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Britain's Prince Andrew rebukes US for "not listening" over Iraq

Feb 5, 2008, 8:24 GMT

London - A leading member of Britain's royal family has criticized the United States for 'not listening' to London when it came to the invasion of Iraq and its consequences. In a highly unusual move, Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, directly criticized the US administration of George W Bush. He said the consequences of the Iraq war had led to a 'healthy scepticism' towards what was said in Washington and a feeling of 'why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given?' The Prince, who is fourth in line to the throne, made the comments in an interview with the International Herald Tribune on the eve of a 10-day trip to the US to promote British business. The 47-year-old prince said the US was Britain's number one ally, but added there were 'occasions when people in the UK would wish that those in responsible positions in the US might listen and learn from our experiences.' Court officials said Tuesday the remarks represented a 'thoughtful appraisal' which the prince stood by. Andrew told the newspaper that because of its imperial history, Britain had experienced much of what the US was going through. '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,' he said. '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.' The prince, who fought as a helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands conflict, said the experience had changed him 'out of all recognition' and left him with a 'different view of life.'

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Abe ShinzoFeb 5th, 2008 - 14:12:36

The prince couldn't manage his family, but everyone should still listen to this little fellow because he flew a helicopter in the Falklands, and Fergie wrote a book about a little helicopter. Has Britain made no mistakes in Afghanistan or Iraq as a result of this experience? I think not.

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AsquithFeb 5th, 2008 - 15:18:34

Is it part of this experienced strategic insight to criticize a country before beginning a visit to promote British interests? The Americans don't think Rumsfeld planned effectively for Iraq either. They hardly need a 'royal' to point that out for them. Please keep your pomposity in your knickers.

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AmericanFeb 6th, 2008 - 20:38:10

We wouldn't be having this conversation if we'd just get off our duffs and abolish the electoral vote! The popular vote kicked Bush out of office, but the electoral vote kept him in power. Isn't democracy about the popular vote anyway? Of course it is! But look what our forefathers' hypocritical perversion of democracy has done to our country, by keeping that in-bred little hick to make stupid choices for us. Mickey Mouse would be a better president. Bush really should have listened to everybody else. But then again, he doesn't listen to anybody, and vetoes everything put in front of him (unless he's the one who came up with the idea of course) Okay, I'm done now. I feel much better.

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