Drudge Report Gets Prince Harry Pulled From Afghanistan Mission

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:59:00 AM EST
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Another black mark for the Drudge Report. After leaking today that Prince Harry was serving on the front lines of Afghanistan, the Timesonline reports Harry now must leave for security reasons.

Emergency plans to extract Prince Harry from Afghanistan were being drawn up last night after the news leaked that he had been on a secret combat tour in Helmand province since before Christmas.
He has been working in Helmand province as a Forward Air Controller – responsible for providing cover for frontline troops – and has been personally involved in clashes with Taleban guerrillas. His four-month deployment had been kept secret because of a Ministry of Defence agreement with news organisations, including The Times, but the details can now be made public after the news leaked out overseas and on the internet.

One Australian news magazine, New Idea, reported Harry's deployment a month ago, but it was not until it was carried yesterday on the Drudge Report, a major American website, that the news embargo was lifted.

Harry no doubt will be disappointed. He wanted to fight in Iraq, but that was deemed too dangerous because he'd become a target so he was deployed to Afghanistan. [More...]

He was interviewed last week for a segment that was not scheduled to air until his return.

He also revealed that he often wished that he was not a prince and said that his Afghan experience was “about as normal as I’m ever going to get”. He said that he hoped that he had made his mother Diana, Princess of Wales “proud.”

More from Harry. He was asked what he missed most about being home.

"Erm, I don’t know actually. Nothing really," he replied. "It’s bizarre, I’m out here now, haven’t really had a shower for four days, haven’t washed my clothes for a week and everything seems completely normal.

“So, yeah, I honestly don’t know what I miss at all. Music, we’ve got music. We’ve got light, we’ve got food, we’ve got drink.

"No, I don’t miss booze, if that’s the next question. It’s nice just to be here with all the guys and just mucking in as one of the lads.”

I hope Diana is smiling with pride from wherever she is. She did a great job. And once again, shame on Drudge.

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Drudge Report Gets Prince Harry Pulled From Afghanistan Mission | 37 comments (37 topical)

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seems like a good kid. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by cpinva on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:09:54 AM EST

not only a security issue for him, but anyone around him; they run an increased risk as the bad guys target young harry.

Drudge (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Stellaaa on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:31:09 AM EST

Seemed ridiculous that he managed to dominate the week with silly picture show. Wonder how long people will continue to give him a platform and journalistic credibility?

Heck, Drudge even made the (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:33:20 AM EST

Dem. debate Tuesday indirectly.

Did the silly photo make the German newspapers?

[ Parent ]

Gawd.... (none / 0) (#4)
by Stellaaa on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:42:12 AM EST

No did not notice. But was reading the American press. Could not believe Hillary was giving a foreign policy address and the world was filled with Obama's foreign dress.

[ Parent ]

Hope you saw J's post that includes (none / 0) (#5)
by oculus on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:43:19 AM EST

photo of Rezko's mansion, speaking of photos.

[ Parent ]

No...do tell (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Stellaaa on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:58:54 AM EST

Have you read this article: I found fascinating how he did nothing for the first 7 years when the Republicans dominated the legislature. No one is talking about this. How come he did not unite then? Those small paper local reporters know candidates much better.

Barak Obama and Me

[ Parent ]

: Interesting article (none / 0) (#8)
by cymro on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 02:14:22 AM EST

Very revealing, and a cause for concern. if Obama is the candidate in the GE however, it's unclear if whether the Repub's can actually make an issue out of anything in the article.
The link has been posted here at least twice that I've seen. Well, three times now!

[ Parent ]
: Quite interesting. (none / 0) (#10)
by oculus on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 02:31:35 AM EST

[ Parent ]

At least you got that much... (none / 0) (#18)
by Rainsong on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:24:44 AM EST

.. all we get in Oz is endless repeats of "Obama Girl" and groupies fainting en masse.

But such a picture as that one of Obama in garb wouldn't raise an eyebrow in Australia, people would just be puzzled as in " And your point is?" we have African migrant populations who wear that sort of stuff every day to work on the subway.

