Prince Harry might have no remorse over shooting insurgents in Afghanistan, but the Taliban thinks the young royal developed “mental problems” during his four-month tour of duty.
The media-savvy insurgent group on Tuesday bashed Harry, the third in line for the British throne, over his recent comparison of shooting Taliban militants with playing video games.
“To describe the war in Afghanistan as a game demeans anyone – especially a prince, who is supposed to be made of better things,” Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told Agence France-Presse. “Now this prince comes and compares this war with his games, PlayStation or whatever he calls it.”
But the spokesman added, “we don’t take his comments very seriously, as we have all seen and heard that many foreign soldiers, occupiers who come to Afghanistan, develop some kind of mental problems on their way out.”
The 28-year-old Army captain, in an interview filmed last month, said he had taken insurgents “out of the game” during his second tour in Afghanistan.
“Our job out here is to make sure the guys are safe on the ground, and if that means shooting someone who is shooting at them, then we will do it,” the prince said.
He also said he was happy to have been “pushed forward to the front seat,” of the Apache attack helicopter, occupying the spot reserved for the gunner.
“It’s a joy for me because I’m one of those people that loves playing PlayStation and Xbox, so with my thumbs I like to think I’m probably quite useful,” he said.
Harry was also under scrutiny at home for implying his agile thumbs were a benefit to the military.
“I’m not going to second guess whether he should or shouldn’t have said it,” British defense spokesman Jim Murphy told the Guardian.
“He’s obviously a young and brave man. He was candid. Perhaps he may have been more candid than the Palace may have wished.”
Harry completed his tour of duty this week, military officials said. The war-time interview with the prince was aired immediate after he was out of harm’s way.
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