Just another example where the media puts sensationalism and ratings over the safety of a public figure, especially someone who is 3rd in line for the British throne

I think that it was in very poor taste for the media to tell Prince Harry’s where abouts…CNN included!! Not only have you put his life in grave danger but also the ones that are serving along side him. This should never even be on CNN or 360. I am VERY disappointed that you all chose to run with it! Guess you’ll do anything for ratings huh!?

SHAME ON YOU ALL!!

I’m very sure this won’t get posted but at least you see my discontent with you all!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Now that it is known that he is there…YES he is a target; a high prized one but they are sending him home now.

Yes, this squad/group is in danger but I think they knew it going in.

Personally, there is another angle to why he was deployed and that is not being stated. Why would you send the 3rd in line for the British throne to the front lines? Think, the answer will come to you.

Commoner can fight but not rule, a ruler can lead and fight. You can’t weigh them the same. This is the second time they have sent him into harms way. Sometimes it is easier to hope things fix themselves instead of having to state them in the open. He is the spare after all, not the heir.

Curious don’t you think?

I do believe it was a bad idea to publicize this, especially due to his position. But at the same time, not to sound unthoughtful, but he volunteered to do the work. He is putting himself at risk just as much as anyone else out there serving in the armed forces. It is courageous for him to do that, given he is part of a direct line to the throne, but it was his choice to enlist, and it’s pretty obvious that it was going to get out sooner or later. It’s just unfortunate that it is so publicized. Hope all goes well.

Of course his safety and the safety of his troops will be in jeopardy. Sometimes a news blackout is needed. And shame on the foreign web sites for being so malicious. Prince Harry is in enough danger just being in Afghanistan, let alone his whereabouts being reported.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

I was *shocked* when I read the news story to realize that this was being publicized while he and his men were still there. A few months ago, during the discussion about whether it was safe for him to serve, it was clearly stated that his men were in greater danger (in an already dangerous place) if it was known he was there. Sending him there without publicity was actually a good compromise, and I think it was incredibly irresponsible to release this story.

He must not be in any real danger if his troop is allowing CNN access to him in the front line.

It was definitely wrong for all of the websites to publicize this news. Yes, Prince Harry volunteered for this duty but his notoriety places both him and the men serving with him at greater risk.

What possible good can come of revealing this news? It is an irresponsible media whose only concern is ratings which would publicize news like this which further endangers soldiers fighting in these wars against terrorism. What side is the media on?

Instead of going after stories like this, why doesn’t the media focus on revealing the corruption in our government? There’s certainly enough of it yo go around from a President who has lied to go to war, to a surge “success” based on paying off our enemies with money and weapons.

If it is being kept secret for his protection why is CNN reporting it? DUH!!!

It is unfortunate that his mission is no longer covert, if it ever was. However, Harry has the luxury of being ushered out of harms way while thousands of other soldiers and civilians do not. Clearly, this was a better thing for him to do than recently donning a Nazi uniform at a costume party. However, since other people don’t have the same safety options -what’s the big deal about him? Really.

I think that it is not only irresponsible for the media to broadcast any soldier/armed force units location but also destructive. There are few times when I think that government has the right and privilege to keep tight lipped on information, but this is certainly one of them. By running this story they have given a profitable target to anyone who has ill will towards Brittan or its allies (i.e. America), and from what I hear there might be more than a few. Frankly this is the type of sensationalism I would expect from TMZ and I’m disappointed. In the words of Hillary shame on you DrudgeReport.com.

NOBODY is right to report his wherabouts . But ABSOLUTELY right to report that he has been deployed . If every politician that wants 100 yr war had to put their own family on the front lines … there might be a better strategy about tour duties , rules of engagement and the taking of prisoners and winning .

I want to know if he’s been serving there since December, and everything has been ok up until now, why tell us where he is? Is it not more of a risk for him to now be doing interviews ? If they kept it hush hush so as to not endanger people, what are they doing now?!