[ Parent ]

Since when (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by fladem on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:00:35 AM EST

does breaking a legitimate news story warrent shame?

I hate Drudge, but in this case the simple fact is he broke a story before anyone else.

Since when is this a legitmate News story? (none / 0) (#19)
by BarnBabe on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:26:10 AM EST

Did we really need to know this? We already knew there was concern for him going and we were under the impression he did not go. End of story. If it was such a BIG news story and it first showed up in Austrailia and no one else ran with it, then we have to acknowledge that Drudge was the only one who thought it should be reported. He put Harry and his fellow troops in danger aka Geraldo. Thus, he continues to be a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssss Jerk.

[ Parent ]

What? (none / 0) (#26)
by LarryInNYC on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 09:45:50 AM EST

Did we really need to know this?

Wouldn't Bush say "Do the people really need to know they're being illegally wiretapped"? What kind of standard is that for news reporting.

The deployment of the future head of state to a war zone in an active combat role is certainly an interesting news story.

I only wish our own press would show more interest in who was (and was not) deployed overseas at time of war.

[ Parent ]

Interesting but necessary? (none / 0) (#27)
by BarnBabe on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 10:50:31 AM EST

Larry, Larry, Larry....Always liked your writings.But your saying a future head of state in a war zone is like wiretapping. They really are apples and oranges. How come when GW or Condi or any political big shot in this country flies into Iraq, there is not a grand announcement. Maybe it is because they would be shot down if known. And maybe a kid who wants to be a soldier but does not want to get his mates shot up and prefers to stay in the shadows should be a non story. That's all. Interesting? Yes, but why make him a target.Do you think that Drudge cares? No. He isn't the one over there, is he.

[ Parent ]

No. . . (none / 0) (#30)
by LarryInNYC on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:08:55 AM EST

But your saying a future head of state in a war zone is like wiretapping.

What I'm saying is that the concept of "does the public need to know" is exactly the idea that's used to suppress news reporting.

A valid news story is any factually true information that the public cares to read about. It's true that the public pretty much constantly disappoints in terms of what they want to read about but that doesn't negate the principle.

[ Parent ]

: Ok, principle right, story dangerous (none / 0) (#34)
by BarnBabe on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:42:38 AM EST

He was already doing an interview to be televised after he was done with deployment so it was not going to be kept a secret much longer. I think it was more that Drudge wanted to play Hedda Hopper and scoop everyone else. And no, I was not old enough to read Hedda, but my Mother did. So let's just say the scoop was in poor taste but then that would be saying Drudge has taste.

[ Parent ]

well..it was reported in other countries (none / 0) (#32)
by Rainsong on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:35:48 AM EST

... just not really very newsworthy, in those places where it was reported.

Human interest story,
a few minutes at the end of the headline news & major stories, before the sports and weather.

The British Royal Family have sent their younger sons to serve in some kind of active combat duty for centuries. Younger sons are not direct heirs to the throne. Prince Andrew served in the Falklands.

They do very short tours of duty, they are given an 'honorary' officer commission, and they have a story about how Really, Really important his role was, and how he did "just the same as the other guys in the unit", learned a lot, made new friends

.. and they are always brought home early,

and the loyal subjects always get a really lovely media show of sending them off,
and then bringing them home not long after,
with great media shots of their younger princes in uniform saying really nice things about his time with the troops.

Same story with Prince Andrew, and generations of princes before him.

Blowing it on major news media, well, in the USA anyway - has sorta spoiled the big bang - they wanted to do the full Princely Hero Homecoming media scene, and now Drudge has spoiled it.

Didn't matter a fig, if a few million Australians and New Zealanders, already knew about it (by accident), and saw it on half a dozen TV networks nearly 2 months ago,

and went "well ..isn't that nice, they are bringing Harry home", and then went back to their supper, or their beer, to watch the highlights of the cricket.

