Breaking News: Secret Exposed, Britain's Prince Harry Serving in Afghanistan

[ells9824]

British and international media -- including CNN -- had agreed not to report Harry's deployment because of security concerns for him and his unit. The military confirmed the operation after a U.S. Web site broke the news blackout.

Story (http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/16075072.html)

Is it necessary to publish this? Does the public see every single other soldier's name, job, and location? I'm all for free speech, but I think it should also be exercised with forward thinking. And I think this is bullshit and whoever leaked it should be held responsible if he's hit.

This isn't I wanted to go and got shot in the field.....I think this would be quite different.

[gprime]

I think it is really quite impressive that in this day and age, where his title is only ceremonial, and he therefore has no need to gain combat experience for credibility as a leader. To put himself at such great risk in light of that fact, and not using it to gain favor in the media is damn exceptional. He's doing a good thing, and to see added threat to his life being caused by irresponsible media reporting is sickening.

[AnalBreeze]

I think it is really quite impressive that in this day and age, where his title is only ceremonial, and he therefore has no need to gain combat experience for credibility as a leader. To put himself at such great risk in light of that fact, and not using it to gain favor in the media is damn exceptional. He's doing a good thing, and to see added threat to his life being caused by irresponsible media reporting is sickening.

He is doing a good thing and leave it to the media to draw a map and show us
where he's sleeping! Fuck the media, Some things we just don't need to know!

[TXChris]

British and international media -- including CNN -- had agreed not to report Harry's deployment because of security concerns for him and his unit. The military confirmed the operation after a U.S. Web site broke the news blackout.

Story (http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/16075072.html)

Is it necessary to publish this? Does the public see every single other soldier's name, job, and location? I'm all for free speech, but I think it should also be exercised with forward thinking. And I think this is bullshit and whoever leaked it should be held responsible if he's hit.

This isn't I wanted to go and got shot in the field.....I think this would be quite different.

I don't think we should stop at just him getting hurt. If his location were to be attacked because of this media idiocracy then everyone involved in getting this report out should be held responsible for anyone wounded or dead that resulted.

[Jaded]

I guess someone isn't very good at keeping secrets.

I don't feel it was necessary to report this information. Why not just put a big old target on his back? Someone is going to want to make a name for himself...what better way to do that than to take out a Prince?

[swivel]

I miss the OLD media. During WWII, there were times when Ike would tell the media something, and say, "Keep this off the record", and they would. They never printed shit that might destroy morale, or get kids hurt.

That war was one major fucking mistake after another. Nothing went to plan. Tens of thousands of boys died for no good reason. But the media made sure that they were heroes at home, and in their own eyes.

What the media does these days just fucking disgusts me. It should be illegal to take pictures of people when they are inside their own home. It should be illegal to crowd around celebrities the way they do. And they may have "rights", but they need to learn some fucking responsibility. They are the fourth wing of our government, and the most shameful one at the moment.

As a matter of fact, I think President Bush looks pretty good right now. Even though his approval rating is locked in the 30's, Congress keeps its approval rating in the 20's (or teens at times!), our Judicial system is the butt of jokes, and our media is fucking scum.

I hear people calling President Bush a "Dumbass" and a "Murderer" daily. And yet, from where I am sitting, he is the only corner of our government doing his fucking job.

[ells9824]

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.

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.

Story (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_PRINCE_HARRY?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

Should've known it was Drudge

[CPL CHUD]

That war was one major fucking mistake after another. Nothing went to plan. Tens of thousands of boys died for no good reason. But the media made sure that they were heroes at home, and in their own eyes.

I definitely think that the media needs a better moral compass but I hesitate to call for a return to full blown propaganda. I'm not naive enough to believe that the news isn't biased, in some cases startlingly so, I'd just rather it not turn to totally uniformative and unrealistic.