Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Prince Andrew: Right message, wrong messenger

It is remarkable for Prince Andrew to issue what has been described as a "rebuke" to the USA for not listening to British advice during the Iraq invasion.

It seems unthinkable that he would have embarked on such an interview without the green light from the UK government.

Which leads me to consider that perhaps Gordon Brown should be fighting his own battles. Why isn't Gordon Brown saying what Prince Andrew said? Is he chicken?

HRH says in the International Herald Tribune:

If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all...We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to.

Of course, he's right. But lecturing the good old USA on colonialism is not an operation devoid of difficulties. A sharp riposte including the word "limey" and making reference to the Boston Tea Party, perhaps by way of the words of the Star Spangled Banner (written after the British Army had been fended off at Fort McHenry) might issue from anyone picked at random from the New York sidewalk, when taxed about His Royal Highness's remarks.

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