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| Moving Prince Harry would be triumph for Taliban, says John Major | Moving Prince Harry would be triumph for Taliban, says John Major |
| (10 days later) | |
| The Taliban would be handed a "propaganda triumph" if Prince Harry were removed from Afghanistan after the attack on his base, Sir John Major has said. | The Taliban would be handed a "propaganda triumph" if Prince Harry were removed from Afghanistan after the attack on his base, Sir John Major has said. |
| But in a BBC interview, the former prime minister said it was right to consider withdrawing British troops ahead of the 2014 deadline because Barack Obama had "totally" changed the game by announcing the end date. | But in a BBC interview, the former prime minister said it was right to consider withdrawing British troops ahead of the 2014 deadline because Barack Obama had "totally" changed the game by announcing the end date. |
| Major, who is familiar with the thinking of the royals after he was appointed as a guardian to the two princes after the death of their mother, said the army should have the final say on Prince Harry's deployment. | Major, who is familiar with the thinking of the royals after he was appointed as a guardian to the two princes after the death of their mother, said the army should have the final say on Prince Harry's deployment. |
| Major said on the Andrew Marr Show: "Prince Harry trained with his colleagues. He will wish to serve with his colleagues. He most emphatically would not wish to move. It would be a huge propaganda triumph for the Taliban if Prince Harry were to be moved. | Major said on the Andrew Marr Show: "Prince Harry trained with his colleagues. He will wish to serve with his colleagues. He most emphatically would not wish to move. It would be a huge propaganda triumph for the Taliban if Prince Harry were to be moved. |
| "There is a great deal of an attempt to create public relations in the posturing of the Taliban. The army knows what it is doing. It will determine whether there is a risk to those serving with Prince Harry as well as Prince Harry. It will make its judgments based on that. I don't think advice from external quarters on that will either be well informed or valuable." | "There is a great deal of an attempt to create public relations in the posturing of the Taliban. The army knows what it is doing. It will determine whether there is a risk to those serving with Prince Harry as well as Prince Harry. It will make its judgments based on that. I don't think advice from external quarters on that will either be well informed or valuable." |
| Major endorsed the decision of the defence secretary, Philip Hammond – in a Guardian interview – to consider a speedier withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan. But he broke new ground for a senior Conservative by appearing to criticise the US president for handing the initiative to the Taliban by setting a definitive final date for withdrawal. | Major endorsed the decision of the defence secretary, Philip Hammond – in a Guardian interview – to consider a speedier withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan. But he broke new ground for a senior Conservative by appearing to criticise the US president for handing the initiative to the Taliban by setting a definitive final date for withdrawal. |
| Major said: "There is a credible case for looking at when we actually withdraw troops. The moment that President Obama said he was going to withdraw troops in 2014 the Taliban were on notice as to when the Nato troops would leave. | Major said: "There is a credible case for looking at when we actually withdraw troops. The moment that President Obama said he was going to withdraw troops in 2014 the Taliban were on notice as to when the Nato troops would leave. |
| "A large part of the Taliban, if they have any sense, probably moved into north-west Pakistan and are sitting in that lawless wild west part of Pakistan waiting to come back after the troops have left. Having given notice of a date upon which we leave I think you have changed the game and changed it totally." | "A large part of the Taliban, if they have any sense, probably moved into north-west Pakistan and are sitting in that lawless wild west part of Pakistan waiting to come back after the troops have left. Having given notice of a date upon which we leave I think you have changed the game and changed it totally." |
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