You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Afghanistan
Al-Qaida sympathizers call on Taliban to hunt down Prince Harry
2008-03-01
Self-proclaimed al-Qaida supporters urged the Taliban in internet postings Friday to hunt down and kill Britain's Prince Harry after hearing that he had been sent to Afghanistan for his army service.
Boy howdy, bet no one saw that coming ...
The calls came after a US-based Web site leaked the news that Harry had been in Afghanistan for the past 10 weeks with his military unit. Britain's Defense Ministry has since announced he will be pulled out. "We ask God to enable our beloved brothers in Taliban to seize this priceless booty because nothing would break the heart of his grandmother than if she lost him," said one poster, who called himself the Sweeping Army in a message Thursday.
One of Drudge's lowest points ever ...
Posted by:Fred

#6  I suspect that Drudge, probably without knowing, was forwarded the leak by MI6, to get the word out in a hurry. All sorts of reasons for doing so.

Perfesser, ever occur to you that somebody on Fleet Street released it to Drudge?
Posted by: Pappy   2008-03-01 21:20  

#5  Interesting take, 'moose.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2008-03-01 18:11  

#4  I suspect that Drudge, probably without knowing, was forwarded the leak by MI6, to get the word out in a hurry. All sorts of reasons for doing so.

To start with, the Queen has absolute control over the royal family in British law. She, on a whim, could order Harry home, and there is nothing he could do about it.

Second, Harry's station and location might have turned up in an enemy or third party intercept, meaning he had been compromised already, possibly by an unfriendly government. To protect his small unit, they would want everybody to know he had left. Not from the typical rank and file, but from professional assassins who know what they are doing (think Iran or even Russia).

Third, they let slip that even though Harry is coming home, William is soon to be taking his place. The only reason to mention this is to hope that Taliban and al-Qaeda dumbasses would try a major attack to capture or kill him, being told his supposed location through back channels. No serious assassin would fall for that.

So don't be too angry at Matt Drudge. Remember also that "the British media had been told, but had refrained from telling anyone", which is total bull itself. Nobody but an idiot is going to trust any reporter with important information, unless they wanted it spilled.

N.B.: It is also useful that an American spilled, because now they don't have to futz around with prosecuting any Brit with the Official Secrets Act. This is all just too easy.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2008-03-01 15:27  

#3  Too late Harry is already gone.

Although, I would bet he is safer with the Blues than at home. The Blues don't take kindly to hostiles.
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-03-01 14:19  

#2  The funny thing is, he didn't even break the story, he just pretended to.

There ain't been any real news at drudge for a while, so I haven't been clicking anyway.
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman   2008-03-01 13:22  

#1  Saw Drudge's brag link that he's the "most powerful journalist" around as a result of this story. The rise of HufPo must really have got his ego where it hurts.

Decided then and there that Drudge will never get another click from me. It's the only way to give him effective feedback.
Posted by: lotp   2008-03-01 09:56  

00:00