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Prince amidst warmongers

If ever there was much ado about nothing, it was the debate over sending Prince Harry to Iraq for a tour of military duty. As expected, the high command of the British army has decided that the Queen's grandson will not accompany his squadron of the Household Cavalry when it deploys near Basra. It would have been ridiculous to set up the young Prince as a guardian of the Iraqis and then order the troopers of his unit to ensure his safety. The sector where the British contingent of the occupation army is deployed has hardly been quiescent, except of course in comparison with the violence-hit centre and north of the country. With very few Sunnis resident in southern Iraq, Shia groups have fought one another with increasing vehemence. Irrespective of sectarian affiliation, numerous militias declared that they were awaiting, with delicious anticipation, the arrival of the British royal. The third in line to the British throne makes the kind of target insurgents dream about. If any group had succeeded in capturing or killing Prince Harry, it would have become internationally famous overnight. The poor troopers of his regiment would have found themselves in an unenviable situation if he had gone with them. Prince Harry might have regretfully given up hope of chivalry, but his squadron mates, who have much to think about before their deployment in Iraq, will be mightily relieved that they can now say, "Farewell sweet Prince."

Prince Harry can of course have it both ways. Unlike the offspring of the American politicians who launched this illegal and calamitous war, he was seen to have displayed, if not chivalry, at least a sense of noblesse oblige. In announcing his desire to go to Iraq, the British royal succeeded in placing the Tony Blair government and the military high command in a dilemma — without really risking his own skin. Politically and strategically, a decision to `permit' Prince Harry to go ahead with his plans could have turned out to be extremely costly. With the inevitable refusal, the political and military leaderships have created an opportunity for their critics to say that they care only for the welfare of the upper classes. However, no sensible person will waste any sympathy on those who had to grapple with the problem of the Prince's deployment. Those who were so worried about exposing one young man to risk remain unmoved by the colossal suffering they inflict on millions of Iraqis by their policies. Had those responsible for the criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq cared as much for the other young people of their countries as they apparently do for Diana's son, they would never have sent their armies to Iraq.

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