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.
I have to wonder if it wasn’t the MoD that leaked the info to Drudge in the first place.....
I wonder if this could be a good thing, in the end.
Those blokes get right PO'd if you attack their royalty.
Maybe somebody will figure out that Muslims aren't there for the crumpets.
King George II @ Dettingan, 1743.
Come on, that’s a bit over the top, don’t you think? After all, he volunteered (demanded) combat duty and has been performing admirably while in harm’s way. Such a high-profile target could indeed put ALL of his unit at greater risk from the Islamofascists trying to make a point. I for one admire the guy and appreciate his service with the allied forces in Afghanistan.
Drudge put Harry in more mortal danger than he was, as well as his buddies serving with him. Prince Harry is a high value target.
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.
Matt was a pain years ago when he wouldn’t link to FR because everyone here didn’t worship him.
Evidently, he’s still a pain.
I’m not much on tracking royalty, but this young man has grit. He made it a point to serve in combat after Sandhurst. He could have just as easily taken some token position, worn his dress uniform on occasion and remained back in Britain to enjoy the elite party circuit. It’s not his fault that the media blew his cover, or that the British monarchy and government made the decision to pull him out. If anyone deserves disdain, it’s the weak kneed labour government under Brown who fails to fully support their own troops’ efforts in this war. Given a choice, I am certain he would stay with his mates in Afghanistan.
Actually, you are exactly right. Drudge only made his statements after the MoD released said information.
Likely they wanted to draw positive attention to their hero while at the same time pulling him back to safety after a short tour.
Drudge simply nibbled and they make a pre-made statement about “leaks” to hide their motives. And it also allows them to pull him back publicly. For them win-win, for us... well, casualties of war I guess.
A member of the British Royal family that has some Noughas.
Unfortunately this is part the nature of the institution of the British Monarchy which prevents him from leading a normal life publically.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some troublemaker in the British Defense Ministry leaked the story to Drudge, because it was extra trouble to keep Prince Harry’s doings a secret. Too bad.
Even though he was only there a short time, we thank Harry for his service.
Well, he was there for the last few months before it got leaked to Drudge.
Great OPSEC. Now, he's just a high-priority target for the bad guys if he remains there.
You changed the title. We’ve been asked not to do that in order to avoid duplications. Bad boy.
I saw him being interviewed after it was discovered he was there and he talked about enjoying meeting people who didn't know "who" he was and said, "Until you guys showed up I was a "normal" person." He seemed to be loving it but understood he had to be pulled out because he caused increased danger to others.
He isn't "better", just a Prince and celebrity. I think it would cause more trouble on the battlefield than it's worth.
For support duty he's fine, but I wouldn't want him in combat if I was CO.
And the MoD “leaked” the information to Drudge.
If you want to believe it, go ahead.
“Achmed, look, the AP is reporting the Prince has been recalled to Britain”
“Curses Al Hassan, change our plan back to targeting the American infidels”.
To prevent duplication, please do not alter the title. Thanks.
The story had appeared on two other small outlets a few weeks ago apparently. Didn't get any legs until it appeared on Drudge. Was that due to the press respecting the embargo? If so, then I'm wondering who leaked to Drudge and why the timing? Seems to me the real story is who wanted Harry out, when and why.
How do you figure that? He has been in the field for weeks, I think that proves he didn’t take the easy way. If his cover wasn’t blown he’d still be there. Staying would make him and all of the soldiers with him a huge target. Afghanistan is a nasty place, I would say worse than Iraq.
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