Hand-wringing Brits surprised that Harry killed people
The Associated Press reports that somehow it’s news that a guy who flies attack helicopters in Afghanistan admits that he killed people. AP says that headlines across Britain screamed headlines like “Harry: I Have Killed” referring, of course to their prince, Harry. So I guess he admitted it in an interview that was released yesterday saying “Yeah, so, lots of people have” when asked the question that many of us are asked by the uninitiated.
Lindsey German, leader of the Stop the War Coalition [and a former member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party], called Harry’s comments “arrogant and insensitive” and raised the prospect that Harry might have accidentally targeted Afghan civilians.
Ya know, I might have more shocked if he didn’t kill anyone since, as I said he flew attack helicopters. Now if he was flying medevac craft, maybe not so much.
Others keep his job in perspective;
“By and large, the world’s elite make sure their sons and daughters go nowhere near the firing line. So it brings credit to the royal family, and it’s good for army morale, that Harry’s not sitting back in London saying, ‘Well done, boys!'” [ Charles Heyman, who edits a yearbook on British forces] said.
Others worry that he has made the royal family a target of terrorists. Like they weren’t already. Or that Harry’s admission will attract retaliation from terrorists – they were bombing the Brits long before Harry put on a uniform, so what changes, really?
Category: Terror War
I find it insensitive if you don’t by him a beer for a job well done!
I think we appreciate Harry more than some of the Brits do.
I’ve read a number of articles and watched his interview. He and his brother are decent young men with their priorities straight.
Harry said he would much rather be with his unit in Afghanistan as Capt Wales than playing Prince Harry in London. He was also pretty frustrated that he couldn’t be more forward out patrolling rather than in a helicopter.
It’s nice to see such devotion to duty when so many young people are so selfish and lazy these days.
If the Prince parties off duty, it’s news. If the Prince does his job while on duty, it’s news. If he cuts the ribbon to open a new shopping mall, he’s littering, or being a frivilous pimple on humanity.
The bigger story is that the Prince and his brother, the future King, have an extremely deep, abiding distrust, perhaps hatred, of newsies.
And they’ve done more than just open shopping malls – they both have a hard core of Brit veterans who will support them. For our elites, they have… hippies, Marxists, pedophiles, wanna-be mass murderers, and Stolen Valor heroes.
Saw Harry being interviewed on CNN-he apparently loves being a pilot and enjoys his time on deployment. Anyway, as Jonn pointed out-it’s his job to fly close air support which involves shooting at people. If you go on arrse on thing you will see them kvetch about is friendly fire casualties involving American CAS (largely because we supply the vast majority of air assets). Now one of their own is flying those missions and shooting at baddies, they can unbunch their panties.
He left in the middle of an interview because someone gave the signal to lift off. He has his priorities straight.
Lindsey German, leader of the Stop the War Coalition [and a former member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party], called Harry’s comments “arrogant and insensitive” and raised the prospect that Harry might have accidentally targeted Afghan civilians.
Their socialists certainly don’t mind painting their troops as criminals either, I see. However, that Coalition name rings a loud bell. Weren’t they at the US Capitol a few years ago running around and protesting something or other with the CODEPinko’s?
Lindsey German, leader of the Stop the War Coalition [and a former member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party], Stop right there,,, whatever comes next is invalid.
I have a great deal of respect for Harry. He’s a member of the Royal Family, he doesn’t have to go out and fight wars, that’s what peasants are for. But he does anyway, and that is hella respectable.
So your basis for describing British people as “hand-wringing,” is two hysterical tabloid newspapers and one malodorous peasant? You don’t feel that you are perhaps misrepresenting the situation a bit?
In contrast the BBC (which is left leaning at the best of times) has described him as a warrior prince and described his combat role in realistic and unemotional terms.
@2 You think wrong.
@4 His mum died in a car crash while attempting to evade journalists. The media compromising his persec is the reason that he cannot serve on the ground. It is no wonder that he isn’t fond of journalists.
@5 ARRSE is not representative of the British Armed forces. Having said that do you expect the British Army to be happy about getting bombed by the USAF? Further Britain has been flying CAS for ourselves and others since day one, thanks very much.
Kenneth-happy? No, but perspective in all things and that is often missing on those theeads. There’s a nasty undercurrent of anti-Americanism that occasionally emerges on ARRSE and far too many who post there seem to think nothing of running down Americans in general and American forces specifically, it may not be “representative” but I see a lot more piling on when it happens as opposed to the asshats being called on it.
