Harry's Afghan Adventure Comes to Screeching Halt; Promises to Bust a Cap in Drudge's Ass

Like most normal human beings, I'm forever indebted to Matt Drudge for bringing us Monica Lewinsky, among other interesting stories. Over the past ten years, he's gone where most media cowards dare not tread.

But what the hell was he thinking by revealing the fact Prince Harry was stationed in Afghanistan? Did we really need to know this?

I don't think so.

Well, Harry's Afghan adventure is now over since his cover has been blown.

The MoD has decided to pull Prince Harry out of Afghanistan after details of his secret deployment were broadcast around the world.

In a statement released today the MoD said that the decision to remove Harry from Afghanistan was 'regrettable'.

Secret deployment. Get it? This is like when that schmuck Geraldo Rivera basically gave away coordinates of deployed troops on live television.

Actually, it's worse.

Military chiefs are now making final preparations to remove the prince from the front line and fly him back to Britain.

The move follows fears that Harry could become a target for Taliban fighters in the region now the news blackout on his deployment has been broken.

In its statement the MoD said the decision to remove Harry from the battlefield was taken not just for his own safety but for the safety of the soldiers that serve alongside the prince.

"Whilst it had been intended that Prince Harry should return in a matter of weeks with the remainder of the Household Cavalry Regiment Battlegroup, the situation has now clearly changed," the statement said.

"Following a detailed assessment of the risks by the operational chain of command, the decision has been taken by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff, in consultation with General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, to withdraw Prince Harry from Afghanistan immediately.

"This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier."

In an interview just last week, Harry conceded that on his return to the UK, he could be a "top target" for homegrown jihadists sympathetic to the Taliban.

"Once this ... comes out, every single person that supports them will be trying to slot me," he said.

Once back in Britain, the least the authorities could do is unleash Harry on this tool. I doubt too many folks would mind.

Update: Just a Grunt noted in the comments that Drudge wasn't the first to actually break the story, but he's the first one that received any attention.

The almost unprecedented media blackout had largely held bar an unnoticed report in Australian women's magazine, New Idea, in January.

But it collapsed when Drudge went ahead and published its story yesterday afternoon, forcing the Ministry of Defence to issue an official confirmation.

Allahpundit also has some thoughts.