6A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, FEBRIARY 23, 2007
BRITAIN
Prince Harry to fight in Iraq
BY TARIQ PANJA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Loftoric Pitarakic ASSOCIATED DFCCC
In this April 12, 2006 file photo Britain's Prince Harry salutes his father Prince Charles (not shown) following the Sovereigns Parade at the Royal Military Academy, where Henry received his military commission. The Ministry of Defense ended speculation that he had been swapping for about a week by announcing Thursday that the 22-year-old prince will be sent to Iraq with his Blues and Royals regiment in May or June. Harry, a second lieutenant, will assume a troop commander's role.
LONDON — He's the redheaded son of the late Princess Diana, the rowdy royal known more for dancing until dawn than waking for battle. But Britain's party prince, Harry, is getting his wish and is being deployed to Iraq this spring with his Blues and Rowals regiment.
Royal officials announced Thursday that the 22-year-old prince would fight for his country, confirming tverish tabloid speculation about the future of the best-recognized tank commander in Britain. His regiment is expected to set out in May or June for a six-month tour.
Harry, a second lieutenant, has been trained to lead a team of 12 men in tour armored reconnaissance vehicles and could become the first British royal to see combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew as a Royal Navy pilot in the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982.
Word of the deployment comes one day after Prime Minister Tony Blair said British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut by 1,600 in coming months. The tabloid newspaper, the Sun, opined — "1,600 out ... One in"
Britain will hand over much of its security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, concentrating its troops at Basra Palace and Basra Air Base in southern Iraq.
Iraiq insurgents might seek to target Cornet Wales — as Harry is known in the Blues and Royals. That has led to some concern that his presence could bring an extra risk to fellow soldiers.
"In a sense, his celebrity might be a factor in making the security situation for his troop more dangerous," said Michael Clarke, a professor of war studies at London's King's College.
Britain's Ministry of Defense has previously said Harry could be kept out of situations where his presence could jeopardize his comrades.
There has been speculation that he will be shadowed by bodyguards.
But a source close to the prince, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told The Associated Press that Harry would not be given any special protection.
Col. Bob Stewart, a former British commander, said he was certain Harry would be safe.
"The Blues and Royals will take great pride in making sure no one gets near him," he said. "I can't think of better security than having a regiment of British soldiers around you."
In Britain, Harry's upcoming deployment was taken in stride. Blair described Harry's decision as in keeping with his character.
"He's a very brave young man and he's a very determined young man who wants to be part of his regiment and part of the army." Blair told the British Broadcasting Corp. "And I think that shows a very special character on his part."
Others thought fighting in Iraq was an appropriate task for the man who is third in line to the throne.
"It's a bit dangerous for him ... but it's good," said Lee Wills, 20, of London. "The royal family's got to do its bit for their country."
But in Baghdad, Iraqis, who have endured much pain since the 2003 U.S. led invasion, described the deployment as a public relations stunt.
"These things (are) just to beautify the picture ... The British government wants also to boost the (morale) of their troops," said Sabah Ali, a 35-year-old worker at the Iraqi Oil Ministry.
In joining the military, Harry followed royal tradition. In addition to Prince Andrew's Falklands War service, Harry's father, Prince Charles, was a pilot with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and a ship commander. His grandfather, Prince Philip, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy during World War II. Even Queen Elizabeth II served before becoming monarch — she was trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II.
"He would be appalled if his troop went to do something without his command and they would be too," Clarke said. "If he didn't go, it would be very bad for the morale of the troop. It's like a family."
After completing the officer training course at Sandhurst's Royal Military Academy, Harry demanded a chance to serve.
"There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he said in an interview to mark his 21st birthday. "That may sound very patriotic, but it's true."
Harry's late mother would have been firmly behind the decision to allow her second son to see active service, said Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of the royal magazine Majesty.
"I remember Diana telling me that Harry loved the military and all its pomp," she said. "She was never worried about him. This what he was always going to do?"
》 iProblems
Apple v. Cisco dispute settled by a truce
BY JORDAN ROBERTSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The short-lived legal battle between Cisco Systems Inc. and Apple Inc. over the "iPhone" name was only on the surface a trademark-infringement dispute involving identically named multimedia telephones.
