Harry's in Afghanistan!

[J. J.]

HRH Prince Henry (AKA Prince Harry) has been fighting in Afghanistan with UK forces for the last three months!   Way to go!!!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2008/02/28/prince-harry-has-been-fighting-taliban-89520-20334904/

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Good for him.

[phk]

Good for him.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Afghaniwhere?

[The Mikado]

Glad to see the HRH is doing something worthwhile.  Good for him!

But is he in a Nazi uniform?

[Χahar]

I thought at first this was referring to Harry from Mississippi.

Big deal.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

He actually seems more mature now, since he has been in the Army than ever before. Good for Harry .

[dead0man]

Good for Harry.

[London Man]

Not for much longer:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7270743.stm

[MODU]

I need to find a picture of it, but before I left the house today, they were showing Harry being interviewed by someone in Afghanistan, and he's sitting there wearing a beige US Military ball cap.  hahaha . . . I'm waiting for the Brit tabloids to run an article saying something like "The Brit military hid Harry so well be making him join the US Army" or something like that.

EDIT:  Found a picture.

[Joe Republic]

According to the reports, the Ministry of Defense made a deal with the press to keep it under wraps for the safety and security of Harry and the rest of his battalion.  That was, at least, until the Drudge Report broke the news and forced the story out into the open, causing Harry to be recalled.

Congratulations Matt Drudge, you f**cking moron.

[MODU]

It was broken by an Austrailian magazine in January, and then again by Germany.  Drudge just made it more public (just goes to show how crappy those two magazines were). 

EDIT:  Here's a good (and funny) article about it.

"Australian magazine broke Prince Harry story"

Australians angrily condemned the decision of a weekly women's magazine to break the news blackout on Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan.

The story was published in Australian tabloid magazine New Idea last month but not followed up by other media.

In an article on its website dated January 7, the magazine - nicknamed in Australia 'No Idea' - reported that Harry had seen front line action in Afghanistan despite opposition from the British government and members of the Royal family.

New Idea said it could "exclusively reveal" that the "maverick prince" had already seen front-line action.

The story was then picked up by a German newspaper and, yesterday, the US-based Drudge Report website, triggering world wide interest.

(Cont...)

[Joe Republic]

It was broken by an Austrailian magazine in January, and then again by Germany.  Drudge just made it more public (just goes to show how crappy those two magazines were). 

I prefer to go with the theory that the story was broken by those two magazines, but not followed up by any other media out of respect for the news blackout and the prince's safety.  Of course, Drudge is pervasive enough that once he opened his tactless hole, the rest of the world had little choice but to admit the truth too.

[MODU]

It was broken by an Australian magazine in January, and then again by Germany.  Drudge just made it more public (just goes to show how crappy those two magazines were). 

I prefer to go with the theory that the story was broken by those two magazines, but not followed up by any other media out of respect for the news blackout and the prince's safety.  Of course, Drudge is pervasive enough that once he opened his tactless hole, the rest of the world had little choice but to admit the truth too.

That's what makes him a media GOD!    However, I am a bit surprised that the Royal Army didn't pull him back in January when it was first leaked.  I guess they thought no good-minded terrorist (or anyone else) reads Australian girly magazines.

[frenger]

It was broken by an Austrailian magazine in January, and then again by Germany.  Drudge just made it more public (just goes to show how crappy those two magazines were). 

I prefer to go with the theory that the story was broken by those two magazines, but not followed up by any other media out of respect for the news blackout and the prince's safety.  Of course, Drudge is pervasive enough that once he opened his tactless hole, the rest of the world had little choice but to admit the truth too.

I don't see why the media should kowtow to any news black outs. Isn't that just a velveted form of censorship?

To quote Drudge himself: ""In every state and nearly every civilized nation in the developed world, readers know where to go for action and reaction of news -- at least one day ahead... Free from any corporate concerns, there are simply too many to thank since the site's inception in 1994. This new attempt at the old American experiment of full freedom in reporting is ever exciting. Those in power have everything to lose by individuals who march to their own rules."
Keep fighting them Drudge.