Good for him, maybe more people will pay attention to Afganistan now.

Marcy, Mobile, AL

“If it is being kept secret for his protection why is CNN reporting it? DUH!!!”

Because German and Australian websites had already reported it, as well as the noisome Matt Drudge. The Story is Out There, whether CNN reports it or not.

The real story here is why the websites thought it was okay to publish this? It’s not as though the public weal is IMPROVED by pointing out his whereabouts to the Taliban.

Leave it to Drudge to go public with this… it just shows the level of professionalism he has (zero) — it’s a gossip site, not a news site, and the mainstream media as well as his readers ought to treat it as such.

For those criticizing CNN, take a look around, it is all over the internet. CNN showed excellent judgement in keeping the story quiet since December. This is no “the public has a right to know” issue. Drudge put soldiers’ lives in jeopardy because he wanted to have the exclusive.

Honestly, I am relieved to know that even in this day and age, the media can keep secrets when it is appropriate to do so. Too bad the same cannot be said for certain internet gossip columns.

When Michael Ware or Anderson Cooper or any of the other reporters that have been sent to the Middle East are embedded with our troops the media does a pretty nice job of protecting their whereabouts. Why doesn’t Prince Harry get the same protection? This is playing lowball. Yes, the prince is a soldier. He and his fellow soldiers should be allowed the same protections anyone else in the military, though. I know my first cousin is a US Army Major and whenever he has been deployed, my emails are sent through his wife to a secure site. The content has to be generic for both of us. They don’t want anyone putting him or his troops in danger if his location gets out on the net. His packages are sent to a generic location and then sent on to him (again to protect him and his troops). Of course the media never left Princess Diana alone. It seems she wanted a respite for her sons. Sadly, these vultures can’t even afford them that, especially when one is potentially in harm’s way with other soldiers. If you can protect your own reporters, have the common decency to protect all our military as well. They may not have multi-million dollar contracts to look pretty for the cameras, but their lives are just as valuable to those who love them.

I have to agree that I do believe it was irresponsible of the original media outlets that reported this to do so. It’s not just about Prince Harry’s safety but of those that he works with. However, now that the cat is out of the bag I don’t blame CNN or any other news agency for reporting. I’d have been very disappointed in CNN had they broke the news but I don’t think condemning CNN is at all appropriate. If people are that outraged they need to send emails to the original source. Just my opinion.

I think it is most unfortuneate that the news of Prince Harry serving in Afghanistan has now been made public. This certainly puts him and those he serves with at an additional risk. Because of his title, he will likely now be sent back to the UK but the others won’t be so lucky.

I question the motives of CNN and others in releasing this story just because it has apparently become public knowledge. With it’s worldwide network, isnt’ CNN just compounding the problem?

British royalty have served on the front lines for hundreds of years proudly serving the country that put them in that position in the first place. The only difference is now we have the internet.

The indignation here is astonishing since most if not all of you have surfed the internet to find out miniscule tidbits of information on Anderson Cooper and his dog, Mother, private life or whereabouts.

Is that any different? No.

Note to Sabrina: The heir serves as well. As have his uncles and their father.

It looks as Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt felt that he had an understanding with the media that Prince Harry’s deployment position was not going to be compromised. I think that it was very reckless of the media to give away his position. This not only puts him in danger, but the rest of his outfit too. I am suprised that CNN is also getting in on the act.

Susan
Phoenixville,PA

This news was always going to leak, there is no way this could have remained secret.

As a Brit, my ONLY concern is the greater risk his presence will have in further endangering the lives of his comrades. He wanted to train and become a soldier (which as a tax payer - we have to pay for), he should at least do the job !

The British Royal family in recent history have only taken token positions within the armed services and it is only Prince Andrew who served with the RAF during the Falklands war.

So go ahead CNN, this is news that should be reported (its certainly making the headlines here).