Cisco has maintained since the start of the squabble six weeks ago that the dispute was not about money, even though it stood to profit handsomely from any settlement.
Instead, the networking gear maker said it was trying to pressure Apple to break its attachment to closed, proprietary systems and begin collaborating with Cisco on imaginative future products that can communicate with each other.
But industry analysts said Thursday the settlement between the Silicon Valley tech giants does not mean that Apple will suddenly open up its most lucrative technologies, particularly the iTunes library that has helped catapult Apple into the top ranks of music retailers worldwide.
The more likely scenario, they said, is that Cisco and Apple could partner in the near-term on lower-profile projects that leverage the respective strengths of the world's largest networking equipment company and the new darling of digital entertainment.
Some of those efforts, they said, could include integrating Cisco's Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP technology into Apples' iPhones, which are currently
Apple argues that it is entitled to use the name because its sleek new iPhone operates over the cellular network.
Analysts cautioned against expecting any type of major concessions from Apple concerning its proprietary technology, citing the vague joint settlement statement
designed to operate only over the cellular network; improving the ability of Apple computers to work securely with wireless home routers from Cisco's Linksys division; or generally developing ways for both companies' products to work seamlessly with each other.
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of Leftover Salmon
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from the companies that raised more questions than it answered.
Both companies have refused to comment on terms of the deal and are staying tight lipped about what future products might come from the settlement, which allows Cisco and Apple to both use the iPhone name worldwide to sell their phones.
"As far as concessions go, from Apple's point of view, is there a downside to making their products work better with Cisco's networking gear? I don't see a downside for them," said Charles Golvin, principal analyst with Forrester Research Inc. "If anything it makes their products that much more attractive."
Analysts said Thursday the truce was likely part of a longer term strategy by both companies to bolster their competitive positions in the fight to deliver digital content
Apple argues that it is entitled to use the name because its sleek new iPhone operates over the cellular network.
The two sides said late Wednesday that have agreed to drop any pending litigation against each other over the trademark as part of the deal.
Cisco sued Apple last month in San Francisco federal court claiming that Apple's use of the iPhone name violated a trademark Cisco has held since 2000 and is using on a line of Linksys phones that make free long-distance calls over the Internet using VoIP technology.
- particularly video - directly into consumers' homes.
providers spend lavishly on equipment upgrades to accommodate the need for more bandwidth.
Cisco, which makes the routers and switches that direct data over computer networks, is profiting from the demand for video as service
Analysts said the deal highlights Cisco's desire to partner with companies such as Apple that are pumping more video into the home and driving up the need for more networking gear.
Last month, Apple unveiled its new Apple TV video box, which allows users to watch downloaded movies stored on their computers on their home television sets. Industry observers suspect Apple could eventually play a much larger role in the delivery of television and movies to the home.
"This is more a strategic move by Cisco to continue to strengthen its core business — and it was good for them to have the moxie or the where-withal to have the iPhone name to use as a negotiating tool," said Kurt Scherff, vice president and principal analyst with market research firm Parks Associates.
The dustup over Apples' willingness to work with outside companies comes amid intense criticism, particularly in Europe, over the inability of its iTunes software to work with other portable media devices besides the ubiquitous iPod.
Earlier this month, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs urged the world's major music companies to abolish the digital rights management, or DRM, protections that he said were preventing Apple from selling music that would play on any device.
Danielle Levitas, a senior analyst at market researcher IDC, said she doesn't expect Apple to open up iTunes any time soon. She said the company's partnership with Cisco is more about Apple preparing to tackle the so-called "connected home" market where digital entertainment is delivered through a variety of devices.
"I don't think they're opening up the kimono, but they're hedging their bets for what they need to do for video and the connected home," she said. "They had to do this to keep the name. They had to do this to not drag out the lawsuit so they could use the name from day one. Eventually Apple will have to open up a little bit, and Cisco would definitely be the first to benefit. But it ain't going to happen in the next 12 to 18 months."
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