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April 25, 2008
Those crazy British
I have to admit, I am heartily amused by the story about Prince William landing his helicopter in a field next to his girlfriend's house, and also using the helicopter to fly to a friend's bachelor party:
The RAF has been criticised for allowing Prince William to land a multi-million-pound Chinook helicopter in his girlfriend's back garden.
Little over a week before Kate Middleton watched the Prince receive his air wings, he flew 16 miles from RAF Odiham in Hampshire and touched down in a field next to her house.
It is one of two unusual sorties by the Prince under attack. Eight days later he avoided a long road and sea journey by using a Chinook to fly to the stag party of his cousin, Peter Phillips, in the Isle of Wight, stopping off at Woolwich Barracks in London to pick up Prince Harry.
If this had happened in America, there would be a shitstorm. For example, John McCain has a son who is in the military. I would think if he flew a helicopter to Vegas for a trip to Scores or whatever, every newspaper in America would be on it, and the poor fellow would be run out of town on a rail. Sen. McCain, for his part, could probably say so long to his chances of being elected President.
Yet, the Royal Air Force issued a typically subdued British response:
A Ministry of Defence spokesman defended the landing yesterday, saying: "This was very much a routine training sortie that achieved essential training objectives."
However, officials have admitted privately that it was "not the best idea", given concerns about military budget constraints and the shortage of Chinooks, which cost at least £10 million each, in Afghanistan. One military source added: "In theory any pilot could do this but it's basically because he's the Prince."
"Not the best idea"? There's an understatement! That's what I love so much about the British. They get barely worked up over most things - except the footie, of course - and simply let the situation resolve itself. It worked for them for three hundred or so years.
My family is part English, so I think I have some of that mentality. Unfortunately, this gets me in trouble. I simply can't get too mad about something that quickly, much to the anger of some people. It's not that I'm not upset or annoyed, I just keep myself in check.
I can see myself as President, commander-in-chief of the armed forces. "The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor? Oh dear." Then, taking full advantage of my English heritage, I'd go medieval on their asses, all without spilling my cup of tea.
entry no. 1135
Posted at April 25, 2008 06:31 PM