Is it right to dedicate an elite SAS team to shadow Harry & ensure he can play soldiers in Iraq in safety?

Question

Prince Harry is going to Iraq. He threatened to quit the military unless he went..

He’ll become a primary target & therefore risk his fellow troops. If Harry was kidnapped and tortured on video or killed it would be a disaster. So, one of the four elite SAS squadrons has been tasked with protecting him

Before Harry goes anywhere, the SAS will sweep the area & secure it in advance.. Then they’ll shadow him at a distance & let him play soldiers in safety. The SAS will kill any enemy before they get near anywhere him

The British SAS are the most elite, most proven, best trained & deadly Special Forces in the world. But the superhuman fitness, stamina, bravery & intelligence needed to be a Special Forces soldier means they’re very rare.

Should the most skilled soldiers be wasted on protecting a spoiled Prince so he can play war without the real risk of war? Or should Harry stay home & let the SAS do real stuff like preventing terrorism, rescuing hostages, assassinating warlords etc.

Antony R - Did you get confused?

I don't claim to be an expert. It's my opinion, but might be wrong.

It's my opinion that you're a tw*t too. Now run along....

Here's the report on the SAS protecting Harry. I'm not inventing this:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105773

Answer 1

i completely agree, however i understand the politics of it after all it looks good for the royal family if he "fights" in iraq. but the SAS should not be wasted in this manner, they should have let him resign.

Answer 2

When someone joins the forces they become a number, he joined to play army and therefore should be treated the same as everyone else, why should he get special treatment? If he gets he own SAS unit to cover him whats the point him being there? they will kill all enemy before his gets to pull the trigger. Mr and Mrs "jones" want there son to be safe while in the army but they cant have a SAS unit watching over there son so why should Harry?

Also the SAS isnt THE best fighting reg in the world, Take a look at the SBS (special boat service) from the royal marines they do more training(42 weeks i think) than the army to start off with then they have to do all the SAS training AND then go onto the SBS training which lasts up to about 3 years.
So the SBS are better trained than the SAS by far.

The SAS is too much of a household name, The SBS are a small unit no more than 200 i think and they keep there missions quiet so they can get in deep behind enemy lines and dont brag about it to every tom dick and harry like the SAS do.

There are lots of elite forces out there, Seals, Delta, GSG-9, Spetsnaz.....the list goes on.

Answer 3

It's a sad day when one's status prevents one from achieving much.

I think we're all aware that having a Prince lead the troops to war could be more disastrous than effective, but I'm sure it will do the nation good to have a Prince who is a true Officer, and who has lead his men in the battlefield no matter his status.

It's a tricky balance between having the men protected, and protecting the men, but it is one balance that we have to strike. Having the Prince avoid war just because of his status would speak poorly of him, and the Royal Household.

The SAS and other units that are serving the nation also have an obligation to protect the Royal family, whether at home or abroad, and any assignment to protect Prince Harry in Iraq would merely be an extension of their existing obligations.

Let Harry go to Iraq. And let the necessary units protect him. It would do him and the nation good.

And if His Royal Highness has any opinions on the war after that, at least we will know that it isn't unfounded.

Answer 4

To start, I say fair play to the lad. He's young and wants to be treated normally and fight along side those he has trained with and those he is in charge of.

However, if he or anyone else thinks that he will placed into a situation, where his life is going to be put in immediate danger then they are very mistaken.

It would seriously damage the reputation of any political party in power at the time if Harry was killed.

The media attention surrounding the Prince allone would prevent him from doing his job properly and would also be a vertual red flag for those who would seek to cause him harm.

As for the SAS protecting him, where has this information come from? If it is true then I can only suggest this would part of their close protection training and used in the same context as when the Police do the same in non conflict situations. This is probably another case of the media bigging up something that doesn't exist!

Answer 5

'Sources'

I read the article. It could be a typical piece of news room speculation to try to flush out a story.

Haven't seen anything myself to back up this 'story'

Might be the MOD trying to make the insurgents think he is so well protected it 'ain't worth trying.

I notice you embellished it yourself by talking about the SAS doing a sweep of an area before he enters. That is an assumption(speculation) on your part.

I doubt if it is true. Remember the SAS are already there doing all sorts of dirty work and in Afghanistan I doubt they have the man power to mount such an over arching operation. Just think about the distance and equipment they would have to cover?
Harry will be in a highly mobile rapid moving unit on reconnaissance work, how will the SAS get and keep ahead?
Further when the command post issues an immediate change of operational requirements how will they know?

No I think Harry will face the same risks as his men, simply because it is a war zone and a fast moving fluid situation, it is not a stroll in the park with opportunities to forward plan.

Answer 6

Cracker, you sound jealous of Harry. The kid has class, and those skilled soldiers are an honor guard. Harry isn't playing, and measures taken to insure his safety are simply common sense. The very fact that he chose to go when he could have easily bailed should be respected. If his unit went without him, you would be calling the guy a coward. He can't win in the court of public opinion, so put a sock in that pie hole of yours and watch it on the telly, you might get to see Harry do a photo op on some of the dead his SAS team left lying around just for realism.

Answer 7

I don't know if it true that a SAS team will shadow Harry, but if it is I think it is silly! We have to assume that he has achieved his current position through hard work and determination not just because he is a Windsor. He has trained and proved himself like the rest of our soldiers and should just be left to get on with it.

If the royals intervene then I think they are wasting tax payer's money. I also believe it is sending Harry the message that they only believe he can do his job if they help him out! If they didn't want to put him into danger they should have talked him into a job in the city not the army!

Answer 8

Its understandable he wants to be with his men BUT he should also acknowledge that he isn't just 'an ordinary soldier', he is a Royal Prince. As such he has a value to the UK & isn't his own man. He is to some extent 'public property' (like his brother) & so he must take this into account.
Its a good indicator that he wants to go to Iraq, but it's also a sign of immaturity that he doesn't seem to realise that his special position means he can't ignore the responsibilities that come with it. To put troops at additional risk because of him is not on.

Answer 9

Thanks to The mighty media machine the insurgents practically know who to hit and his unit is gonna get some stick. I doubt very much that Harry will be in the line of fire at anytime probally spend most of his time in the rear with the Beer...And I'm sure the SAS with their X-ray vision and ability to jump tall buildings in a single bound will help....
Sorry Mate Don't mean to take the Iss but beleive it or not SAS Soldiers and real people very fit,dam good at their job but not superhuman...

Answer 10

I completely agree. i answered this on a question earlier.
This as well as being a waste of resources and a ridiculous PR stunt, it is an insult to all other soldiers who do their job without protection and at great risk to themselves. He should be made to stay home

And Xian W is getting confused i think, William is in line for the throne anyway, not Harry. If Harry gets killed it won't change a bloody thing within the Monarchy.

Answer 11

I think you actually believe this!
If Harry wanted to be a book publisher, would the world think anything of him?
30 years ago it would have been unthinkable for Royalty to go to a war zone. Then Andrew went to the Falklands as a helicopter pilot.
You don't give Harry any credit for wanting to do something positive.
The guard is something he would prefer to be without, but comes with the job of being a Royal.
Top Army advisers have looked at the problems involved. And said Yes.
You sound as if you know better ?..........