By
Tim Collins
17:11 EST, 16 September 2012
|
11:29 EST, 17 September 2012
Colonel Tim Collins is a former commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment
The attack on Camp Bastion has inevitably sparked concerns that Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan is heightening dangers for other Allied troops. Such anxieties are fuelled by triumphalist propaganda from the Taliban claiming that the base was deliberately targeted because of the prince’s presence.
But I am afraid that this is all just alarmist nonsense which plays into the hands of our enemies. The idea that the Taliban has the sophistication, intelligence and hardware to focus on the prince is absurd. If we take the claims of the insurgents seriously, we give them far too much credibility.
The Taliban is not a hi-tech war machine, complete with advanced surveillance – it is an army of ill-equipped fanatics, whose greatest asset is their explosive ideological zeal.
Colonel Tim Collins, is the former commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment
Russian revolutionary leader Lenin used the phrase ‘useful idiots’ to describe Western supporters who, through ignorance or dogma, backed his cause. The same term could be used about those who attach credence to the bombastic utterances of Islamic fundamentalists.
Only last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that the drought in his country was due to sinister Western scientists manipulating the weather. Such paranoid ramblings are, of course, ridiculous, but no more so than the Taliban’s assertion that Camp Bastion was hit in an attempt on Prince Harry’s life.
The assault had nothing to do with the prince. The Taliban has been waging a bloody war against Allied bases for more than a decade.
In danger: The Taliban have stated they will do ‘all in their power’ to kidnap the Prince, and claim the attack on Camp Bastion was a direct attempt to target Harry
Moreover, its leaders have changed their story over the past few days. At first, the Taliban claimed its strike was inspired by a desire for revenge over the recent anti-Islamic film which has sparked global protests. Then, entirely opportunistically, Prince Harry was drawn into the equation.
The Taliban could not have known that Prince Harry was in Camp Bastion. Their warriors have no tracking devices, no satellite system, no helicopters or drones. Such information could not have come from a disloyal member of the Afghan security forces, since they are not present in the camp. It took a whole decade for the US, with the most advanced surveillance equipment in the world, to track down Osama Bin Laden, and the Taliban cannot begin to match the Americans’ capacity.
Some critics say that, because of the need for constant protection, Prince Harry is drawing away vitally needed military and police resources. But again this argument carries no weight. The prince needs the same level of Royal protection in Afghanistan or London, where the Metropolitan Police warn that there may be up to 2,000 Islamic extremists involved in terrorism.
The attack on Camp Bastion has inevitably sparked concerns that Prince Harry’s tour of duty in Afghanistan is heightening dangers for other Allied troops
Pilot: Harry is trained to fly Apache helicopters, some of the most deadly aircraft in Afghanistan
Yes, it is true that, within the Army, Prince Harry is the subject of special safeguarding measures. But that is not because he is a member of the Royal family. It is because, as an Apache helicopter pilot, he is a prime asset, has had a large amount of money spent on his training and his skills are invaluable.
A working-class lad from Sheffield who had trained as an Apache pilot would also receive special treatment. Prince Harry is particularly important because he is so good at his job.
One of the men in the Army Air Corps who trained him told me that the prince was ‘the most naturally gifted pilot’ he had ever taught.
The belief that the prince’s helicopter might be targeted is just as misguided as the claims about the assault on Camp Bastion. The Apache is a truly remarkable aircraft: highly versatile, armed to the teeth and heavily armoured with its titanium skin. The Taliban do not have the weaponry to bring down such a machine.
In the 11 years that the Apache has been operating in Afghanistan, not one has been lost to enemy fire. The only one that has been lost was a US machine that succumbed to mechanical failure during a rescue mission in March this year. In fact, Prince Harry would probably be delighted if a Taliban operative tried to attack his aircraft. With thermal imaging and his 30mm cannon, he would soon finish off the hostile target.
Assault: The attack on the Camp Bastion, pictured, was described as ‘sustained’ and ‘complex’ by U.S. officials
Prince Harry’s role in the Apache explains why there has not been a media blackout this time, unlike in 2008 when the press was informed about his tour only after he returned to Britain. Then, he was on the ground, rucksack on his back and out on patrol. Today, at the controls of his helicopter or in his fortified camp, he is at much less risk.
