Prince Harry's war just a blatant PR stunt

Kings and princes used to go into battle at the head of their soldiers, standards flying. Nobody thought it right to hide Henry V or Richard III while they were doing battle with the enemy.

But the modern military wants the symbolic benefits of royal leadership without undue risk to the royal personage. In the case of Prince Harry, Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) had its cake and was allowed by the media to eat it as well.

"One of our boys," proclaimed the Sun newspaper's front page. "Our army of readers salutes you, Harry," added a souvenir poster across the center spread.