Prince (Harry)'s cover in Afghanistan blown by Drudge Report

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent (UK)

An American website, the Drudge Report, broke a news blackout yesterday by revealing that Prince Harry has been serving in Afghanistan for more than two months.

To the fury of the Ministry of Defence and condemnation from the head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, the website announced a "world exclusive" and proclaimed: "They're calling him 'Harry the Hero!".

The article brought to an end an agreement with the media that the Prince's deployment to Helmand be kept quiet in the interests of his safety and that of the soldiers with him.

... "I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us. This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the UK print and broadcast media, along with a small number of overseas outlets, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations," General Dannatt said.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/princes-cover-in-afghanistan-blown-by-drudge-report-789335.html

[rusty quoin]

1. I heard about that today. Was that Drudge who dropped

the story first in the U.S.? If so, how is that for supporting troops.

[DRoseDARs]

7. He supposedly was the 1st in the US, but either a German or Australian outfit outed the story first.

Like a week ago. I read about this earlier today, but can't find which blog I found that info on. Thought it might've been DKos or The Carpetbagger but still not finding it.

[Lasher]

13. Wiki's got it up already.

Australian weekly women’s magazine New Idea broke the story in January - but it was not followed up at the time. New Idea editors claimed ignorance of any news blackout. Then a German newspaper, the Berliner Kurier, published a short piece on February 28, 2008, also before Drudge. Despite these prior publications of the news, Drudge subsequently claimed the report as an exclusive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drudge_Report#Prince_Harry_in_Afghanistan

[DRoseDARs]

19. But let's not let that stop us from reviling Drudge, m'kay? ;-) n/t

[Lasher]

22. m'kay

[The Doctor.]

20. It was the equivalent of someone whispering it and then Drudge taking out a bullhorn

and announcing it to make sure they got the credit.

[Squatch]

30. Freedom of speech is a motherf***er

:shrug:

[The Doctor.]

44. And?

No one said he couldn't report it. Freedom of speech doesn't prevent anyone from making a total asshole out of one's self. In this case, it also doesn't stop one from putting people in jeopardy... namely Prince Harry and his platoon.

Mission accomplished Drudge.

I recall Robert Novak exercising his "free speech" rights.

[Blue State Bandit]

2. What a dick.

[KeepItReal]

3. BBC reports it was Drudge also.

What an ignorant ass Drudge is.

[ruggerson]

4. It's really too bad the Brits can't prosecute Drudge for war crimes

or something.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

5. DRUDGE PUTS PATRIOT'S LIFE AT RISK

Pathetic.

[Mythsaje]

6. What a NICE thing to do.

He should be commended for his ruthless honesty.

:sarcasm:

What a putz.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. What I find remarkable is the responsibility the British Royals feel toward their country.

Quite refreshing. Not like any of Mitten's 5 sons, any Bushes and few Congresspeople's kids.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. What else is the Media blocking out?

doesn't it make you wonder?

[rpannier]

10. I'm sure the families of the soldiers and the soldiers in Prince Harry's unit are just thrilled with

sludge right now.

sludge ought to be dropped on the stoop of one of the families.

I'm sure they'd love to have at it with him.

[wundermaus]

11. His life is worth just as much as any other poor schumk...

being a target sucks, doesn't it, Harry? Maybe "playing" war isn't such a good idea after all...

[CC]

14. He was doing a lot more than the

twins ever dream of doing.

Shame an asshole blew it for him.

[Connonym]

16. It's not really just about him

Revealing his location puts all his fellow troop members at increased risk and as such is really irresponsible journalism. Don't get why you're being bitchy about Harry, regardless of whether you think he's playing or not he's still voluntarily put himself in harm's way -- which, as others have posted, is a lot more than can be said for American politicians' kids. I think the whole concept of royalty is a bunch of crap but I have to give credit to him for at least appearing to have a sense of obligation instead of just a sense of entitlement.

[aquart]

21. What an idiotically ignorant remark.

The poor schmuck tried to lead a normal life for a whole two months. Something he's been training for for years. The point of the secrecy was to protect his fellow soldiers.

And ALL of us are playing war. But only the ones who are there are dying. Harry's there. You're not, I notice.

[wundermaus]

36. How would you know where I am?

He's not trying to lead a normal life. He's a coward hiding among the commoners that are charged with protecting his sorry ass. Something he trained for is to be a royal elitist of privilege in a world awash with mass murder, grinding poverty, and imperialistic exploitation. The point of his secrecy was to keep snipers from taking a prized shot. Not all of us are playing war. Many of us are not playing along but are actively working at throwing wrenches in the military industrial complex. Millions die directly and indirectly from war, not just the ones that suit up. Harry's leaving now that his cover is blown... proving he is nothing but an elitist coward pretending at war. Can any of his fellow soldiers dare to do the same? How do you know where I am and does that even matter? Ad hominem, anyone?

[northzax]

43. wow

he is leaving because he was ordered to leave because his known presence creates an additional hazard for other soldiers. I'm not sure how volunteering to go to war makes someone a coward, he could easily have gotten a cushy appointment out of the danger zone (even taking into account that he didn't need to go to Sandhurst in the first place)

[Scout]

47. ARE you in combat, or in Orange County, CA? talk about elitist... n/t

[Ian David]

25. What the fuck is going through your tiny little brain? n/t

[wundermaus]

37. Quite a vocabulary you have there...

Was that a rhetorically question or are you really interested in the synaptic impulses of my brain's neurological processes?

