Prince Harry is terrorist bait

Guardian:

Prince Harry was left under no illusions of his value as a scalp for Iraqi insurgents. Even so, senior military officers could never have predicted the sheer scale of and nature of the threats lying in wait.

Iraqi militia groups have already hatched detailed plans to seize him as a hostage when he arrives in Iraq next month. In a remarkable series of interviews, some of the most notorious paramilitary factions in southern Iraq claim that informants placed inside British military barracks in Iraq have received orders to 'track' the movements of the third in line to the throne.

The claims again question the Ministry of Defence's decision to allow Harry to serve in Iraq where he and his unit will be seen as a valuable target to those attacking US and British forces.

Last night a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We have not concealed the fact that he is going out there and the bad guys know that he's coming and we expect that they will consider him a high-profile scalp.' Despite the threats, Whitehall officials ruled out the possibility of the prince not being sent to Maysan, the most volatile province in southern Iraq, where attacks against British forces are mounting.

He will serve with his regiment, the Blues and Royals, for a six-month tour of duty. He is trained as a troop leader to take command of four Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles and will be deployed in Iraq alongside 11 men who will serve under him.

One senior army officer who has completed three tours of duty in Basra, confirmed yesterday that Harry's imminent arrival in Iraq was causing 'disquiet at senior levels' within the military. He warned that those around him, particular those under Harry's direct command, could be at an increased risk: 'Wherever they place him in theatre, the concern is it will attract fire towards everyone on the ground.'

He described Harry, who says he does not want to 'sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country', as the 'mother of all targets'.

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For Harry's sake I hope they do a better job of protecting him than they did the sailors and Marines captured by Iran. With a little foresight, the Brits may be able to find more terrorist who normally avoid engagement, by keeping observation of activities around the Prince. Give them hell Harry.