Prince: U.S. ignored UK over Iraq

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The United States could have avoided the post-invasion chaos in Iraq had it listened to, and learned from, the British, Prince Andrew said in comments published in a London newspaper Tuesday.

Andrew's interview, published in the International Herald Tribune, was a rare display of candor from a member of the royal family, who rarely voice their political opinions.

Andrew described Britain as the United States No. 1 ally but said there are "occasions when people in the U.K. would wish that those in responsible positions in the U.S. might listen and learn from our experiences."

Britain, Andrew said, has gone through much of the same kinds of difficulties during its imperial history that the United States now finds itself in Iraq.

"If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign -- we have been through them all," he said.

"We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."

The views of Prince Andrew, who is fourth in line to the British throne, is widely shared in his country.

In the past, Geoff Hoon, the former British defense secretary, has said that Britain disagreed with the Bush administration on two key issues: to disband the Iraqi army and to outlaw the Baath Party from the civil service.

The prince said that the fallout from Iraq has now fueled a "healthy skepticism" in Britain toward what is said in Washington, and a feeling of "why didn't anyone listen to what was said and the advice that was given." E-mail to a friend