Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 03, 2008 Adar1 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:37 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Prince Harry serving in the British Army. (AP) Last update - 13:27 29/02/2008 Britain's Prince Harry withdrawn from Afghanistan due to news leak By The Associated Press Tags: United Kingdom, Prince Harry  Britain's Ministry of Defense says Prince Harry is being withdrawn from Afghanistan. Chief of the Defense Staff Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup confirmed Friday the army is pulling Harry out of Afghanistan after news of his deployment there was leaked. Harry, third in line to the British throne, has been serving on the front line with an army unit in one of Afghanistan's most lawless and barren provinces since mid-December. Harry, a lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment, has been calling in airstrikes on Taliban positions and going out on foot patrols, the Ministry of Defense announced Thursday. Advertisement "His conduct on operations in Afghanistan has been exemplary," said the head of the army, Gen. Richard Dannatt. "He has been fully involved in operations and has run the same risks as everyone else in his battle group." The planned deployment had been disclosed to reporters, with no specific date, and was not reported previously under a pool agreement between the Ministry of Defense and all major news organizations operating in Britain, including The Associated Press. The news blackout was intended to reduce the risk to the prince and his regiment. The news embargo was broken, however, after reports of the prince's deployment were leaked by an Australian magazine and a German newspaper, and then reported on a U.S. Web site, the Drudge Report. Dannatt, the military commander, said he was very disappointed that the story had leaked. Harry, 23, had been deployed in the restive Helmand province for 10 weeks, where most of the 7,800 British troops in Afghanistan are based, according to the military's statement. In a recorded interview, Harry said he was happy to be standing shoulder-to- shoulder with his colleagues. "It's nice just to be here with all the guys and just mucking in as one of the lads," said Harry, who had expressed bitter disappointment when he was banned from going to Iraq with his battalion last year. Army chiefs said publicity surrounding his deployment could put him and his unit at risk. Pooled video footage of Harry in Afghanistan showed the prince dressed in camouflage fatigues patrolling arid and dusty terrain and firing a machine gun. Harry graduated from Sandhurst military academy in 2006 and trained as a tank commander. After the decision not to send him to Iraq, he retrained as a battlefield air controller, the job he has been filling in Afghanistan. Related articles: How to shorten wars Israel charts anti-Semitism rise in Russia, Britain 80 killed in worst suicide bombing in Afghanistan since fall of Taliban Bookmark to del.icio.us   Born to bear arms Many children of expatriates return to Israel to serve in the IDF Doctored death? An Independent expert says IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura.   1.   Wouldn`t this make him elligible ... 23:36  |  Ehud 28/02/08   2.   Wouldn`t this make him elligible ... 23:36  |  Ehud 28/02/08   3.   heartless media 23:46  |  elya 28/02/08   4.   Award the story a full 4 shovels 01:49  |  Mark Lincoln 29/02/08   5.   Who cares?? 02:40  |  Steven 29/02/08   6.   Response to Ehud 02:44  |  Steven 29/02/08   7.   #1 - In the anti-Israels books, a definite yes 03:54  |  Free Gilad Shalit 29/02/08   8.   bolax 04:04  |  englishman 29/02/08   9.   `Royal` Harry.. 04:58  |  John Mac 29/02/08   10.   "What, me worry?" 05:00  |  RedStarYeast 29/02/08   11.   human rights abuses 15:07  |  jehiel chaleff 29/02/08   12.   Exemplary soldier 15:28  |  IL supporter 29/02/08   13.   SO WHAT? 15:38  |  the truth 29/02/08   14.   Responses to the Harry article 16:38  |  Nate 29/02/08   15.   what a ponce 18:04  |  don 29/02/08   16.   Bleeding Heart liberalism at its best!! 20:11  |  Platoon Daddy 29/02/08   17.   Harry 20:18  |  Neal 29/02/08   18.   Made up story 20:55  |  Dav 29/02/08   19.   Prince Harry 21:22  |  Lala 29/02/08   20.   @Steven 21:35  |  jerrym 29/02/08   21.   Olmerts sons would gladly serve in Afghanistan too 22:02  |  Absolute Sweden 29/02/08   22.   Harry playing soldier. Didn`t have shower for four days. 22:24  |  Maureen Ann 29/02/08   23.   re `Exemplary soldier` 00:20  |  Colin Wright 01/03/08   24.   Love that four shovel message 01:20  |  Fed up 01/03/08   25.   What irks me: British imperialism not dead 01:24  |  Fed Up 01/03/08   26.   #12 13:30  |  Mickey 01/03/08   27.   To Platoon Daddy 09:31  |  Persian Kitty 03/03/08

Today Online U.S. calls for end to violence, return to peace talks Responses: 535 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing IDF operation Responses: 278 Barak: IDF has no choice but to continue Gaza offensive Responses: 208 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 198 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 114 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: Will Tzipi meet Hillary? No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 08:51 IDF pulls out Gaza troops, Hamas declares 'victory' 09:17 Katyusha scores direct hit on residential building in Ashkelon 08:16 PM to tell Rice: Israel reserves right to act freely in Gaza Strip 08:21 Lebanon war lessons implemented as Ashkelon comes under fire 08:12 ANALYSIS: Hamas wants lull in Gaza, but only on its own terms 09:14 Minister Ayalon to push for indirect truce talks with Hamas 08:28 Sisters' horrible deaths push Gaza family into media circus 08:34 Report: U.K. Jewish school's rank drops over Shylock protest 09:02 Three dead in car crashes in Jerusalem, Petah Tikva 08:39 Barak, legal team to mull artillery use on civilian areas in Gaza 04:31 Sudanese refugees leave adoptive kibbutzim to earn money 00:40 Long-silenced Iranian Jews find their political voice in America 00:50 Israeli airlines worry that Gaza war will ruin Pesach travel 01:30 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for soldiers' well-being in synagogue 04:52 Police figures show rise in drug-motivated gas station robberies Previous Editions Select Day 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved