Im glad Harry will get a better homecoming than these wankers. The 3 on the right are the exception. They show the Brit "stiff upper lip" quite well.
Posted on 02/29/2008 4:54:27 AM PST by Wavrnr10
LONDON - Britain's defense chief decided Friday to immediately pull Prince Harry out of Afghanistan after news of his deployment was leaked on the U.S. Web site the Drudge Report.
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Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, chief of the Defense Staff, said he decided to withdraw the prince after senior commanders assessed the risks, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Harry, third in line to the British throne, has been serving on the front line with an army unit in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province since mid-December. He was originally due to return to Britain within weeks, but "the situation has now clearly changed," the statement said.
The decision was based on concerns that worldwide media coverage of Harry in Afghanistan could put him and his comrades at increased risk.
The ministry asked the media not to speculate on Harry's location — or how and when he would return — until he was back in Britain.
British officials had hoped to keep Prince Harry's deployment secret until he had safely returned, but they released video of him serving in Helmand Province after the leak appeared on the Drudge Report.
The ministry deplored the leak by "elements of the foreign media."
"However, this was a circumstance that we have always been aware of and one for which we have had contingency plans in place," the statement said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the prince had demonstrated that he was an exemplary young officer. "The whole of Britain will be proud of the outstanding service he is giving," he said.
Harry, 23, 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.
Tours to Afghanistan usually last six months; Harry has served 10 weeks.
Harry conceded in an interview filmed last week that when he returns to Britain he could be a "top target" for Islamic terrorists.
"Once this ... comes out, every single person that supports them will be trying to slot me," he said.
The deployment plan had been disclosed to reporters, with no specific date, but was not reported previously because of an 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.
Harry was supposed to go to Iraq with the Blues and Royals regiment in May last year but the assignment was canceled because of security fears. Iraqi insurgents made threats on Internet chat rooms, saying he would not make it home alive.
Harry trained at Sandhurst military academy and joined the Blues and Royals as a cornet, the cavalry regiment's equivalent of a second lieutenant. After being held back from his Iraq assignment, the prince threatened to quit the army if he was not given the chance to see combat.
Harry said his older brother, William, who also graduated from Sandhurst and is training as a military pilot, is jealous of his deployment. As Britain's likely future king, Prince William is unlikely ever to see combat.
Helmand province is where most of the 7,800 British soldiers in Afghanistan are based. It has seen some of the country's fiercest combat in recent years, with NATO-led forces fighting the Taliban and al-Qaida militants.
Harry's work in Afghanistan has involved calling in airstrikes on Taliban positions as well as going out on foot patrols. He spent part of his deployment at a base 500 yards from Taliban positions, the military said.
Since Harry's arrival, his battle group has been responsible for around 30 enemy deaths, a Ministry of Defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.
We give the Bush twins secret service protection because the country could be held hostage if they were taken. Harry would be quite a high value target once his anonymity was broken.
There is a good chance he didn’t want to leave.
“Matt was a pain years ago when he wouldn’t link to FR because everyone here didn’t worship him.”
I thought that was because of a wave of antisemitism that rolled through this place in that day.
By serving with ground troops, he has done much more than any others British royals, including his father(parade soldier), and uncle Andy who got to take part in the Falklands by serving on a warship and enjoyed a visit from Koo Stark on his return voyage. My hats off to Harry. He’s done his family and nation proud.
Ease up on Drudge ya’ll.. it was leaked by a Aussie paper first.. Drudge just picked it up...
Im glad Harry will get a better homecoming than these wankers. The 3 on the right are the exception. They show the Brit "stiff upper lip" quite well.
If someone else was going to leak this, let it be on their head. Drudge should have known better.
On FR, we know That “Loose lips sink ships”. Look under “Word Wrap: ON” when you post.
Well said. I have a hard time understanding how people, especially here, do not understand this. Give Harry credit here. He volunteered. Like it or not, he is a high value target and now that his cover is blown he indeed should be withdrawn from the battle field. You know, there is a reason high ranking officers are not saluted on the battlefield. The same principle applies here as well.
At least Harry didn't sit in his palace playing video games as he certainly could have.
You all want some cheese for your whine????? Here’s a hanky. I think it would be a great way to bring the scum out in the open.
Where does it even hint that hhis recll is ecause he is “too good” for a combat roll? I think they are doing the right thing — when the presense of a single trooper for one reason or another creates an additional hazard to his unit in the field, it is time to move him out.
I also think you would change your mine if a determined enemy hung a target on your head>
If you think the high command is doing the wrong thing, maybe you should look up the World War II history os the 8th Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group when the Germans put out special kill orders on it.
Good for them. Aren't those three Marines?
Regards
If the information was insecure enough for Drudge to be able to get it, then it was probably also insecure enough for jihadis to get it without Drudge's help. At least this way the Brits know they have leaks to plug regarding the Prince's security
Regards
I’ve got a great deal of respect for this kid, and the troops he’s serving with.
That respect doesn’t extend to whomever leaked this story (Drudge or otherwise).
God save the prince. (My darling husband did combat duty in Afghanistan, too.)
“And the MoD “leaked” the information to Drudge.”
Negative ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/wdrudge328.xml
Give him my thanks Shezza.
Best regards
Very good point.
Give me a break—at least he joined up and demanded combat. I admire this young man!
Saw him today on the news.
He was wearing a ballcap with a subdued AMERICAN FLAG on it.
Outstanding, soldier !!!
The only Royal to see combat since Andrew in the Falklands. He’s trying to be a normal guy. Good luck to him and kudos for his service.
You think so?
I don’t know, but I have seen reports that the British press knew about this and kept mum.
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