Shame on the media for breaking the silence and reporting on Prince Harry. His safety and the safety of his comrades in arms has been jeopardized. Once again the need for a headline came before common decency and common sense. The whole thing disgusts me.

Joseph, I am with you on this one. A great post from you. Blogging makes one mind wonder if we saw each other at the grocery store or at the ball park, would we be able to have these most interesting discussions?

No, I don’t think that the media should have reported on this matter. That being said, I think that Prince Harry was determined to go to the front lines with his men. Didn’t he first want to go to Iraq? He has been trained for combat and I think he really wants to be there. I hope he and his men are sucessful in their operations.

Well, if the media is going to focus on a human interest story today, I’d much rather it be on Prince Harry serving his country than Britney Spears ongoing psychodrama.

I’m sure Prince Harry knew that eventually someone would spill the beans. This is the price you pay when you are a possible heir to the throne. It’s too bad because it looked like Harry finally found his bliss.

I agree with Sarah. This had to get out. That must have been part of the calculation that was made when the army agreed to send Prince Harry to Afghanistan. He has had time with the troops and I agree with General Dannatt that many in the media should be thanked for letting this happen. And now the publicity is part of what I’m sure they wanted to accomplish.
Jill
Waterloo, ON Canada

This is another one of those “right to know/right to report” issues that in many respects didn’t exist before the Internet took hold. So whether the media is right to report it or not, I think, is beside the point. The British military should have realized that this “bean-spilling” was inevitable before Harry set foot in Afghanistan.

What I fear this means is an increase in aggressive action against the UK troops because now you’ll have enemy thinking that any UK target is the potential money shot, and a report that Harry has been killed or injured in battle would have infinite value as a propaganda tool for the bad guys. I understand Harry’s desire to serve, and good on him, but I don’t get the feeling this was well thought out by anyone. There are ways to serve in wartime without being in the front lines with a gun where you put your fellow soldiers at risk - especially if you’re a royal.

I think Prince Harry’s safety and that of his comrades has been compromised by the website’s publication of the fact he had been deployed to Afghanistan. I’m disappointed that CNN is going to go even further with it by interviewing him on the front lines. That seems like the equivalent of painting a bulls eye on him for any of the enemy to kill him.

In WW2 information was kept quiet so as not to endanger the Allied forces or compromise their battle plans. From what I have seen I don’t think today’s press could put the safety of anyone above the goal of having a “scoop” on the news. I am very disappointed in CNN for further exposing Prince Harry and his comrades.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

It was very irresponsible of *any* media to report this information. Of couse Prince Harry is a bigger target. Those serving with him now are also. It serves no purpose to report his deployment. Sometimes the public is not a a need to know basis.

Time to head back to England!

I have a different take on this than most. Why didn’t CNN let this news out when it was fresh news. I am disapointed that the media did not break the silece when it was revealed. When I turn on the news, I expect to know what is really going on … not having things hidden from me until someone decides that one special person (or me) is ready for that .

Call me a cynic. But, the ONLY thing that could give this story less credibility is if George W. Bush did the report himself! LOL Do you really believe that England would allow one of it’s heirs to come within earshot of any kind of danger? I mean, this is Europe’s version of “The Simple Life” and he is Paris! Please! Dudes! Give me a break!

anderson, please. you guys need to figure out what 20 million australians have known for way too long: that guy is an embarrassment. he has to go. i’m serious.

What a shame that because of the Media the Royals, Celebs, Politicians, can’t hope to have any semblance of a life without being stalked by those with cameras and micraphones.

The Foreign Media Network that put this story out should receive a weighty reprimand. There were reports in the Media previous to this that Prince Harry would not be going to Afghanistan because of the security risk, so these reporters should have known they were putting him and his fellow soldiers in harm’s way! They cut Harry’s Dream short and ruined any chance of him having his Dream again for their own personal glory.

SHAME ON THIS NETWORK.