Skydragon said:
Yes indeed poor Harry, however your comments show a lack of understanding on your part. He has already proved himself more than most young men with his commitment to his training, no hanging about on street corners for this young man. While it is true that he doesn't know what fighting in a war is like, nobody does until you are involved, he (unlike most members here) will have seen and heard the horrific, graphic recordings of battles and the aftermath, or did you think that they only have news articles to inform them.
No, the decision has not yet been made, it is being talked about by the army chiefs and all concerned parties and the media are not privy to these talks.
So indeed poor Harry, or do his feelings not count because of who he is?
I would guess he has gotten over the sadness of not being able to go do battle in Afganistan. But then again, may he has not.
Sure, I've never said that he did not have any feelings, and I am sure he is actually quite upset and very deeply hurt that he is not able to go forward into Afganistan and fight in the war with the other soldiers. I do understand it all too well. But unfortunately, dodging gunfire, avoiding landmines and battling insurgencies seems to be a task that someone else will have to do. And unfortunately it is really too bad that Harry will not have his own cache of war stories to tell (so far).
And yes, he is probably the valiant, dashing, brave, enthusiastic and courageoeous soldier. I have no doubt that he is all of those things. And the most intelligent of all, yes, probably top of his class. I still think that he's too sheltered to handle any kind of hot spot like Afganistan, and I still think that he can make himself useful in the war effort in other ways (similar to the visits that Blair has made to cheer the troops and uplift morale) and if he really really wants to go fight on the front lines (I doubt it will ever happen) then maybe someone can arrange for a short stint somewhere so he can have the 'going to war' experience and then feel better about it. But I do believe it would only be a short stay because he is a prince after all, regardless of his feelings about it that is the reality. It's truly a double-edged sword for him. He wants to fight and experience a real live war firsthand, but others will not let him. I understand the disappointment and sadness that he might feel completely. It is totally unfair that these decisions have already been made about his life without his input, but again those are the breaks, as some might say.
(please correct me if I am wrong) Going to Sandhurst is a sort of a tradition for some royals and in a dangerous war situation like Afganistan and Iraq (I know, nobody ever said that he wanted to go to Iraq), as it's been stated, the decision was made about what he would be doing afterwards long ago. Kosovo is a good suggestion, if I'm not mistaken they're not at war, but in some phase of reconstruction. He can spend some time in a former war zone.
And as far as hanging on the corner, if he were doing something like that the media would tell about it right away (#
92 ), so everyone would know right away, just like everything else since he has a high profile.