More Harry material may emerge soon

[Brazen]

Meh, I'm re-reading a book about the Duke of Marlborough (written, ironically enough, by Lady Di's brother  ).

Not THAT ironically, and certainly not coincidental, since the Duke of Marlborough has been a Spencer, or Spencer-Churchill, since 1733.

[Malthus]

Meh, I'm re-reading a book about the Duke of Marlborough (written, ironically enough, by Lady Di's brother  ).

Not THAT ironically, and certainly not coincidental, since the Duke of Marlborough has been a Spencer, or Spencer-Churchill, since 1733.

Certainly, he makes his connection to the Duke clear in his intro. The amusing part is that someone writing about entertaining royal scandals of the past, has close connections with the royal scandals of the present. That part he doesn't mention in his intro.

Anyway, all in all, he's actually a pretty good writer.

[Gups]

I've read that - it was surprisngly good.

[Zanza]

And what a mature person he is about killing them...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-harry/9817482/Prince-Harry-relaxing-after-Afghanistan-tour-ends.html

Seriously?  Do young soldiers in German history talk like ivory tower philosophers or something?

Probably not. How is that relevant to his comments? 

[Valmy]

Probably not. How is that relevant to his comments? 

Because you seem so disapproving.  Like somehow a soldier going through these absurdly stressful situations need to somehow conduct themselves with the highest decorum.  Granted he was in a helicopter but still.

[Zanza]

I still don't get why it matters how German soldiers talked in history. Anyway, yes, I disapprove. Maybe he was in an absurdly stressful stiutation, maybe he was just chilling in the camp. Doesn't matter, the statement by itself is stupid in my opinion.

[derspiess]

Again, he was and is serving dutifully and as far as I'm concerned he can say what he wants.

[Valmy]

I still don't get why it matters how German soldiers talked in history

Because the context in which people say things is important.  It seems pretty out of touch to ignore that.

[Zanza]

I get that you guys disagree with me. I guess we'll just have to leave it at that.

[derspiess]

I get that you guys disagree with me. I guess we'll just have to leave it at that.

I'd be interested to hear more of your reasoning.  Not that either of us would change our minds, but I'd like to at least understand your point of view.

[Valmy]

I get that you guys disagree with me. I guess we'll just have to leave it at that.

It sounds like the same sort of thing I hear combat vets say all the time.  So I guess I hear it and think 'well yeah'.  There is a reason why official military spokespeople are not selected from front line troops.

[Martinus]

I read an interview with a professional sniper today (he was part of the Polish GROM unit and served in Iraq and Afghanistan) and he said that, I quote, "you need to be either a sociopath or really mentally challenged" to say the kind of stuff Harry said.

[Martinus]

I get that you guys disagree with me. I guess we'll just have to leave it at that.

It sounds like the same sort of thing I hear combat vets say all the time.  So I guess I hear it and think 'well yeah'.  There is a reason why official military spokespeople are not selected from front line troops.

Really? Maybe we are listening to different vets, as I believe most of them say quite the opposite. I heard several vets who were in Iraq and Afghanistan who said that war is nothing like a computer game and that you actually get a sort of grudging respect for the enemies that you kill.

[Martinus]

Perhaps it is different for snipers/active combat soldiers, and different for helicopter/drone pilots though - after all, there is a reason why the latter is often criticised as it makes the killing too detached, resulting in psychosis.

[jimmy olsen]

Snipers have the same reputation and for the same reason.