Prince Harry Back From The Afghan Front

Young Royal Returns From War Zone, Described As Most "Normal" Life He's Known

(CBS)  If Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan was a big secret, his return couldn't be more public.

He was a normal soldier, it was said, when he was in Afghanistan. But he's a royal prince with a significantly changed reputation as he comes home, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips in London.

An airbase west of London is the main transit point for British troops moving in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq, but few returns draw this kind of welcome: Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, were two unusual members of the welcoming committee.

Harry had described his experience in Afghanistan as the most "normal" life he's ever likely to be allowed to live, but as he started his trip home, Prince Harry's normalcy was beginning to drop away.

A Prince may put his own bags through the X-ray screener - but somebody is there to help him at the other end.

Harry and the British military had hoped his tour of duty might extend into April. But when news of it broke and his cover was blown, the game was up - as he knew it would be.

He told an interviewer, "Once this film comes out, there will probably be every single person who supports them will be trying to slot me, but now that you come to think about it, it is quite worrying."

And worrying as well for the families of those troops who were with him. Harry's nickname is "Bullet Magnet," and once it was known where he was, those other troops became potential targets, too.

"While no one knew he was there, it wasn't a problem," said Steve Robert, stepfather of a British soldier. "I think once it became public knowledge, common knowledge, the fact that he's come home, we are quite relieved."

Now that he's out of the country, the extent of his duties in Afghanistan is being released. He patrolled a tense area in the south of the country in which the Taliban has been active, looking for insurgents who might be trying to slip through allied lines. He worked as a forward air controller calling in air strikes in support of ground troops.

Harry had been disappointed when he wasn't allowed to go to Iraq. This secret tour to Afghanistan seems to have made up for it.

"I guess I hope the public will think, you know, 'Good on him.' Hopefully they won't think too much on it and what will people think in sending him out there. At the end of the day, you know, I am just a human being, I am a normal person like these guys are."

Whether it was part of the plan or not, the public relations fallout from Harry's war zone experience has been a bonanza for the royal family, and for him. His reputation as a partying prince has been changed. Now he's a warrior prince, a hero prince.

He's says he's the same guy he was when he left, but the next time he's spotted with a drink, people may think he's entitled.

[ranger1948]

To Brianbwb, until you have been there you have no idea what you are talking about. And you have to give Bush''s daughters credit where it is due. They are following in their fathers footsteps albeit they are following away from any combat.

[ranger1948]

To bruianbwb. Have you forgotten AlQuaida attacked the trade center here on American soil ? I call that an act of war. Sure we trained them to fight the russians then their fanatical leaders turned on us as infidels and teach them they have to kill all of us. Did you know that 95% of Muslims are peace loving people? It is the 5% radicals that are causing all the problems.That and the politicians with your mentality standing in the way of our troops.

[tulcak]

and what about bush''s daughters? why can''t they follow the brits'' example? to share in the risk and the sacrifice? how hypocritical and cowardly the republicans are. if you are the one that starts a war or support a war, you and your kids should be required to go.

[babooph]

Sorry about not being more clear about recent English Mil. failures-Monty had quite the advantage at El Al-the great friendship was very clear to me in the Nam mess.

[brianbwb-2009]

let alone have the bollocks to go and fight.
Posted by endofempire

To go to another country to kill and die because of known lies by your leader is not my idea of "bollocks" as you call them, that is being, as we Americans say, a sucker.

[endofempire]

It is nice to see the crown prince having the gumption to do what many "Americans" on this forum are too cowardly to stomach, let alone have the bollocks to go and fight.

[brianbwb-2009]

"...why don''''t you get enough guts to join and go fight..." Posted by ranger1948

A better question is why should we go and fight? The Taliban were the leaders of their own country, they never attacked us. "Al Qaeda" is a network of CIA assets, trained assassins and arms smugglers sent by the CIA to aid the opposition to Russia during the Afghan Russian war, and they still take orders from the CIA.

The only reason we are killing those people now is because Bush wanted his oil pipeline, so he had to get rid of the local government and install his puppet Karzai.

If you think that Bush and Blair are really fighting terrorists, then you go help them. I know they both lied to start this, I know the Taliban are no threat to me or mine, and see no reason to assist in England''s and America''s genocide.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by dumbshun

You preach about "fighting Al Qaeda", yet you ignore the fact that Al Qaeda is a CIA asset. You spew about "Al Qaeda" but you are quite silent when it comes to fighting their real bosses...

[brianbwb-2009]

"His reputation as a partying prince has been changed. Now he''s a warrior prince, a hero prince."

Some "hero", taking part in the illegal invasion and occupation of a country, killing innocent people whose only crime is resisting that occupation.

This is nothing more than an obscene version of the fox hunt, Harry went and got some blood on his ear, the sickest part is that it is not fox blood, which is deranged enough, but exponentially worse, it is human blood.

[ranger1948]

IR Liberal, and how much time did you spend on the front lines ? Spoken like a true ***

[ranger1948]

To element 51. You are right. We fight for the freedom of choice. I served and i fought in my time. I do not believe we should be in Iraq, however my daughter joined and volunteered to go and is serving in Irag right now. I support our troops totally, if not th war. I earned the right to my opinion. I don''t see where war solved anything but the taliban attacked us from Afghanastan so i fel we must win. I support my daughters decision however as a father i worry about her 24/7.

[ranger1948]

To the idiots who are badmouthing hi, why don''t you get enough guts to join and go fight. He was man enough, obviously you don''t have the guts so shut the hell up and go live with the tqaliban, they might appreciate low lifes like you. Harry is a true man and a dedicated soldier.

[ranger1948]

Harry, you are a true soldier, you served your country and helped fight a war we must win. I don''t care if your British and not American, you are a brother in arms and i am proud of you. You did what all soldiers do, you put your life on the line for something you believe in. Hold your head high, you have every right to be proud and your opinion will count and mean something. I served and fought as you did. Now you belong to a special brotherhood and no one can take that from you. I and every soldier who served are proud of you. Welcome Home
A Retired Soldier

Yep, I gotta hand it to him. He''s done a helluva lot more in his young life than any of those cowards we''ve been embarassed by these last eight years.

[kphx]

What a great PR stunt by the British Royalty. Send the prince in, leak out the information and then call him back. Mission Accomplished.

Still a little bit credit is due for that guy, to really go in and serve whatever little he did. Talk about the good ole USA''s leaders and their kids.

[cyberus-2009]

To bad the media had to out him .. a full tour would have given that young man experience I wish more leaders had ... and more insight.

[iceman_1960]

"Having the English on our side in war is like having Boy George on your side in a fight.[Remember Singapore& Dunkirk?-maybe Galipoli?]"
- Posted by Babooph at 03:13 PM : Mar 01, 2008

But don"t forget about El Alamein.

(At Dunkirk the British weren"t "on our side." They and the French had declared war on Germany after Hitler"s invasion of Poland. The U.S. was not in the war until Pearl Harbor.)

[iceman_1960]

"Prince Harry Back From The Afghan Front"

It"s just as well.

The Taliban would have loved capturing Prince Harry and holding him as a hostage.

[babooph]

Having the English on our side in war is like having Boy George on your side in a fight.[Remember Singapore& Dunkirk?-maybe Galipoli?]

[babooph]

I hope he was not like Churchhill in S Africa-deserting under fire-then sold as a hero "going for help!".