'You need to shut up': Royal marine blasts Harry for exaggerating wartime exploits in Afghanistan
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA: Prince Harry has been making frequent headlines since the release of the Netflix series 'Harry & Meghan'. After portions from the Duke of Sussex's new biography were made public, a war veteran whom Prince Harry had earlier lauded as a "hero" lashed out. In his forthcoming tell-all 'Spare', the royal revealed fresh perspectives on his experiences battling the Taliban. According to a copy obtained before its January 10 release, the Prince said, "My [kill] number is 25." In a tweet, Ben McBean, a double amputee who simultaneously lost both legs and an arm in battle, begged the Prince to keep his wartime experiences to himself.
"Love you Prince Harry but you need to shut up! Makes you wonder about the people he’s hanging around with," McBean said on Twitter. "If [they were] good people, somebody by now would have told him to stop," he added. The Prince Harry has drawn criticism from other veterans for broadcasting gruesome facts to the public, including the former royal marine. Colonel Bob Stewart, a retired British Army officer, said that he had severe concerns about the Prince disclosing his kill number, according to Ladbible.
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"I wonder why he is doing such things. Real soldiers tend to shy away," he said. The officer added that he finds it weird to see the Prince "boasting" about the war. Stewart added, "People I know don't boast about such things. They rather regret that they have had to do it." In his memoir, the Duke of Sussex described his 25 kills as "chess pieces removed from the board." He added, "It’s not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me."
Love you #PrinceHarry but you need to shut up! Makes you wonder the people he’s hanging around with. If it was good people somebody by now would have told him to stop.
— Ben Mcbean (@benmcbean) January 5, 2023
The Taliban militants he killed were also characterized by him as "baddies eliminated before they could kill goodies." Chris Ryan, a former SAS sergeant responding to these descriptions and tweeted, "very strange thing to announce considering that he left the UK in order to keep his family safe. Is it something that might endear him to a US Mil fan base."
Very strange thing to announce considering that he left the UK in order to keep his family safe. Is it something that he thinks might endear him to a US Mil fan base?
— Chris Ryan MM 🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@ChrisRyanMM) January 5, 2023
Harry reveals he killed 25 Taliban fighters during tour in Afghanistan https://t.co/vRFlk6M3cL via @MailOnline
The Prince's wartime confessions alarmed another British lawmaker, who spoke to the Daily Mail under the condition of anonymity. The lawmaker called the Prince's actions "bonkers" and said that he was dragging everything into shame. In both his first and second tours, which took place in 2007-2008 and 2012-2013, respectively, Prince Harry ordered airstrikes and piloted assault helicopters. He initially talked candidly about his killings when he was on tour in Afghanistan.
