Corrupt Government
See other Corrupt Government Articles
Title: WikiLeaks US Embassy Cables: Live Updates
Source:
The Guardian
URL Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog ... ks-us-embassy-cables-live-blog
Published: Nov 28, 2010
Author: staff writer
Post Date: 2010-11-28 15:48:47 by Murron
Keywords: None
Views: 10985
Comments: 18
WikiLeaks US Embassy Cables: Live Updates Reaction and updates following the release of more than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables from WikiLeaks. Tomorrow, revelations about North Korea and the UK. 8.32pm: US embassy officials in Berlin will have to soothe ruffle feathers of top German officials if they haven't done so already. Der Spiegel highlights the negative American assessments of the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle. The secret reports describe him as incompetent, vain and critical of America. The US diplomats report that they face a challenge in dealing with a politician who is considered an "enigma," who has little foreign policy experience and "remains skeptical about the US." An embassy cable from Berlin from Sept. 22, 2009 describes Westerwelle as having an "exuberant personality." That is why he finds it difficult to take a backseat when it comes to any matters of dispute with Chancellor Angela Merkel," the cable says. 8.20pm: The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, will be online tomorrow at 4pm to take questions on the paper's decision to cover this story. Meanwhile, Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins rejects claims by the US and other governments that the stories threaten national security. The revelations do not have the startling, coldblooded immediacy of the WikiLeaks war logs from Iraq and Afghanistan, with their astonishing insight into the minds of fighting men seemingly detached from the ethics of war. The disclosures are largely of analysis and high-grade gossip. Insofar as they are sensational, it is in showing the corruption and mendacity of those in power, and the mismatch between what they claim and what they do... Clearly, it is for governments, not journalists, to protect public secrets. Were there some overriding national jeopardy in revealing them, greater restraint might be in order. There is no such overriding jeopardy, except from the policies themselves as revealed. Where it is doing the right thing, a great power should be robust against embarrassment. 7.59pm: Le Monde justifies its decision to cover the classified cables by arguing that to inform does not mean to act irresponsibly. Transparency and judgment (Le Monde uses the word discernement) are not incompatible, the paper says, which is what distinguishes it from WikiLeaks. 7.53pm: Here is the New York Times laying out some of the topics it will cover in the coming days. They include a dangerous standoff with Pakistan over nuclear fuel, gaming out an eventual collapse of North Korea and allegations against China of global hacking. 7.48pm: The Democratic chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, John Kerry, rejects comparisons with the leak of the Pentagon papers during the Vietnam war. This is not an academic exercise about freedom of information and it is not akin to the release of the Pentagon Papers, which involved an analysis aimed at saving American lives and exposing government deception. Instead, these sensitive cables contain candid assessments and analysis of ongoing matters and they should remain confidential to protect the ability of the government to conduct lawful business with the private candor that's vital to effective diplomacy. 7.45pm: The US ambassador to the UK, Louis Susman, has issued this tough statement. Releasing documents of this kind place at risk the lives of innocent individuals – from journalists to human rights activists and bloggers to soldiers and diplomats. It is reprehensible for any individual or organization to attempt to gain notoriety at the expense of people who had every expectation of privacy in sharing information. 7.43pm: Here is a summary of all of today's stories from the Guardian's first day of coverage of this major story: • The US faces a worldwide diplomatic crisis. More than 250,000 classified cables from American embassies are leaked, many sent as recently as February. • Saudi Arabia puts pressure on the US to attack Iran. Other Arab allies have secretly agitated for military action against Tehran. • Washington is running a secret intelligence campaign targeted at the leadership of the United Nations, including the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the permanent security council representatives from China, Russia, France and the UK. • The round-the-clock offensive by US government officials, politicians, diplomats and military officers to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and roll back its advance across the Middle East. • Israel regarded 2010 as a "critical year" for tackling Iran's alleged quest for nuclear weapons and has warned the United States that time is running out to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. • The secret EU plot to boycott the inauguration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president after the disputed Iranian election in 2009. • IAEA officials denied blueprints and told by Iran that evidence of bomb-grade uranium enrichment was forged. • Saudi Arabia complains directly to the Iranian foreign minister of Iranian "meddling" in the Middle East. • US accuses Iran of abusing the strict neutrality of the Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) society to smuggle intelligence agents and weapons into other countries, including Lebanon. • Britain's ambassador to Iran gave the US a private masterclass on how to negotiate with Iran. • How a 75-year-old American of Iranian descent rode a horse over a freezing mountain range into Turkey after officials confiscated his passport. • How the 250,000 US embassy cables were leaked. • Siprnet: where America stores its secret cables. • Editor's note: publishing the cables. • Browse the data base. 7.02pm: The White House has accused WikiLeaks' of "reckless and dangerous action" and says the move endanger lives and risk hurting relations with friendly countries. 