But to give ourselves credit, we Aussies did keep it sort of secret - and Drudge pulled it from a Ladies Home Journal type gossip magazine?

I think its hilarious, funniest joke I've heard in weeks:) but then I do have a very peculiar sense of humour.

[ Parent ]

I say there Mate (none / 0) (#33)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:41:54 AM EST

methinks this is old news. : )

[ Parent ]

Me wonder when the twins are going? (none / 0) (#35)
by BarnBabe on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:44:45 AM EST

Yeah, why don't they try this too?

[ Parent ]

: It would be in the (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:57:19 AM EST

Grand Old Tradition of a Dynasty, Wouldn't it?

[ Parent ]

Responsible journalism (none / 0) (#6)
by cymro on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 01:56:51 AM EST

Given the decline of "responsible" journalism in the MSM, I'm a bit surprised that the story of Prince Harry's whereabouts took as long as four months to leak.

The cynic in me also wonders whether this story is keeping something more important out of the headlines -- as portrayed in Wag the Dog.

Prince Harry was responsible for (none / 0) (#9)
by hue on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 02:15:39 AM EST

the Obama garb photo.

Drudge sure digs out some old news (none / 0) (#11)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 06:07:29 AM EST

problems is since he is so much read by the MSM it becomes news. Ie. The picture of Obama had been around for a long time including in the cover of some tabloid but became news when drudge posted it and claimed a Clinton Campaign involvement.. The fact that Harry was in Afghanistan was leaked about a month ago in some Australian magazine but didn't become dangerous till drudge posted it yesterday. I wonder if he'll claim the Clinton campaign leaked it in a e-mail.

Was ages ago... (none / 0) (#14)
by Rainsong on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 07:48:27 AM EST

LOL.. do you know what the 'New Idea' magazine is?

One of Australia's longest-running women's home & garden magazines :)

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I wouldn't exactly call it a "leak"
of any kind..
It was a follow-up glossy 2-page spread...

The news was out from England months earlier, when he first went off to join the army (like a good Royal son always does) and was big public royal thing, lots of pomp & pageantry, flag-waving and all that stuff the Brits do so well, and it was wide public knowledge he was being posted to serve in Afghanistan, looking all smart in his uniform, teary mob farewells etc .. sniff.

Of course security was mentioned then too, but I think the Brits can handle their own issues on that score, and satisfied the british commonwealth people and masses that their royal son wouldn't come to harm. I dont really think the Brits need an American tabloid blogger to tell them about it chuckle.

Gossip mags & newsfeeds all over the world had it -- Well, maybe not "all over the world", just the British Commonwealth countries? (there are over 100 of them, after all)

along with Prince Williams on-again, off-again romance with that oh so pretty Kate - will she be the new Queen of Hearts? or the new People's Princess? Is their romance doomed by the feral, evil, nasty paparazzi?

Along with the Aussie lawyer home-town girl made good by marrying the heir Prince of Denmark, and recently having her second baby christened :)
She got a 2-page spread right beside Harry in Afghanistan.

To some of us, its far more interesting than Britney or Paris...

[ Parent ]

I haven't been to Australia since (none / 0) (#20)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:35:23 AM EST

1968 when I was in the military so I was going by the Canadian Reports I had read on the subject but you are right.

[ Parent ]

Also some German news Outlet had (none / 0) (#21)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:37:30 AM EST

commented on it before. So I guess the British Gov. did not consider it a Danger till the" Americans" ; ) got a hold of it?

[ Parent ]

: yeah... seee my post below.. (none / 0) (#23)
by Rainsong on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 09:13:03 AM EST

.. the more I think about it, and after re-reading the "offending" article in full again, methinx you are right.

[ Parent ]

Great Move by (none / 0) (#12)
by kenoshaMarge on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 06:21:15 AM EST

Drudge. Did he also send Prince Harry a tee shirt with a target printed on it?

