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2008-02-28 Afghanistan

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2008-02-28 13:38|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 More details from Al-Guardian...

UK broadcast and online media today ran the story that Prince Harry is on frontline duty with the British Army in Afghanistan, after the US news website the Drudge Report broke an unprecedented two-month news blackout on his deployment.

The surprise in media circles, where the deal brokered between media organisations and the Ministry of Defence not to report Prince Harry's frontline role in Afghanistan in return for access to the prince during his deployment has been known about since mid December, will be that the story did not leak out earlier.

And although UK media only ran with the story today after it appeared on the Drudge Report, Australian women's magazine New Idea actually broke the news on January 7. German newspaper Bild is also reported to have run the story.

The Ministry of Defence held a series of meetings with British media representatives in advance of the 23-year-old prince's departure to Afghanistan in December, reaching an agreement that his deployment would be kept secret. Under the news blackout deal media organisations that signed up were given access to a series of pooled interviews, pictures and footage of the prince in Afghanistan, on condition that nothing would run until his six-month tour ended in April.

Footage of Harry in action in Afghanistan and interviews with the prince about his deployment have run on outlets including BBC News 24, Sky News and the BBC1 Six O'Clock News. All the major UK news broadcasters, newspaper publishers and news agencies signed up for the MoD deal.

It is also understood that the first of a series of three "embeds" have taken place with Harry with TV news and press reporters getting footage and pictures of the prince, who has called in a number of air strikes in his role commanding a tactical air control unit.

Under the news blackout deal the plan was for Harry to return to the UK on a Friday to give daily and weekend national newspapers as well as broadcasters a fair crack at the story. Pooled material was planned to be released in "two or three waves" to give all media a chance to get in on the act.

Under the agreement, if the embargo was broken by British media Prince Harry was expected to leave the war-torn nation. In the case that the story was broken by foreign media first, as has happened today, British media were "implored to resist diving in" at least until he has been taken to safety.

Posted by tu3031 2008-02-28 14:19|| 2008-02-28 14:19|| Front Page Top

#2 Harry, 23, who is ~~third~~ first in line to the throne, has spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province.

The prince joked about his nickname "the bullet magnet", but said: "I finally get the chance to do the soldiering that I want to do."

There we go.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-02-28 14:27|| 2008-02-28 14:27|| Front Page Top

#3 It was supposed to be a secret, according to the Sun, but Drudge leaked it thereby putting not just Harry but his entire unit at extra risk for the sake of a headline. If this is true I'm very disappointed with Drudge.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-02-28 14:34|| 2008-02-28 14:34|| Front Page Top

#4 Hah, I got it!
Those prisoners they take - get a makeup specialist and doll up and dress the telebunny to look like the Prince, superglue a fake weapon into his hands, and have them approach villages they say are safe or suspect IED placements or otherwise exposed position.

"The Prince, yeah we killed him twice yesterday."
"But we just saw him snooping around here! Aaa!"

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-02-28 14:47|| 2008-02-28 14:47|| Front Page Top

#5 Yes, Drudge sure seems to be taking credit for leaking this--and quite gleefully boasting about it. Turns out Drudge is just as much a media whore as any other so-called journalist.

Posted by Dar">Dar 2008-02-28 14:48|| 2008-02-28 14:48|| Front Page Top

#6 Always liked Drudge until this. This was pathetic. If the circumstances around all this remain as they are, then he has acted like a spoiled, self absorbed jerk.

Posted by legolas 2008-02-28 15:01|| 2008-02-28 15:01|| Front Page Top

#7 Email drudge and tell him what you think.

I did.

Posted by lotp 2008-02-28 15:13|| 2008-02-28 15:13|| Front Page Top

#8 Just did -- this just so angers me....

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2008-02-28 15:22|| 2008-02-28 15:22|| Front Page Top

#9 Let the boy earn his spurs.

In the old days he'd return with the title 'Moor Killer'. That's got the twist the gut of any multi-culturalist bureaucrat.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-02-28 15:52|| 2008-02-28 15:52|| Front Page Top

#10 I'd say he's earned them and he needs to drag them across Drudge's little rear, if the details hold.

Posted by legolas 2008-02-28 15:55|| 2008-02-28 15:55|| Front Page Top

#11 Drudge was always about getting the scoop, no matter what. Just like the rest of the MSM world. Some say potato, I say bottom feeding parasites.

I would leave Harry there.

Let the boy earn his spurs.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-02-28 16:20|| 2008-02-28 16:20|| Front Page Top

#12 Drudge doesn't seem to understand the difference between scooping an affair involving a politician, and releasing information that could get people killed.

British Blogs not exactly supportive of Drudge.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2008-02-28 16:35|| 2008-02-28 16:35|| Front Page Top

#13 Maybe this will cause Brit pols to grow a pair and support their troops with needed equipment.

Posted by regular joe 2008-02-28 16:55|| 2008-02-28 16:55|| Front Page Top

#14 Disappoing that Drudge would leak it. But I wouldn't be at all surpised if Granny or Prince Tampon leaked it to Drudge to put an end to his adventure. Besides, if anyone in the media knew of it, he was probably in danger due to the fact that that too many of them are on the other side and would have gladly given him up.

I think it is ok that he leaves the front line now. He had a chance to see more combat than many and it appears he performed well. Good for him.

Posted by Crease Poodle1618 2008-02-28 18:44|| 2008-02-28 18:44|| Front Page Top

#15 British political and military reaction to Harry's deployment was unanimous in praise, as pre-prepared interviews with the prince revealed he joked about his nickname -- "bullet magnet" -- with Gurkha colleagues.

He also talked of life on the front line, including spending Christmas Day in a former Taliban madrassa peppered with bullet holes eating scrawny chickens slaughtered with the Gurkhas fearsome kukri knives instead of festive turkey.

If he's with the Ghurka's, he's probably safer there then in London.

Posted by tu3031 2008-02-28 20:42|| 2008-02-28 20:42|| Front Page Top

#16 Well done, Harry. You walked the walk.

Posted by phil_b 2008-02-28 20:56|| 2008-02-28 20:56|| Front Page Top

#17 FOX NEWS [Guam TV] > UK MOD - PRINCE HARRY is set to leave Helamd Province in Afghani after ten weeks of duty there coordin air strikes agz the Taliban and other Xtremists. FOOTAGE > while depicting Harry on duty, also indics that COVERT SECURITY for Harry is about and around.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-02-28 21:18|| 2008-02-28 21:18|| Front Page Top

22:26 Abdominal Snowman
22:17 Rambler in California
22:11 JosephMendiola
22:09 Barbara Skolaut
22:08 Barbara Skolaut
21:58 darrylq
21:50 Mark E.
21:43 KBK
21:42 phil_b
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21:33 g(r)omgoru
21:23 OldSpook
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21:18 JosephMendiola
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20:56 phil_b
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20:25 legolas