The secret is out: Prince Harry has been serving on the front line with his British army unit in one of Afghanistan's most lawless and barren provinces. Harry is the first royal to serve in a combat zone since his uncle Prince Andrew flew helicopters during Britain's war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.
British officials had hoped to keep the 23-year-old's deployment secret until he had safely returned, but they released video of Harry serving in Helmand Province after a leak appeared on the U.S. Web site the Drudge Report.
The planned deployment had been disclosed to reporters, with no specific date, but was not reported previously under a pool agreement between the Ministry of Defense and all major news organizations operating in Britain, including The Associated Press. The news blackout was intended to reduce the risk to the prince and his regiment.
"I got here on Christmas Eve. And going from bullet magnet to anti-bullet magnet, most of the guys were pretty bummed that I was here because nothing was happening for the first few days that I was here. But things are picking up again now because it's obviously quite boring when nothing is happening," Harry said in one video.
Although he is still in Afghanistan, military chiefs are angry over the leak and are considering if he should be moved. Tours to Afghanistan usually last six months, but Harry has served just 10 weeks.
"I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue," said the army's commander, Gen. Richard Dannatt.
Hats of to the young man. May he and all who serve with him and on his side in this war be kept safe and be guided in what I believe to be a fight between good and evil.
If the New York Times had broken this story you'd be howling about them helping the terrorists trying to kill Harry.
Drudge does it and not a peep about how Matt went and put Harry's whole unit in danger.
Of course they still are, if you can't kill a prince killing his comrades is still a pretty good target.
Or am I wrong?
Posted by: salvage | Friday, February 29, 2008 at 10:56 AM
…anyways, back to the subject…
“Hats off to the young man.” Absolutely and check out the hat Harry is wearing.
“May he and all who serve with him and on his side in this war be kept safe and be guided in what I believe to be a fight between good and evil.”
Too bad everyone doesn’t understand the difference and instead choose to blame America and the West for the deeds of the enemy.
A man who has nothing which he cares about more than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the existing of better men than himself.
John Stuart Mill
Posted by: tim | Friday, February 29, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Yep. He's got that weary, haven't showered properly in a month, tired of MREs but determined look. Good for him and his unit. Shame on whoever leaked the story and ruined his fun.
Posted by: Mommynator | Friday, February 29, 2008 at 03:00 PM
>Shame on whoever leaked the story and ruined his fun.
It was the Drudge Report, editors in all the major MSM outlets knew about it and agreed to keep mum.
You think fighting in Afghanistan is "fun"?
Really?
Posted by: salvage | Monday, March 03, 2008 at 09:12 AM