6.59pm: Clinton argues that the disclosures put at risk US diplomats, intelligence professionals and others. This is how the New York Times and the Guardian address the issue. The Guardian says: "There are some cables the Guardian will not be releasing or reporting owing to the nature of sourcing or subject matter. Our domestic libel laws impose a special burden on British publishers." The New York Times says it has taken similar precautionary measures and gives this justification for publication of the story. But the more important reason to publish these articles is that the cables tell the unvarnished story of how the government makes its biggest decisions, the decisions that cost the country most heavily in lives and money. They shed light on the motivations — and, in some cases, duplicity — of allies on the receiving end of American courtship and foreign aid. They illuminate the diplomacy surrounding two current wars and several countries, like Pakistan and Yemen, where American military involvement is growing. As daunting as it is to publish such material over official objections, it would be presumptuous to conclude that Americans have no right to know what is being done in their name. 6.47pm: Mark Tran taking over from Peter Walker. I'll be following reaction until the early hours so stay with us. Responses are coming in thick and fast. Here is a statement from Hillary Clinton, who ordered a secret intelligence campaign targeting the leadership of the UN, including the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon and the permanent security council representatives from China, Russia, France and the UK. We anticipate the release of what are claimed to be several hundred thousand classified State department cables on Sunday night that detail private diplomatic discussions with foreign governments. By its very nature, field reporting to Washington is candid and often incomplete information. It is not an expression of policy, nor does it always shape final policy decisions. Nevertheless, these cables could compromise private discussions with foreign governments and opposition leaders, and when the substance of private conversations is printed on the front pages of newspapers across the world, it can deeply impact not only US foreign policy interests, but those of our allies and friends around the world. To be clear - such disclosures put at risk our diplomats, intelligence professionals, and people around the world who come to the United States for assistance in promoting democracy and open government. These documents also may include named individuals who in many cases live and work under oppressive regimes and who are trying to create more open and free societies. President Obama supports responsible, accountable, and open government at home and around the world, but this reckless and dangerous action runs counter to that goal. By releasing stolen and classified documents, Wikileaks has put at risk not only the cause of human rights but also the lives and work of these individuals. We condemn in the strongest terms the unauthorized disclosure of classified documents and sensitive national security information. 6.32pm: It's also worth mentioning, as widely reported elsewhere, that Wikileaks has alleged that its website, which many internet users had not been able to access over the day, had been deliberately targeted. "We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack," it said in a tweet. 6.27pm: Here's the cover of Der Spiegel's initial take of the story. Some of the captions attached to luminaries on the cover, taken from US embassy cables, include "Avoids risk, rarely creative" (for Angela Merkel) and, more intrguingly still, "Luxuriant blonde nurse" (Libya's Muammar Gaddafi). The English version of their story is here.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
#7. To: All (#0)
I've posted these Wikileaks for those who may be interested, as for me and what I think about them....
the one thing that strikes me is the view of other ME states toward Iran, but what is stopping Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other countries in the region from attacking Iran on their own? Instead they just wait for us or Israel to act to protect them.
I could be wrong, but I believe our attention is about to be diverted towards another target, N Korea, soldiers, resourses, and weapons wasted on another viet nam/korean war, when our attention should stay focused on the ME.... There is not one nation in the ME that are our friends except Israel, dispite what many think about them owning everything under the sun, it's what most have been weaned on all their lives, and believe. If Israel was not such a threat to the surrounding nations around them, if they did not stand strong in their convictions to protect their country, they would fall, and so would our country. We are not at war with Israel, but we are fighting battles with almost every other nation around them. JMHO!
It seems NK has already quieted down, the Chinese aren't going to allow them to do anything too stupid. But again, given how much we've sold to the Saudis, why can't they attack? They expect us to do their dirty work so they can thank us in private while telling their people that our attack on Iran is yet another example of the work of the Great Satan.
#13. To: go65 (#11)
Guess again on North Korea...and its amusing you think the Chinese 1) Have that kind of sway with the mad Dictator Kim Il Jong, or that they even give a shit if North Korea attacks South Korea. They suffer no ill affects from it, WE DO.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#8. To: Murron (#7)
#10. To: go65 (#8)
#11. To: Murron (#10)
I could be wrong, but I believe our attention is about to be diverted towards another target, N Korea, soldiers, resourses, and weapons wasted on another viet nam/korean war, when our attention should stay focused on the ME....
Replies to Comment # 11. It seems NK has already quieted down, the Chinese aren't going to allow them to do anything too stupid.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]