I’m naturally delighted to know that Prince Harry is home safely after fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. But my thoughts are with the five innocent British men who have been held captive in Iraq for nine months in the most terrifying circumstances.
While Prince Harry’s homecoming will continue to dominate tomorrow’s papers, and he will enjoy his ne
wfound hero status and celebrate with friends, how confident can we be that the same happy fate awaits IT consultant Peter Moore and his bodyguards? How long before reports about them begin to fade from the media spotlight yet again?
Peter Moore’s stepmother Pauline Sweeney and other family members this week appealed to his captors to free them, saying: "Please, show the world your true humanity and let our loved ones go." Words that just fall on deaf ears.
I would like to see Prince Harry offer these anguished families his support, even if it has to be remain under wraps for security reasons. I would like him to take a personal interest in the hostages’ well being, realising how lucky he is not to be in their shoes, to do something positive so that the story remains in the public eye, and to personally ensure that all is being done to help secure their release.
Just imagine if it had been him…
Good post Ellee,
the media will be full of Harry this weekend (not sure that I’m happy with Drudge or the Australians) and it becomes all too easy to forget either the boys and the girls on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, or the desperate plight of the hostages.
Yeah, just imagine
if little Harry were the hostage
would the government & the military act differently
Hear hear
A good thought. The media can’t forget they exist if it is convenient to do so.
It will be interesting to see if Prince Harry truly does have what it takes or if he just wanted the glory.
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Good for you pointing out the contrast between the five British hostages held for so long and Harry situation. What a difference that would be if he had been taken.
I agree, Ellee. I saw this lady on TV and thought that she spoke well.
I don’t think the issue is so much one of security, it is more one of breaking rank and acting unprofessionally. Prince Harry might be a royal, but to speak out on such an issue would on one hand be seen as going behind his superiors backs as a Second Lieutenant, and on the other to be dabbling into politics – a dangerous thing to do if you are a royal.
Making statements on behalf of the British public regarding the hostage situation is a job for the government, whilst speaking out publicly about the war is no job for a junior officer in the British army.
Well stated and so true. The other thing that galls me about the Prince Harry story is the media releasing that information, which not only put him at risk, but also put at risk those serving alongside him.
I quite agree Ellee. I was working at WTN just after John McCarthy was taken hostage and got to know Jill Morell – that gives you a very different understanding of what it’s like.