The Right Decision

Prince Harry shouldn't go to Iraq, and the army is right to prevent him.

Now, the republican in me wants Harry out there. The fact that he is a member of the Royal Family should not prevent him from being treated as a normal soldier - so if his unit is going out to Iraq, then so should Harry. And to his credit, Harry seems to want to accompany his troops into the War Zone. But to insist on Harry going out there to prove a point about equality in the army would not only be obtuse, but also moronic.

The simple fact is that Harry would be the ultimate scalp for the insurgents. They would make every effort to take the Prince, parade him on camera if they captured him, and no doubt execute him on film if their (almost certainly grossly unreasonable) demands were not met. And Harry would not be the only person to suffer. The insurgents have shown their ruthlessness time and time again - so not only would Harry suffer, but so would those around him if he was captured. The risk is simply to great for him and for those he would serve with.

If Harry does want to serve the country that has elevated him to the status of prince by an accident of birth, then there are far more sensible and sane ways for him to do it - both inside the army and in other areas of society.