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UK press sing Harry's praise
29/02/2008 08:34 - (SA)
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| Britain's Prince Harry sits atop a military vehicle in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where he is serving on the front line. (John Stillwell, AP) |
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London - British newspapers on Friday were unanimous in their support for Prince Harry after news of his deployment to Afghanistan emerged, though some noted that it was now time for him to come home.
The defence ministry in London confirmed the 23-year-old royal had been in Afghanistan's restive southern Helmand province for more than two months fighting the Taliban, making him the first British royal to be sent on active duty since 1982.
Leading the praise was The Sun tabloid, which described Harry as a "man of outstanding courage who has risked having his head blown off by the Taliban so he can serve his country with his mates".
"For many weeks he has played a vital role as a battlefield air controller directing war planes against enemy targets."
Cover blown
But, the paper noted in its editorial, it was likely his deployment was over, now that it had become public: "The only disappointment is that Harry may have to come back because foreign media blew his cover."
The Daily Mirror echoed those sentiments, beginning its editorial by saluting "the courage and bravery of Household Cavalry officer Prince Harry".
"He's neither asked for, nor received, special treatment. He has patrolled in dangerous Helmand province and come under fire as just another soldier," the tabloid said.
"He will be disappointed not to complete his tour as planned, but he should be proud of his achievement - and we salute his grit and determination."
For The Times, the prince's deployment "reflects well on the Army for taking a clear-eyed view of Prince Harry's usefulness not just as a joint terminal attack controller ... but as a strategic asset".
"In the Falklands conflict, and down the centuries before it, members of the royal family have fought in Britain's wars with varying degrees of distinction but almost always with a morale-boosting effect that is no less real for being hard to measure."
In spite of all that, however, the paper noted that "security comes first".
"That does not preclude future tours, but if it means this one is over, it has already served a noble purpose."
Originally touring Iraq
Harry had originally been slated to complete a tour in Iraq last year, but British military chiefs staged an about-turn over concerns regarding his safety and that of his comrades, leaving the prince bitterly disappointed.
The Daily Telegraph said that Harry's tour of Afghanistan was good news on two counts, the first of which was that "excluding the prince from combat operations would have suggested that there was one rule for members of the royal family and another for the rest of the armed forces".
"Second, seeing action ... in Helmand fulfils a dream for a young man who has obviously found his vocation as a soldier."
Meanwhile, in its editorial, the Daily Mail said Harry "deserves our commendation, as does the Army for its sensible handling of his presence in Afghanistan".
"That said, we should remember that there are 11 000 other British personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, every one of whom is as precious to their families as the prince is to his.
"They too are risking their lives for their country. They too have relatives who fear the knock on the door. They are all heroes, princes and privates alike."
- AFP
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