British authorities have decided that Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson now serving in his nation’s army, will not be sent to the Iraq war zone.

At first glance, some will decry such a move as favoritism that protects a member of the royal family from the dangers that other citizens must face while in service. The British royals often are under fire, and this decision plays into the hands of those who think a prince should be required to serve in the same capacities as a pauper.

Such an attitude is understandable.

However, in this war, the lack of front lines and safe harbors as such allow insurgents to infiltrate and seek out targets with ease. Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, would be a major “trophy” for a terrorist to post on his resume.

Harry would be a target from the outset of his arrival in the war zone, and there would be no surefire way to protect him. Friends and families of people who might be chosen to serve with the prince have good reason to be pleased with Harry’s change of plans.

As for Harry himself, he and his family dutifully have agreed that he should “go to war.” They have been trying to stress that they want no special privileges for him.

While that kind of unselfish service might have been appropriate and laudable in other times and places, it is not something to be embraced so eagerly now. Suppose Harry got hit by opportunistic terrorists and 10 or 12 of his compatriots died or were maimed with him. The survivors would have every reason to be irate about the special-hazard assignments of their people with the royal soldier.

Were the current conflict akin to World War II, where enemy forces could be readily identified and assignments could be more definitive, it would be a different story. Because terrorists plan their attacks with the news media in mind, sending Prince Harry to the war zone and endangering not only him but also many others would be foolhardy.

Just imagine the kind of reward that would be posted for insurgents and their ilk to anyone who could “Get Harry.” Why present them with an easy chance for a bloody, high-profile coup like that?