Put aside any snarks or other thoughts you may have about Prince Charles on other subjects.
Prince Charles follows Harry's footsteps to Afghanistan and visits British troops in secret trip to frontline.
It is a trip the prince, the Commander in Chief of ten regiments, had wanted to make since the conflict began to see first hand the situation and to express his admiration and thanks to soldiers for their 'incredible efforts'.
...
During his visit Charles took a trip over Helmand aboard a Chinook and received a briefing on the roadside bombs that have claimed so many British lives.
Hailing the troops fighting in Afghanistan, he said: 'Their mettle has been tested to the full and, as always, they have not been found wanting.
During the two-day tour, the Prince, who wore an armoured jacket with goggles and helmet, visited bases in Nad-e-Ali, where much of the UK's effort was based during Operation Moshtarak, and Lashkar Gah.
After being told of the progress troops were making, Charles left a wreath paying tribute to dead soldiers at Camp Bastion. He was also given a chance to try out British troops' mine clearance equipment.
A Clarence House spokesman said: 'The Prince of Wales has wanted to go to Afghanistan for several years and was very keen to see for himself the Armed Forces and allied members.
'He was also keen to see civilian involvement in regeneration projects and to thank them for their incredible efforts.'
During a briefing from troops, Brigadier James Cowan, Commander of Task Force Helmand Black Watch, told Charles the troops were winning the trust of locals.
He said: 'We have greatly reduced the use of lethal force through courageous restraint which requires our soldiers to be much more courageous, to put themselves in harm's way.
He spoke to President Hamid Karzai before flying in but they were unable to meet during the visit.
His spokesman added: 'The Prince was very pleased to have finally been able to make the visit.'
After visiting Kabul, Charles flew by helicopter to Patrol Base Pimon, in Nad-e-Ali, where he was met by Officer Commanding Right Flank Scots Guards, Major Ian Lindsay-German.
Maj Lindsay-German told Charles: 'We have seen a very, very steep drop in violence to the point where we are getting some signs of Taliban who want to come in.'One little note for you. None of the soldiers were disarmed. None.
The Prince later attended a brief memorial at Camp Bastion, where he laid a wreath of paper poppies and white carnations in honour of the fallen.
18 comments:
This may be a stupid question, but are you suggesting that when the President visits American troops, they ARE disarmed? If so, does this apply just to presidential visits or to visits by other dignitaries as well?
Good for the Prince, but he is just getting around to visiting A'stan in 2010? Wow...
Contrast: I think POTUS was in Iraq in the first few months of the the first year of his first term.
Since 1963, the Secret Service has been leary of loaded rifles anywhere near the President. Rightly so, and I am sure they are pretty tight with their rules.
Kingsley - Yes, when POTUS visits American troops, Secret Service demands they are disarmed. That was the drill when Dubya visited us in Baghdad. Kind of insulting.
Kingsley,
Butch answered you question above --- but I just wanted to say - good to hear from you again.
Watch my post early next week titled "One of these things" - you'll get a kick out of it.
Charles is a paratrooper, qualified pilot and naval commander.
Perhaps one of the benefits of King/Queen as Head of State and leader of the controlling party as Leader of the Government?
I doubt if we'll see Gordo Brown or the Boy Dave on the front line anytime soon.
O/T, but of interest- Norks sink a ROK ship-
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SGE62P0GW.htm
It's not rightly so. It's a slap in the face to anyone who has ever taken the oath. One would think that serving officers in the field might show a little spine to the SS folks who demand such things. We have a president, not a monarch, though lately it's been hard to tell the difference.
The Secret Service has been out of control since Hinkley tried to kill President Reagan. I understand their mission and imperative, but sometimes they seem to go too far.
Lee Harvey Oswald was a marine once... Being a serviceman isn't a guarantee of not being a threat.
..and that policy is not likely to change any time soon, thanks to the likes of the Ft Hood jihadi.
That would be the largest ceasefire breach since many years, I bet the bells are ringing in Pacific Command.
<span>Charles, for all his goofiness, <span>at least </span>looks the part in battle dress. He's also looking more like his father every day.</span>
Hey GBS, I think he looks more like his Mum. :) Maybe it's just a function of age.
I do like that they all serve in the military though. Too bad we don't have a similar requirement ala "Starship Troopers."
Oh....Tim...
Wonder if his rank insignia is a subdued version of this:
While I don't hold much with Chuck's generally daffy left-new-age position, full props for going in-country and visiting the front lines!
As for the Secret Service requirements: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!? American troops are required to <span>disarm</span> in the presence of the President of the United States!!?
George Dubya (Washington) must be weeping in his grave at this very moment...
...And ewok? Oswald left the Marines under a hardship discharge (October 1959). At no time during his service did he exhibit behavior indicating anything beyond an affection for communist ideology. Note that the Kennedy assassination took place four years later.
My dad is a naturalized US citizen. Served in Korea with the UN forces back in the early 50's. He very nearly cried at seeing The Prince in AF, said it reminded him of the Royal Family back in the blitz days when he and his sister were evacuated out of London. I'm just saying, the monarchy means a great deal to people from other cultures and he and I have been at brass rings many times over the issue of uninformed electorate vs monarchary. I'm not so sure he doesn't have a point. And Charles' son served, which is more than most congress types can claim of their children.
Also note use of British army standard body armour and helmet, using the same as the troops not toting under thing special. With regard to visiting earlier PM, Def Sec & CGS have all visited Iraq and AfPak, the next in line to the throne has a higher risk mgmt bar to pass - probably been fighting his mother and security pers over a visit for years.
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