NationStates Jolt Archive

Well after the fiasco of not posting the prince to the front-lines last year, it appears (as I thought was going to be the case), that the MoD waited for the fuss to die down and quietly posted him to the front-lines anyway.This supports the fact that their concern wasn't so much that a royal might get killed and more and issue that by becoming a well-publicised target he would present a serious risk for his unit (as well as of course more significant personal risk than under normal conditions).

Shame that not everyone followed the media blackout on it


Prince Harry in Afghanistan
The prince's deployment was subject to a news blackout
Prince Harry has been fighting the Taleban on the front line in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

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

"I finally get the chance to do the soldiering that I want to do," the prince said ahead of his deployment.

The deployment was subject to a news blackout deal, but broke down when leaked on US website the Drudge Report.

Chief of the General Staff Sir Richard Dannatt, who is head of the British Army, said he was disappointed the news had leaked.


It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once
Prince Harry

In a statement, he said: "I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us.

"This is in stark contrast to the highly responsible attitude that the whole of the UK print and broadcast media, along with a small number overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations.

In an interview in Helmand Province, Harry - a member of the Household Cavalry - talked about life as a soldier on the front line.

"I haven't really had a shower for four days, I haven't washed my clothes for a week.

"It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once, I think it's about as normal as I'm going to get."

It comes after the prince's planned tour to Iraq last year had to be cancelled because of a security risk.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7269743.stm

There is a thread already (beat you by about 5 seconds) but as this one seems much more noticable i'll have the other locked instead :p

There is a thread already (beat you by about 5 seconds) but as this one seems much more noticable i'll have the other locked instead :p

Damn you and your quick fingers, I need to learn to type faster :p

"I haven't really had a shower for four days, I haven't washed my clothes for a week.

"It's very nice to be sort of a normal person for once, I think it's about as normal as I'm going to get."Normal people don't shower and wash their clothes??

Normal people don't shower and wash their clothes??

Not in Britain! *flees*

Normal people don't shower and wash their clothes??

What, you think normal soldiers shower everyday when on duty. Please...

My thoughts exactly. What is the conception of normal people of that prince?

Are we now going to just assume he gave those two quotes as they are laid out in the article?

Perhaps they are seperate quotes in an unfortunate order?

Are we now going to just assume he gave those two quotes as they are laid out in the article?

Perhaps they are seperate quotes in an unfortunate order?

That's definitely how I read them, see the separate quotation marks around each phrase.

Normal people don't shower and wash their clothes??

My thoughts exactly. What is the conception of normal people of that prince?

That's definitely how I read them, see the separate quotation marks around each phrase.

and separate paragraphs as well

I wonder if they'll let him stay out there now

In a statement, he said: "I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us.

Yea, damn freedom of speech! How dare they exercise it!

Please, it was only a matter of time before this broke.

Yea, damn freedom of speech! How dare they exercise it!
.

That's not what was being said at all :rolleyes:

Haha, it was simply a request for media outlets to prioritise lives over profit. Calm down.

Hey at least it was the Drudge Report and not Jihadist Today.

Yea, damn freedom of speech! How dare they exercise it!

Please, it was only a matter of time before this broke.

Haha, it was simply a request for media outlets to prioritise lives over profit. Calm down.

Yea, damn freedom of speech! How dare they exercise it!

Please, it was only a matter of time before this broke.

This is like publishing the locations of the airforce one emergency landing sites.

They will have to pull him out now because he's a got a big X on him.

That's definitely how I read them, see the separate quotation marks around each phrase.

If you look carefully, there is an open quote mark at the start of the first sentence (not showering) but no close quote, then another open quote on the sentence in the new paragraph (being a normal person): this is how it is typeset to indicate it is all one quotation, which is running over multiple paragraphs.

If you look carefully, there is an open quote mark at the start of the first sentence (not showering) but no close quote, then another open quote on the sentence in the new paragraph (being a normal person): this is how it is typeset to indicate it is all one quotation, which is running over multiple paragraphs.

Can't we just use the context to infer he means a "normal person" that is a deployed soldier? I mean, that just seems common sense to me... And I wouldn't expect deployed soldiers always get to shower or wash their clothes regularly.

And it's pretty irresponsible journalism, anyway. Someone said Prince Harry has a big red X on him, but it's actually going to be his entire.. uh.. platoon? Squad? Whatever, his entire group of soldiers. A great story isn't worth putting that many lives at risk.

