Reaction: Prince Harry not going to Iraq

After several back and forth reports regarding Prince Harry's possible deployment to Iraq, a final decision has finally been made to keep Harry out of Iraq. Harry is reportedly upset with the decision, but thankfully isn't throwing a royal hissyfit about it. While I feel bad for Harry, I think it is definitely the right call to make. He is free to make a decision to put his own life in danger, but him being in Iraq makes his whole unit the #1 target. If he were to be captured it would be an international crisis and a huge morale booster to the enemy, much like it is for us when we capture or kill any of their major players. While I don't think anyone is too important to go to war, I think the fact that so many of our enemies will perceive him as more important than any other soldier will put all of the troops in greater danger than they are already in.

Reaction: Hidden Camera Jihad!

Move over America's Funniest Home Videos! Move over Kicked in the Nuts! Here comes the newest TV sensation, Hidden Camera Jihad! Al-Zawraa TV, in association with an Iraqi sattellite TV channel, has begun airing the episodes of the show which apparently shows attacks on US Troops dubbed over with comedic one-liners and sound effects. I'm not really one for censoring, but this sounds pretty heinous to me. If not heinous, certainly morbid. I have nothing against practical jokes or images of politicians stumbling over words (or feet), but showing real attacks on young soldiers, regardless of which side they fight for, seems immoral to me. I hope this doesn't see too wide an audience, but I have a very hard time believing it won't.

Reaction: US Embassy staff to wear flak jackets, helmets to work

There is a new policy among workers at the US Embassy in Baghdad that requires workers to wear flak jackets and helmets anytime they are outside a "solid" building. This includes walks outside and in unprotected (I guess "soft") buildings. While some my criticize this new policy and use it to show things are not going quite as planned in Iraq, I am personally glad they are doing something about worker safety. The job has to be stressful enough as it is with all the mortar attacks constantly going on around you. And with the Green Zone far from impregnable I think it's a good policy to have in place. It really sucks these people have to be on the ground in that situation at all, but since there is little choice in that matter I think it's good they are at least protecting them as best as can be afforded in the situation.