[Joe Republic]

The point of the blackout, Bono, was to protect the safety of Prince Harry and the rest of his regiment.  It's called common sense and common decency.  Matt Drudge has never been particularly renowned for possessing either.

[MODU]

I don't see why the media should kowtow to any news black outs. Isn't that just a velveted form of censorship?

Well, there are definitely times where it is in everyone's best interest for a media outlet to sit on a story for a while, especially in times of war when we are strategically placing people/equipment for a surprise maneuver and/or covert operations.  One of my favorite SNL skits in of Stormin' Norman giving one of his Persian Gulf War press conferences and the media kept asking him about where and what time we were planning to invade Iraq.  It's a funny skit, but it is a slap in the face of modern media who think that it is their job to tell our enemies what our plans are before have a chance to act on them.

[afleitch]

The point of the blackout, Bono, was to protect the safety of Prince Harry and the rest of his regiment.  It's called common sense and common decency.  Matt Drudge has never been particularly renowned for possessing either.

^^^^^

Also it's a great shame has has to come home and won't serve out his first tour. I think Prince Harry really has to be admired here. He didn't have to do it. No one does (unless you join the army) but he wanted to go and when he did he was on the front line. Same goes for all the boys out there. Thumbs up too for his 'Granny Liz' who let him.  I wish the same could be said for the sons and grandsons of many politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.

[Јas]

It was broken by an Austrailian magazine in January, and then again by Germany.  Drudge just made it more public (just goes to show how crappy those two magazines were). 

I prefer to go with the theory that the story was broken by those two magazines, but not followed up by any other media out of respect for the news blackout and the prince's safety.  Of course, Drudge is pervasive enough that once he opened his tactless hole, the rest of the world had little choice but to admit the truth too.

I don't see why the media should kowtow to any news black outs. Isn't that just a velveted form of censorship?

To quote Drudge himself: ""In every state and nearly every civilized nation in the developed world, readers know where to go for action and reaction of news -- at least one day ahead... Free from any corporate concerns, there are simply too many to thank since the site's inception in 1994. This new attempt at the old American experiment of full freedom in reporting is ever exciting. Those in power have everything to lose by individuals who march to their own rules."
Keep fighting them Drudge.

What a load of crap. The British media were free to report whatever they wanted, but they understood that choosing to do so would potentially endanger British lives.

What would be interesting would be seeing if Mr. Drudge would publish stories which would endanger the safety of Americans and what kind of reaction that would generate.

[Democratic Hawk]

The point of the blackout, Bono, was to protect the safety of Prince Harry and the rest of his regiment.  It's called common sense and common decency.  Matt Drudge has never been particularly renowned for possessing either.

Exactly. Compromising the safety of the third-in-line to the British throne and those serving alongside him is out of order. Harry will be even more of a marked man on his return to the UK now

It's highly commendable that the Prince was doing an active tour of duty in Afghanistan. I suspect many in his closest counsel didn't want him to serve and with good reason

Dave

[ukchris82]

I get pretty pissed off with the Royal Family.
We're paying thousands of ££s to fund William and Harry's army training, yet they can't serve because of who they are, yet we have soldiers dying out there because of lack of equipment.

Stop bludging Elizabeth and all your cronies!

[afleitch]

yet we have soldiers dying out there because of lack of equipment.

If that's a concern then you should be 'pretty pissed off' with the government.

[ukchris82]

I believe that the royal family are an utter waste of space and money.
What purpose to they serve?
I hate the fact that I am classed as one of her 'subjects'.

I have many issues with the Government, but I believe the royals are at the centre of it all.
Whatever they cost the taxpayer is something I want back - whether it's £100 or 1p. What do they add to this country?

Unfortunately all main parties seem to want to keep them.

[afleitch]

I have many issues with the Government, but I believe the royals are at the centre of it all.
Whatever they cost the taxpayer is something I want back - whether it's £100 or 1p. What do they add to this country?

So it's the Royals fault the troops are not correctly funded and supported?

Are you being serious?

[ukchris82]

No it's not their fault.
But the money that they cost us could be spend on much better things.