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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
1

Prince Harry Should Have Stayed

Christopher Hitchens asks what threat he posed others

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(Newser) – When Matt Drudge revealed to the world Prince Harry was in Afghanistan, there he should have stayed, writes Christopher Hitchens for Slate. It's "piffle" to think that his royal highness was a "bullet magnet" in Helmand province, already one of the most dangerous places on Earth for any Western soldier. Even if the jihadists wanted to, Hitchens reasons, they couldn't "bring extra firepower to bear."

Hitchens chalks up Harry's heroic stint as a public ploy to part ways with his youthful partying lifestyle. That his harried exit may come off as a retreat and bolster the opposition "seems to have occurred to nobody," Hitchens adds. "Are we certain that our obsession with 'security' is not in fact making us insecure?"

In this photo made available Sunday March 2, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry sitting in his Spartan armoured vehicle in the desert in Helmand province whilst on active duty in Southern Afghanistan on Feb. 19, 2008. Prince Harry returned to Britain Saturday March 1, after news reports revealed details about his...
In this photo made available Sunday March 2, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry sitting in his Spartan armoured vehicle in the desert in Helmand province whilst on active duty in Southern Afghanistan on Feb....   (Associated Press)
In this image made available in London, Thursday Feb. 28, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry patrols through the deserted town of Garmisir, Afghanistan, close to Forward Operating Base Delhi, on Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Prince Harry has been serving on the front line in Afghanistan with the British Army, according to...
In this image made available in London, Thursday Feb. 28, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry patrols through the deserted town of Garmisir, Afghanistan, close to Forward Operating Base Delhi, on Wednesday...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry is seen playing rugby with fellow soldiers during a break in their duties in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2008. Prince Harry's secret tour of duty, due to last until April, was abruptly ended after a magazine and Web sites disclosed details of his whereabouts.
Britain's Prince Harry is seen playing rugby with fellow soldiers during a break in their duties in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2008. Prince Harry's secret tour of duty, due to last...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry exits a military transport aircraft shortly after landing, upon his return from active duty in Afghanistan, at the Royal Air Force Brize Norton air base in Oxfordshire, southern England, Saturday, March 1, 2008. Prince Harry returned to Britain on Saturday after his 10-week stint serving with the...
Britain's Prince Harry exits a military transport aircraft shortly after landing, upon his return from active duty in Afghanistan, at the Royal Air Force Brize Norton air base in Oxfordshire, southern...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir Jan. 2, 2008, in Helmand province Southern Afghanistan. Prince Harry returned to Britain Saturday March 1, after news reports revealed details about his 10-week active military service in Afghanistan, and it was deemed too dangerous for him and other...
Britain's Prince Harry on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir Jan. 2, 2008, in Helmand province Southern Afghanistan. Prince Harry returned to Britain Saturday March 1, after news reports revealed...   (Associated Press)
In this photo made available Sunday, March 2, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry, right, and Major Mark Milford, center, are seen sitting in an observation post near Forward Operating Base Delhi in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Feb. 19, 2008. Prince Harry's secret tour of duty, due to last until April, was...
In this photo made available Sunday, March 2, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry, right, and Major Mark Milford, center, are seen sitting in an observation post near Forward Operating Base Delhi in Helmand...   (Associated Press)
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1 comment
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Shannonals
Jan 12, 09 4:33 PM CST
The Prince should have been allowed to staym, however I would have limited his patrols Reply
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