What, you think normal soldiers shower everyday when on duty. Please...
that's not what he said. he said "people", not "soldiers".

Can't we just use the context to infer he means a "normal person" that is a deployed soldier?
Well yes, we could, but it's more fun not to :D

I think that's great- a royal on the front lines.

However, I don't think his unit should get much coverage, as it would make him a target. In fact, I wish this article hadn't been posted at all-as it endangers the Prince, and his unit more than just being on the front lines.

[Moderator Edit - Cogitation] This quote has been removed because the quoted post was soft-deleted, pending Moderator review.[/modedit]

Not cool.

:upyours:

I sincerely doubt the MoD would have allowed him to be interviewed if they felt there was any danger.

I sincerely doubt the MoD would have allowed him to be interviewed if they felt there was any danger.

The tapes weren't intended to be used until he had returned from active duty

lets hope the press don't follow him into any tunnels...I will soon be executed for saying that

They will have to pull him out now because he's a big X on him.

well if he regularly bathed that X would be washed away :)

The tapes weren't intended to be used until he had returned from active duty

As far as I'm aware the Drudge report didn't use any footage from the interview or reveal his location other than 'in Afghanistan'. However, the interview is now on televised news which is a far greater security leak than simply saying that he's in Afghanistan. I don't think the interview would have been televised unless the MoD had already moved him on.

that's not what he said. he said "people", not "soldiers".

Oh, so soldiers aren't people. I had not known. Thank your for that clarification.

I wonder, what do you call a normal person in a war zone that is fighting as part of a nation's military forces? I know there's a word for it. It's got to be somewhere around here. Hmm? What do we call this type of fighting person? Anybody care to help?

If he did die, it would put a hole in the idea that extremists are braver than our soldiers - their leaders hide away in caves and such, brainwashing underlings to do their dirty work.

Not in Britain! *flees*

In United Kingdom first you get the money, then you get the power then you get the showers.(oh no that sounds dodgy, but i didn't mean it like that you know showers and soap, oh dear).

I mean How Dare You!one one one oe ne oeneo oeone!

As for the OP, well finally he's fighting for his country, next stop the Queen will fight in Afghanistan, flying the cruise missle toward the next base. (joke)

I notice that no one's mentioned the nickname he's been given by his unit and the supporting Gurkhas...

'Bullet Magnet'

Nice to see black humour alive and well on the front lines.

I'm glad he is out there with the Blues and Royals instead of sitting on his ass back home. It says alot about his character that he is willing to go when his country is at war.

I'm glad he is out there with the Blues and Royals instead of sitting on his ass back home. It says alot about his character that he is willing to go when his country is at war.

It also shows a disregard to other soldiers lives, he is a target, a huge target. Think of the propaganda created by fundamentalists killing the third in the line for our throne? The MoD should at least move him far away from where he was now, if they haven't already. Its sad to think that media sites will post news like this that will endanger many troops, but then again money is money.

So?

Like his uncle Andrew playing 'dodge the argentine exocet' in 1982.
He was 2nd in line at the time.

But there again, we live in different times now, the times where the media does'nt give a s**t about what it prints/broadcasts so long as it makes the media some money. :upyours:

Could just imagine the current media on the 4th of June 1944 printing up banner headlines :
"Great Allied invasion to start in Normandy on 6th of June" :headbang:

El-Presidente Boris

PS us British types do know what showers/soap/water are used for :D
Well to answer the "so?";

Other peoples lives are instantly put in more danger by anyone knowing Prince Harry is there, do I need to make that point any clearer?

Human life does matter to most. Just because it has been done before it doesn't mean it is right, under the same logic the holocaust would then not be an issue (yes its an extreme way to look at it).

(Anyone care to fill me in on why the post times are so screwed up?)

It also shows a disregard to other soldiers lives, he is a target, a huge target. Think of the propaganda created by fundamentalists killing the third in the line for our throne? The MoD should at least move him far away from where he was now, if they haven't already. Its sad to think that media sites will post news like this that will endanger many troops, but then again money is money.


So?

Like his uncle Andrew playing 'dodge the argentine exocet' in 1982.
He was 2nd in line at the time.

But there again, we live in different times now, the times where the media does'nt give a s**t about what it prints/broadcasts so long as it makes the media some money. :upyours:

Could just imagine the current media on the 4th of June 1944 printing up banner headlines :
"Great Allied invasion to start in Normandy on 6th of June" :headbang:

El-Presidente Boris

PS us British types do know what showers/soap/water are used for :D

Just because it has been done before it doesn't mean it is right, under the same logic the holocaust would then not be an issue (yes its an extreme way to look at it).
Excellent Godwin maneuver!

