Prince Harry Pulled from Afghanistan

Security fears arising from the prematurely-released reports of Prince Harry’s presence in Afghanistan have prompted the British Ministry of Defense to move quickly to get the soldier prince out of the country.

The move is not unexpected, once the news got out. Similar concerns for the security of the prince (and those serving with him in the front line) had caused him not to be deployed to Iraq months ago. This time around, Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan was successfully kept secret for 10 weeks. During that time, Harry was just a normal soldier, being given no royal treatment out in the field. He was deployed only with an understanding between the MoD and the British media to keep it under wraps. However, non-British websites leaked the story, apparently without consulting the MoD.

“Now that the story is in the public domain, the chief of staff and I will take advice from the operational commanders about whether his deployment can continue,” the head of the army, General Richard Dannatt, said in a statement.

“I am very disappointed that foreign Web sites have decided to run this story without consulting us,” said Dannatt.

Prince Harry’s service has been described as ‘exemplary’. He will go home to Britain a hero, finally having had the chance to serve his country and his grandmother The Queen in active combat.

via MSNBC