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MoD's latest propaganda weapon ... Harry, the war movie
Last updated at 23:52pm on 12.05.07Defence chiefs are planning to let a camera crew follow Prince Harry during his tour of duty in Iraq.
The Ministry of Defence crew will film him while on operations, with footage being released to television channels and on the internet.
Harry's commanders hope the film, being dubbed Desert Prince, will inflict a propaganda defeat upon insurgent groups which have been using videos of hostages and wreckages of British aircraft to publicise their causes.
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ON FILM: An MoD crew will follow the Prince in Iraq
The MoD will scrutinise its coverage for any information which could be used by insurgents to locate Prince Harry - one group has already threatened to kidnap him and cut off his ears.
News of the film follows the delay of Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq. The Prince, 22, was held back from the recent handover between units as it was feared his arrival would be too disruptive.
Most members of his Household Cavalry Regiment are already in Basra on a six-month tour of duty.
The Prince is now expected to be given a role in Iraq which would rarely involve him leaving the confines of British bases.
He is no longer going to be utilised as a reconnaissance troop commander - the job he trained for - as this is now considered too dangerous.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We need to consider how we are going to handle the huge interest in Prince Harry. Operational security remains of paramount importance."
The former Conservative Homeland Security spokesman, Patrick Mercer, said: "They will have to be very careful not to give away Prince Harry's general location. If this goes wrong, it will come back to haunt them.
"That said, it's a bold move and a very positive piece of propaganda."
Reader views (3)
Is there any more obvious way of pointing him out to the Insurgents than a film crew hanging around someone?
Is this a way of making it safer for everyone else in the Household Cavalry, by deflecting attention on to one person?
- Kevin Gibbs, Linköping Sweden
I think this idea is a bad one, it will put Prince Harry and his troops in more danger.
- Dorothy Lavallee, Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Leave him and the regiment alone.
Enough is enough. The men and women in uniform have a hard enough job as it is, without a 'Gaggle' of MoD media getting in the way.
He is a soldier (albeit a Royal one) first, not a film star. This is not a circus.
- Kjf, Carolina, USA.