[Ian David]

39. I'm just surprised you have two or more neurons in relatively working order. n/t

[wundermaus]

40. Thank you!

Your surprise is refreshingly civil. Indeed, we both do have two or more neurons in "relatively" working order. At least I think I understand what you meant to say... ;)

[Ian David]

41. Sometimes I imagine my cat understands what I meant to say.

I think the two of you may be intellectual equals.

But the cat is certainly morally superior to you.

She would never say something as ignorant as you did.

[wundermaus]

45. amazing...

the depth of your wisdom astounds...

to compare me to an Egyptian God...

you are special aren't you?

meeeooowww!

[Ian David]

48. Dead, disease infected cats were occasionally thrown over city walls at enemies. n/t

[wundermaus]

50. Nice to see you found the sunny side of life!

Here's a dead kitten for you!

Enjoy!

[INDIA]

42. "he's a coward" says the fat douchebag sitting in front of his computer eating fritos. n/t

[wundermaus]

46. While maturity and intellect is your gift to the world...

not.

[LostinVA]

27. Lay off of him

He's not "playing war." There's nothing wrong with military service -- quite a few people in my family have served, and some made it their career. It's HOW you perform your service that matters. Until Prince Harry commits war crimes, I'm behind him.

I am also very impressed that this young man has NEVER tried to use his status to make himself a REMF. He's done the opposite: he wants to stay with his unit, no matter what.

Good for him. And shame on Drudge. And boo to your comment.

[14thColony]

31. I gained massive respect for him

when he was under-going officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - a tough, year-long back-breaker that many don't make it through - and the debate started about whether he'd ever be allowed to serve in combat. He said in a TV interview that if he wasn't going to be allowed to go with his future unit then they should tell him now so he could quit Sandhurst and stop wasting everyone's time. Meanwhile many of the Republican kiddies manage to find some new reason why they can't join up...

[wundermaus]

38. Unilateral war is organized mass murder.

I am not impressed that you and your family rationalizes pride in taking other people's lives. It's a disgusting way to make a living. By his involvement, he is committing war crimes. Defense is justified, all else is simply mass murder. Boo hoo to you too.

[donheld]

12. Drudge is the worst there is

:nuke:

[mynameisearl]

15. Headlines like this make DU look bad

The truth is right here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/wdrudge328.xml

[Cooley Hurd]

23. Concerned?

;)
Welcome to DU.

[LostinVA]

28. Very concerned

[underpants]

32. That is the case but Drudge gets a lot more hits I am sure

and even if Drudge wasn't first he still shouldn't have posted it at all.


Welcome to DU :hi:

[BB1]

17. I don't see the point.

What's the bad part about revealing Prince Harry's in Afghanistan? It's not like the Taliban didn't know. It's not like there aren't any snitches in the Royal British Army. It's not like nobody knew he was going to Afghanistan.

So now some dickhead rover reporter outs Harry. That's what he's paid to do.
What's little Harry doing there in the first place? Did he never get access to the DowningStreetMemoes? Doesn't Harry have a clue?

(I'd be interested in what Harry is listening to on his ipod. Bet it isn't Frank Zappa...

[Twist_U_Up]

18. I call Bull shit....

They wanted his name out there, they need a new hero, a new war leader, How many times have we heard hes going ? Why bother even leaking that ?
Drudge sucks too much ass not to hang onto this story. Drudge let it out because they told him to.

[raebrek]

33. I concur

I wonder when the Britt media told Drudge about it so that they could move forward with the story themselves.

Raebrek!!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. Now the brits know who they're really allying with.

Bastard Republicans. Have you all noticed this discontinuity? Republicans shut the "liberal" newspapers down by claiming that they said too much and revealed the identity of their spies. Yet it was a Republican who revealed Valerie Plame's identity and destroyed shell companies which probably cost us billions of dollars. And now it's a Republican who exposes the prince's whereabouts.

How is it that we haven't been able to frame them for the hypocrites they are?

[MaineDem]

26. From what I've seen on BBC this morning

Harry was enjoying being with his "mates" and the soldiers serving under him respected him as an officer. Harry said it was probably the only time he'll be so "normal".

What a shame that he couldn't have been left alone doing what he wanted to do. Shame on Drudge!

[AP]

29. I wouldn't accept rides in chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benzes in Paris if I were Drudge.

[douglas9]

34. Harry coming home

HRH Prince Harry will be withdrawn from Afghanistan, back to the UK following a decision made today, Friday 29 February 2008 by the relevant Chiefs of Staff.

The decision by elements of the foreign media to report Prince Harry’s presence in Afghanistan without any consultation with the Ministry of Defence is regrettable. However, this was a circumstance that we have always been aware of and one for which we have had contingency plans in place. Whilst it had been intended that Prince Harry should return in a matter of weeks with the remainder of the Household Cavalry Regiment Battlegroup, the situation has now clearly changed.

continuing...............

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/HarryComingHome.htm

[customerserviceguy]

35. Let's get real here

Since the Monica Lewinsky story broke just over ten years ago, Drudge has only been paid attention to twice, and it's not coincidental that it's been within the last week. The first time was getting a mention during the debate for claiming that Hillary's supporters had sent him the picture of Obama in a turban, and the second time was for Prince Harry. It's my personal belief that Drudge has gotten the blame for Harry because of the jealousy of the MSM over the free plug at the debate.

I mean, like the Taliban didn't already know Harry was in-country? Even they're not that stupid.

[arikara]

49. Harry said on interview

that the time he was on the front lines was the most normal life he'd ever had, and probably would ever have. I get what he meant to say, that he's just one of the guys there, but I feel sorry for him if waging war is "normal" to him.

I wonder what Diana would have thought about him at war, especially given her humanitarian activities.