Taliban deaths.... I think that if the rest of the world already knew that Prince Harry was a soldier and that he had been stationed in Afghanistan, the Taliban probably already knew it too. I don't think this story is going to be big shocker to them. Does Harry run the risk of an assassination attempt by the Taliban? Of course he does. Did he know that when he signed on to serve, Of course he did. Is it his choice to make, and has he made it. Absolutely. Leaving all moral and ethical discussion over when, if ever, war and conflict are appropriate for another post - Prince Harry has chosen, in my opinion, a very honourable career. All he wants is to be able to do his job like any other soldier. He should be allowed to do that without the media making a circus out of it. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen any time soon.