Ease up a little Kenny, American perception of British sensibilities is generally that you all are even bigger slaves of the tabloids than we are. Being as I’m a first gen American with plenty of family in the UK, I’m hard pressed to disagree.
That said, please note that our veterans here ‘love’ your Prince. I’d have loved to party with the guy back in the day, he’d have fit in with my ‘brothers’ perfectly.
No need to be quite so toffe-nosed, Kenneth. We all herein appreciate Capt. Wales’ attitude.
I’m told that there is nothing so beautiful for grunts in contact than to hear an attack helicopter call sign come up on the net, politely asking if they could be of any assistance.
With Capt Wales on the horn, it probably goes:
“Groundpounder 6, this is Whirlybird 31, I say, old chap, you seem to be in a spot of bother, may I be of assistance, over?”
“Whirlybird 31, this is Groundpounder 6, affirmative, the locals are turning into a bloody nuisance, and some of my men are right cross about it, over…”
I’m just trying to defend the reputation of my country. I won’t let it be said unchallenged that thought of killing Taliban/AQ offends us.
@11 I agree with your characterization of ARRSE. None of the soldiers that I have known in real life think that way though. I have personally heard British soldiers forcefully defend the honour of the United States military when people have spoken of you unkindly in their presence.
Can we trade out Piers for the Prince?
/sarc
The reputation of your country? Well, it is now established that you are both an optimist and an overachiever, Kenneth.
Hey relax, pal. Nobody here is bringing up that American Revolution thing or even Dunkirk.
Cheers Kenneth-no hard feelings. We had an RAF Tornado fly CAS once for my Cav squadron in Iraq in 2005. He could fly lower than our regular air support and I remember at the time thinking it was cool. Harry is awesome as far as I’m concerned (just wanted to say that outright in case I didn’t make myself clear).
Oh ya, what RPR said!!! PLEASE
Screw ’em if he can’t take a joke.
@17 In return I promise never to allude to the events of the 24th of August 1814.
I’m just saying… If I was a young prince, it would be MANDATORY that I be photographed nude in Vegas and killing bad guys with an attack helicopter… Even though its an apache 🙁 (sorry but I’m a Kiowa pilot, can’t speak TOO highly of an apache or I lose my wings)
But seriously, I applaud him for living the life while he can. We should all be so lucky. Good hunting brother! Cleared hot!
I’d Buy him a pint…
Does the UK not have any of the WW2 generation left that fought against socialists for their very survival? How can a guy like Michael Savage be exempt from entering Britain to speak but a socialist parties are allowed to exist and operate openly?
Guy: I’d be honored to have a pint or two with the young man as well.
Kenneth (15, 21): understood, and fair enough. We’ll refrain from mentioning the events of 8 January 1815, too. (smile)
We ever meet, first pint is on me.
@21. You’re okay, pal.
Harry’s all good in my book. Looks like his momma (rest her soul) raised him right.
First, look at who is foaming at the mouth — the loyal opposition. In fact, I would just call them the opposition (in all ways and levels, and there are some interesting connections there).
Second, I would buy him a pint but would prefer to buy him a dram — and nothing wee about it.
Well done CPT Wales.
Jeez. Looks like these Brits can stay drunk for a month without spending a dime.
I think Diana (and whatever “nanny” staff they had) did a great job at raising those boys. She should get the credit for them turning out as well as they did.
It’s difficult to give any credit to Chuck and the rest of the family.
Good on you Capt. Happy hunting!
Well, at least the British are keeping their warriors.
We keep firing ours.
Puts me in mind of another Harry, from long ago.
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o’erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O’erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill’d with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call’d fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!”
Henry V, Act III, Scene 1 (the Gates of Harfleur speech.)
Yeah, the “Band of Brothers” speech (from Agincourt) gets more publicity but the Harfleur speech has always been one of my favorite Shakespeare bits.
It’s to his credit (and that of the Royal family) that Harry saw fit to serve on the sharp end when it would have been easy for him to avoid it entirely as so many others have done.
Unfortunately, most of our political elites seem to have disdained military service, particularly those who came of age during the Vietnam war.
@14, You are 100% correct. As a grunt under fire one of the most beautiful sounds is those rotor blades amd hearing the pilot drop to your net and ask how they can help. It’s like hearing Angels sing.