The Warrior Prince

[Reynard Bleu]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21128906

Tip of the spear and all that.....

[Finnegan]

Out of interest, Reynard, what's the general attitude within the military to this tabloid obsession with painting Harry as an actionmanesque super hero?

Do you feel that every day soldiers find it a good example and encouraging to see or do you think it's a bit cringeworthy that he gets such fuss over what may be every day tasks for a soldier in his position?

[Vacamion]

"facing real dangers"

Hmmm.

I wonder if there was any chance, any chance at all, that he would kop it.

Given that his death would have given the enemy such a boost and given our establishment such a kick in the teeth, I am inclined to be cynical and think , on balance, "not".

Fair play to him for firing guns at the Taliban, though... I can't see what the fuss is about with him saying he has fired on the enemy - if we are going to be at war, people will be shot at.

[ADK]

Flying a military aircraft is dangerous in itself, although i bet they make sure his gets well maintained.

[Babylon]

Fair play to anyone going out there, royal or not. Don't expect him to be running around fighting face to face, but it still takes balls... especially when your other option could quite easily be sunning yourself on a beach somewhere.

I know what I'd choose.

[flowwolf]

I think he faces a more real threat to his life when he gets back home. Saying he took out Talibans is going to prompt some Muslim fanatic in this country to want to make a martyr of him self by taking HIM out. He is now a prime target for a fatwa.

[Reynard Bleu]

Out of interest, Reynard, what's the general attitude within the military to this tabloid obsession with painting Harry as an actionmanesque super hero?

Do you feel that every day soldiers find it a good example and encouraging to see or do you think it's a bit cringeworthy that he gets such fuss over what may be every day tasks for a soldier in his position?

Most of the old Tom's in my unit thought it all a load of bollocks. In his first short tour he was show blatting away with a .50 cal at targets unseen and probably unreal, no body armour, no helmet, hundred pound bergan on his back. They thought this was a set up. The Officers's were generally pleased he was However, if he is flying shotgun for the IRT and knocking over the insurgents on the ground he will be respected for that. The Apache is the grunts best friend, when they are ovehead the bad guys disappear quickly.

My opinion? He will never be just an ordinairy soldier, they will never allow it. Althout Bastion is no holiday camp and is right in Theatre, its cushy compared to a stag in a forward patrol base on hard routine. I admire the fact that he wants to be seen to be doing something real this time, although I wouldnt want to be actually serving alosgside him, - bullet magnet.