(Anyone care to fill me in on why the post times are so screwed up?)
As I understand it, there are several servers that feed into Jolt, and their clocks have been steadily drifting further and further apart from each other. Today my posts generally appear early, though usually they are late.

Excellent Godwin maneuver!

Thanks.
As I understand it, there are several servers that feed into Jolt, and their clocks have been steadily drifting further and further apart from each other. Today my posts generally appear early, though usually they are late.
And thanks :)

I don't see why he should be such a target anyway. The enemy can cover their faces, so why not our troops?

I read the title as "Harry Potter does some real soldiering"...

what makes me wonder is why so many people made such a fuss over him, i mean he joined the military and their job is...... surprise surprise to fight.
He's only one guy, doesn't deserve so much publicity when there's loads of other soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting it out.

You make a very valid point, but my main objection to people knowing he is there, I don't mind him being there, in fact I think its great he is fighting for his country and doing his job, but he is a target of significance to hit. Its like someone blowing up parliament in comparison to someone blowing up a telephone box. No offense to the soldiers there that are "nobodies" but prince Harry is a member of the royal family and is therefore a figurehead of Britain, if he dies in Afghanistan there will be public outcry here over his death (maybe a good thing), and more importantly the huge propaganda victory for the Afghan forces.

I don't see why he should be such a target anyway. The enemy can cover their faces, so why not our troops?

what makes me wonder is why so many people made such a fuss over him, i mean he joined the military and their job is...... surprise surprise to fight.
He's only one guy, doesn't deserve so much publicity when there's loads of other soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting it out.

hmmm but In Britian we could just spin the propaganda and say "well we didn't want him alive anyway".
Or they could use him as a lure for terrorist activity in a specific area, then bomb the hell out of it, by adding media attention to his exact location, terrorists would swarm in to have a go, then just reveal that in fact he was nowhere near what the 'so-called' exact location was and you've got them boxed in. Job done.

I'm just really cynical of the royal family, i mean why isn't the UK a republic by now? Like they have any real power, they're just good for postcards and tourism.
Oh yeah i still recall seeing articles about Diana's death inquiry, i mean yeesh give her a rest, she's already died ages ago leave her alone. So i suppose that is a good point about the public outcry, but still he's a soldier he should do his job like any other soldier in his unit.
You're right the royal family are just figureheads, well mostly, they do charity work etc, and they mostly have jobs as well, e.g. serving in the armed forces. Britain does need tourism though and having a royal family does draw in tourists, there aren't many countries that have royal families anymore like Britain does.

As for turning the propaganda around saying we don't want Harry alive won't work, mainly due to the fact that people grieve over soldiers they don't know or have heard of, why would Harry be different. There is no way we as a nation could turn around and say that.

Using him as bait is a fair plan, and for all we know it could be, the problem is the main targets we are after won't attack someone, or a place, the leaders stay behind the front lines and hide. We can't draw them out and so need to go to them.

You make a very valid point, but my main objection to people knowing he is there, I don't mind him being there, in fact I think its great he is fighting for his country and doing his job, but he is a target of significance to hit. Its like someone blowing up parliament in comparison to someone blowing up a telephone box. No offense to the soldiers there that are "nobodies" but prince Harry is a member of the royal family and is therefore a figurehead of Britain, if he dies in Afghanistan there will be public outcry here over his death (maybe a good thing), and more importantly the huge propaganda victory for the Afghan forces.

hmmm but In Britian we could just spin the propaganda and say "well we didn't want him alive anyway".
Or they could use him as a lure for terrorist activity in a specific area, then bomb the hell out of it, by adding media attention to his exact location, terrorists would swarm in to have a go, then just reveal that in fact he was nowhere near what the 'so-called' exact location was and you've got them boxed in. Job done.

I'm just really cynical of the royal family, i mean why isn't the UK a republic by now? Like they have any real power, they're just good for postcards and tourism.
Oh yeah i still recall seeing articles about Diana's death inquiry, i mean yeesh give her a rest, she's already died ages ago leave her alone. So i suppose that is a good point about the public outcry, but still he's a soldier he should do his job like any other soldier in his unit.

why isn't the UK a republic by now?