This is the kind of reporting that makes me sick. Somehow we the public think we have the right to know stuff that we have no right to know. How did it serve any-one's interest to reveal this? Drudge did nothing except put some-one's life in danger.

A forward Artillery (none / 0) (#13)
by Wile ECoyote on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 06:28:49 AM EST

Observer. He is way out on the pointy end of the spear. Good on him.

You can't find something more truthful to... (none / 0) (#15)
by libertarian soldier on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 07:48:37 AM EST

to complain about Drudge?
From the Daily Telegraph:

Australian women's magazine that broke a media blackout on Prince Harry fighting in Afghanistan insisted that it had not deliberately done so and was simply unaware of the embargo.

The weekly magazine, New Idea, found itself at the centre of furious condemnation after it emerged that it was the original source of reports that the prince was serving in Afghanistan.

ahhh... (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Rainsong on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 09:05:56 AM EST

.. found the problem I think.

I have a copy of that very issue of New Idea, and read through it again to see what was sooooo wrong about it.

The only mistake I can see New Idea made, was mentioning the specific province by name (buried in a 2-page spread), the other media reports, on our TV etc at the same time, in January - only said he would be leaving Afghanistan "soon" due to "increased security risks", flashed a photo of him and one or two lines of his interview etc.

New Idea circulation is around a million per month, in New Zealand too. They would have recieved the story, pics etc from their London-based correspondents. I suspect somebody stuffed up, with the name of the province getting through.

But then again, I'm sorry, but I find it really hard to believe the Army would have prepared media releases, story, interviews, photo-shoot etc - then blithely given them to the media with such a long embargo in the first place. They wouldn't have said anything at all, the Army would have held on to the paperwork until just before they were ready to release, once Harry had been shifted.

Perhaps somebody is making far more spin of this issue than needs be?

I sure feel sympathy for the women at New Idea. Poor buggers must be all atwitter - the recipes, knitting patterns may not get typeset next month (I buy it for the cryptic crosswords and sudoku puzzles), liitle old ladies, housewives and office-workers at the hairdressers, and so on, will be upset all over the country now...

[ Parent ]

: Not in my husband's opine (none / 0) (#37)
by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 02:11:12 PM EST

I told him about this and then he read around about it. He flinched hard reading the province given out. Military Martha would tell you that that was a "bad thing"......a very bad thing. You don't give out locations of jack anything if it can aid the enemy or puts anyone's lives in danger, and you certainly don't give out the province locations of the monarchy for show princes while they are in uniform and serving. Huge "F"up of giant military and political proportions. I admire Harry though. I don't even know how he got anyone to agree to let him serve in Afghanistan doing what he's doing, someone threatened someone :)

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the info (none / 0) (#16)
by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 08:00:21 AM EST

Drudge never has been a man of original thought or deed ;) At least I can take comfort that Australia's media seems to possibly be as broken as mine is ;)

[ Parent ]

I hate Drudge (none / 0) (#24)
by Baal on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 09:28:14 AM EST

but his crimes go way beyond this.

: List (none / 0) (#29)
by Wile ECoyote on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 10:59:12 AM EST

his crimes, please.

[ Parent ]

it would be a black mark for Drudge... (none / 0) (#25)
by Maria Garcia on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 09:31:31 AM EST

...if the media didn't protect him. I first heard of this on the Today Show this morning and they kept saying he was outed by "a blogger" and at one point went to great pains to describe the blogger as a well-meaning guy!!!! I had a sneaking suspicion it was Drudge, but of course I had to come to a blog to find out.

Yahoo had it on a AP story (none / 0) (#28)
by BarnBabe on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 10:54:28 AM EST

Which named Drudge the one who reported it on Wed and then everyone started following it. A shame the kid could not be normal for a bit and feel like he was doing something important over there. But, Drudge felt it was more important to be first.

[ Parent ]

: Problem is he wasn't even first (none / 0) (#31)
by Florida Resident on Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:15:21 AM EST

read prior comments. He may have been the first in the American Blogoshpere but like always he is making news with old news.

[ Parent ]