Well Done Drudge
Filed under: Feature, General News — Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief on February 29, 2008 @ 4:02 pm CET
Well done Matt Drudge. Drudge seemingly couldn’t care less that the British media and government had decided on a news blackout in order to protect Prince Harry and to enable him to serve on the frontline in Afghanistan. Druge blew Prince Harry’s cover (see below the fold for Drudge’s headline) and, now, the British army is preparing to evacuate him ASAP.
Here’s Drudge’s headline:
Now, in case you’re wondering why they’re evacuating Harry, the reason is that he’s a prime target of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. He was serving anonymously on the frontline. He was doing what his ancestors had done as well; fighting along side their soldiers.
The British media had agreed to a voluntary news blackout until the end of his term. After the three month tour, they’d write about it.
Drudge, being careless or only interested in the money in his own pocket, was unwilling to play by those rules and decided to publish the news nonetheless.
Prince Harry now has to be evacuated because he and his fellow soldiers are at great risk (the Taliban are, of course, willing to do whatever it takes to capture Harry).
In a pre-prepared interview that was meant to be broadcast after his return, the prince acknowledged that his presence could be dangerous for other soldiers. “I think there’s a lot of guys here who hopefully won’t be targeted, but as I say now that this film has been made and now … people will know I’m out here no doubt I’ll be a top target.”
More here (with video).
1 Dylan
February 29, 2008 @ 5:11 pm CETTo be fair, Michael, Drudge didn’t break the news, he only reported what was already being reported in Australia. The media blackout was a British agreement and no one told the Aussie magazine and nobody made any agreement with Drudge, either.
2 John Brill
February 29, 2008 @ 9:31 pm CETWhy well done? The man wanted to serve his country and prove his worth. That was taken away from him to no good end.
3 PatHMV
February 29, 2008 @ 9:48 pm CETUm, John, I’m pretty sure that the headline from Michael was what we call sarcasm.
4 Jay_C
February 29, 2008 @ 9:58 pm CETI applaud Prince Harry for fighting along side the other soldiers. But as far as this media blackout. I’m not claiming that this particular story should or should not have been leaked, but in general if this news was blacked out until recently, it makes you wonder what other stories the Media keeps under wraps? Overall, is this supression a good or a bad thing, and who gets to decide?
5 Claudia
February 29, 2008 @ 11:02 pm CETInteresting Michael, this could be the first time I see you agreeing with Shaun about anything.
I agree with the both of you, incidentally. I’m no fan of monarchies, but it seems like the guy was actually making himself useful, and the media blackout was well justified. Drudge has contributed to endangering him and his comrades.
6 PatHMV
February 29, 2008 @ 11:35 pm CETI’m with Dylan. I don’t see how you can blame Drudge for this, his own self-promotion notwithstanding. If it was in an Australian magazine, then it was out there, and if anybody in the British military was assuming it was still secret despite it being published in Australia, they’re fool-hardy.
7 Michael van der Galien
February 29, 2008 @ 11:45 pm CETIt’s not true. the Australian newspaper had it on as "rumors" but that’s it. Drudge gave far more specific information. Besides that, the magazines in question were… not exactly reputable as I understand it.
8 michaelreynolds
February 29, 2008 @ 11:56 pm CETThis was low and contemptible. If Drudge were a member of the "liberal" media, conservatives would be screaming "treason!" Instead — aside from Michael VdG — they stay mum.Harry is a mensch. Drudge is a schmuck.
9 Chris
March 1, 2008 @ 12:08 am CETWell my first reaction was "scumbag" (referring to Drudge)
10 Patrick Murphy
March 1, 2008 @ 6:50 am CETDid anyone notice what was on the ball cap the Prince was wearing during his interviews with CNN? Check it out, you may be VERY suprised!
11 Michael Kelly
March 1, 2008 @ 2:09 pm CETThe opportunity for Harry to spend more time discovering himself has been blown by a bunch of tabloid guttersnipes. Whatever is reported on the British tabloids, they at least honoured an agreement. The foreign media could not even begin to understand that nor do they care.
Where are the royal equivalents from the US? Not in the line of danger that is certain
12 kritter
March 1, 2008 @ 4:40 pm CETI agree with Michael and Chris. Drudge should have honored the blackout, so that Harry could have remained in Afghanistan. BTW, I admire his willingness to serve in this way, and the British media’s conspiratorial efforts to protect him.