Cause that worked out so nicely for the Americans. Besides, France is a republic and we wouldn't want to be like them.

As for the OP, well finally he's fighting for his country, next stop the Queen will fight in Afghanistan, flying the cruise missle toward the next base. (joke)

While you may be joking it may interest you to know that the Queen served in the Royal Army as a 2nd Lt. during WWII.

As for those people who are criticising the MoD on blasting the media for this, get a life just because you have the right to free speech doesnt mean you can put peoples lives at risk, this wasn't just about Harry but his entire unit that he was in command of about 30 men all told.

It is nice to see that they sent him off as he wanted to go into the fray and it is good to show the world that Royal family goes and integrates with society, regardless of what some people say

It also shows a disregard to other soldiers lives, he is a target, a huge target. Think of the propaganda created by fundamentalists killing the third in the line for our throne? The MoD should at least move him far away from where he was now, if they haven't already. Its sad to think that media sites will post news like this that will endanger many troops, but then again money is money.

True, he is a target. But to attack the prince, AQ and/or the Taliban would have to step attacks against the entire contingent of Blues and Royals in Helmand-not an easy task. To specifically target one in a group of guys wearing the same uniforms and equipment isn't easy. And if they do, well, the Blues and Royals are a quite capable outfit. Moving him to another unit in the middle of a tour...totally lame! I would hate to be uprooted like during one of my deployments.
As one of the figureheads of Britain, I do find it comendable that he has not tried to shirk his duty to his country in a time of war, something that far too few offspring of my own country's leadership have done.

Good. He must feel really proud that he is not being treated like a fragile, little princess.

Cause that worked out so nicely for the Americans. Besides, France is a republic and we wouldn't want to be like them.

And we tried it before. All our theatres got closed down and Christmas was cancelled. :p

Don't forget the Queen still has to make the final signature to a bill to make it law, and she can choose to not sign something thereby rejecting Parliament's decision. Just no monarch has done that for something over a century now!

It also shows a disregard to other soldiers lives, he is a target, a huge target. Think of the propaganda created by fundamentalists killing the third in the line for our throne? The MoD should at least move him far away from where he was now, if they haven't already. Its sad to think that media sites will post news like this that will endanger many troops, but then again money is money.

I bet you wouldn't find one soldier in his unit that wants him out because it endangers them more. I would fight with a royal or presidents son. In fact I would be proud to do so.

You know what's funny about this? For all the talk about how the children of politicians should go in the military, like Bush's daughters for example, there would be a huge military command and public cry for them to not be allowed to go because they would be targeted and endanger the people they serve with.

Not that anyone ever bothers to bring that up with idiots like Michael Moore who get all kinds of publicity by saying these things and who don't possess the ability to think about the big picture. They'd never let a President or Prime Minister's child serve on the frontlines in the modern age for that very reason.

While you may be joking it may interest you to know that the Queen served in the Royal Army as a 2nd Lt. during WWII.
Royal Army? What's that?

I think you mean the Royal Ambulance Service or something.

He's an excellent young man and the world needs more like him. Hope he kills a lot of civilization's enemies and comes back home safe.

A small indictment on the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Battenberg "Windsor" genes that it's the bastard who has turned out best in the royal family.

Royal Army? What's that?

I think you mean the Royal Ambulance Service or something.

Yes what is that it is the British Army my mistake.

And no I do not mean the Royal Ambulance Service I was referring to the British Army.

Just to clarify she was a part of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service which was the women's branch of the British Army during WWII. She served as a Subaltern with one 'pip' on her shoulder.

Not only that she is the first and so far only female member of the Royal family to serve in the armed forces.

I don't see why he should be such a target anyway. The enemy can cover their faces, so why not our troops?
/me points to: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3456183.ece

“I think up north when I do go up there, if I do go on patrols in amongst the locals I will still be very wary about the fact that I need to keep my face slightly covered. Just on the off chance that I do get recognised, which will put the other guys in danger.”
It seems that they could cover their faces, but the fact that the entire section of the world that's paying attention now knows that Prince Harry is in Afghanistan would still mean that Taliban forces would be on the lookout for him. His chances of being spotted, recognized, and targeted by enemy forces were a lot lower when said enemy forces didn't know he was there and weren't actively looking for him.

It's considerably harder to hide from someone who is specifically looking for you than from someone who isn't specifically looking for you.

--The Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."

Buckingham Palace should consider suing CNN and other media for putting the prince as well as his troops in danger with their irresponsible hype.