Web Letters: Open Letter to Prince Harry

"Remember Archduke Ferdinand: His murder triggered World War I."

Actually, it was the construction of the Berlin-Baghdad Railway, which would have supplied Germany with oil directly from Iraq, concurrent as it was with the changing over of the sea navies from coal to oil. It would have made the Prussian/Turkish alliance extremely strong in Europe and possibly choked off oil to the rest of Europe.

This is why there was a British military presence in North Africa throughout, with the first British troops to land on foreign soil actually landing in Basra in 1914, and why T.E. Lawrence sought to bring the tribes of Arabia over to the side of Britain.

The incident that killed Archduke Ferdinand did not "force" nations into opposition, they were simply the WMD explanation of the day.

To correct the other correspondant, it was Prince Andrew who flew SAR missions in the Falklands from frontline Navy vessels. Prince Charles left active service before his marriage to Diana in 1981, but commanded HMS Bronington in 1976.

James Diss

Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK

Mr. Sheikoleslami, I have to disagree with your assessment of the young Duke.

The royal family knows and understand the risks of fighting in a war. Prince Charles fought in the Falkland War and survived. He too was threaten with all kinds of desperate acts against his life.

At this point, we can pray for his safe return to British soil after he has finished his tour in Iraq.

A Cook

Dunwoody, GA