Instead of expressing concern, we should be showing our pride in his performance. Courageous, straightforward and honourable, Prince Harry is giving a boost to both the Army and the nation. Furthermore, he is carrying on a fine Royal tradition of serving in the front line.
His uncle, Prince Andrew, fought with outstanding bravery in the Falklands War, using his Royal Navy helicopter as a decoy to draw the deadly Argentinian Exocet missiles away from the fleet. In the same vein, his great-grandfather, King George VI, served in the Royal Navy on the seas during the First World War, and also sought to go on a battleship during D-Day, a request that was vetoed by Winston Churchill.
Like his predecessors, Prince Harry revels in the chance to serve. To deny him that role is to play into the hands of our enemies.
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Lets make it totally clear Harry is never in danger he has at least a squad (6) armed SAS to guard
him 24/7 dont let the press included the DM make a dashing hero out of him he will be lucky if hee
even hears a small arms fire bring him home now as he is causing more of our lads to be in danger.
Col.P.Nutt
,
Cobham Surrey,
17/9/2012 19:36
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Far as I am concerned let the Taliban have the place , let them rot.
tez65
,
Leicester,
17/9/2012 19:32
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Send Harry in with his hooray Henry set they’ll sort them out.
royston amphlett
,
bournemouth, United Kingdom,
17/9/2012 18:39
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Does any other nation have the close relatives of their head of state in the firing lines? God Bless Harry!
– Frank , Swansea, 17/9/2012 12:39
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do as well. God bless Harry and all our soldiers.
Scotty
,
Canada,
17/9/2012 15:25
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If Politicians want to win this war. Send in 5 million well equipped troops . otherwise LEAVE . We and anybody else can never win this war with what we use . Every single civilian killed from the air is another nail in our coffins . Considering that the Americans routed the Taliban , and then walked away and attacked Iraq for no reason whatever . We should leave NOW the war was LOST a long time ago
C.M.Calvert
,
Poole, United Kingdom,
17/9/2012 14:11
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Bring him home. He does seem to have a penchant for Girls and Guns. Stop pandering to his whims.
DonB
,
Peterborough UK, United Kingdom,
17/9/2012 14:06
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Well said Colonel, we shouldnt do the talibans job due to the timidity of a few milquetoast fed commentators sat at home in the UK! And what would their comments be if he was withdrawn? Probably along the lines of “All that money spent on training up the Royal party boy and at the first whiff of danger he is pulled out so lets get rid of the uselesss monarchy”! The late Queen Mother lost some of her relatives in WW1and Chuchill also served in France during 1914-18, doing their DUTY for their country!———————————But only to stop an invasion of their own country not being in someone elses. Why are we there??
philjudo
,
birmingham UK,
17/9/2012 13:10
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Does any other nation have the close relatives of their head of state in the firing lines? God Bless Harry!
Frank
,
Swansea,
17/9/2012 12:39
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The Taliban is not a hi-tech war machine, complete with advanced surveillance ¿ it is an army of ill-equipped fanatics, whose greatest asset is their explosive ideological zeal. NO ! The Taliban were the legitimate Government of Afghanistan before the West invaded the country and they are simply trying to take back their country from the invaders. The Taliban as much as they were not very nice to their own people never threatened another sovereign state and certainly not the UK so why are brave British soldiers dying there ? How many more have to die before the spineless and gutless politicians admit defeat ? The delusional politicians seem to think they have made the country into a free and democratic country. THEY HAVEN’T AND NEVER WILL !
– SamuiDunc, Koh Samui Thailand, Thailand, 17/9/2012 9:26 ### You have a very selective memory. The Taliban are certainly guilty of insurgency into Pakistan and they hosted and supported Al Queda, which certainly operated outside of Afghanistan.
Peter Brown
,
Bristol_UK, United Kingdom,
17/9/2012 11:53
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‘Pulling him out would hand the Taliban victory’ ———————— After some twelve years (that’s longer than both world wars) it’s obvious there isn’t going to be a Nato victory. Get the lads out now!
Tom Sharp
,
Manchester,
17/9/2012 11:48
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