Feb 28 2008
The Drudge Report and Prince Harry of Britain
***Update***
Why complain about the New York Times leaking vital information to the public when you have the Drudge Report leaking important information as well?
“I never thought I’d find myself saying thank God for Drudge. The infamous US blogger has broken the best kept editorial secret of recent times. Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan three months ago. “
Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan three months ago.
Drudge has blown their cover. One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust media bosses again. Or perhaps this was a courageous editorial decision to protect this fine young man?
And one wonders too what extra lengths British squaddies have had to go to make absolutely certain he doesn’t get shot in Helmand province. A gorgeously contentious issue on at 7 at 4. And how often can you say that about members of the Royal family?
I don’t share this reporter’s opinion extolling Matt Drudge from breaking the secrecy. Thanks to him, every jihidist in the Mideast will be gunning for him now. Unlike many leaders in the Western world, who has lived pillow-cushioned lives without the inconvenience of suffering a bloody nose, I would like leaders who have “real world” experiences.
I’m not British so I don’t have a dog in the fight vis a vie Prince Harry. But I do care very much about Drudge now jeopardizing Prince Harry’s life for the sake of a headline. This kind of reporting got a lot of flak when the NYT and the Boston Globe does it, and it deserves some here.
Plenty of people, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign, loves to leak stuff to Drudge, and he publishes them regularly. I hope he has a bit more discernment in reporting material that could endanger people’s lives.
***Update***
Well, it seems that the Drudge Report wasn’t the one who first leaked this story to the public. An Australian magazine called the New Idea first reported it, and it was the Drudge that widely disseminated the story through his site.
Still, I echo Sir Richard’s remarks and the remarks of a anonymous Aussie soldier below:
“I am very disappointed that foreign websites have decided to run this story without consulting us,” said Sir Richard.
“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 of overseas, who have entered into an understanding with us over the coverage of Prince Harry on operations.
“After a lengthy period of discussion between the MoD and the editors of regional, national and international media, the editors took the commendable attitude to restrain their coverage.
“I would like to thank them for that and I do appreciate that once the story was in the public domain, they had no choice but to follow suit.”
Only a close circle of family and friends and as few as 15 Ministry of Defence officials were told in advance, to avoid making Prince Harry or those around him more of a target. Among those kept informed was the Queen.
…
An Australian soldier called rmpdavid, who serves in the British Army, wrote: “Well done. You broke a world embargo on this and as a result it’s most likely that a young officer (who happens to be a Royal) will now have to return from operations due to the increased risk to himself and fellow British soldiers.
“As an Aussie in the British Army I’m disgusted. Poor journalism.”
Again, Drudge may not have been the origin of this story, but he certainly made the fact of Prince Harry’s deployment well known and that’s just plain irresponsible.
Others blogging about Drudge:
[…] Other blogging on this subject: Crooks and Liars Below the Beltway Danger Room Connecting the Dots Think Progress Brilliant at Breakfast AMERICAblog VodkaPundit PoliGazette Hot Air Jammie Wearing Fool Flopping Aces My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Michelle Malkin The Thomas Chronicles […]
[…] The Thomas Chronicles I don’t share this reporter’s opinion extolling Matt Drudge from breaking the secrecy. Thanks to him, every jihidist in the Mideast will be gunning for him now. Unlike many leaders in the Western world, who has lived pillow-cushioned lives without the inconvenience of suffering a bloody nose, I would like leaders who have “real world” experiences. […]
Unbelievable. If you are so concerned about the lives of servicemen ……. oh wait you only care about the Prince.
How is it irresponsible to report this story? This is ridiculous. You would think that Drudge had given the codes to launch nukes, by the way you people are going on about this.
Are you telling me that a Forward Observer (that’s his job BTW) is sitting all safe and comfy till big bad Drudge comes along? You must be smoking crack.
No wonder Conservatives can’t win elections anymore, we are too busy worrying about non-stories and non-events. The left is having a field day with this. Suddenly they look like good guys because the right is sounding like them! Even worse they can say “he put him in danger” even though it’s complete crap, and you and those suffering from Drudge Deraingement syndrome are agreeing with them.
If you are so worried about the lives of servicemen, then get them out of the Middle East. Suddenly you are not so worried, are you?
Do you plan on examining the ‘quid pro quo’ of the anti-American CNN, BBC, AP and others who were giving access to the Prince?
Or does it not bother you that CNN, AP, BBC et al leak our secrets — real and important ones, not that some 23 yo is off to war — and then make a deal — profiteering maybe — to get exclusive access to the Prince for censoring the news? Does that not bother you in the least? No you are pissing back-wards about Drudge. Unreal.