Posted on 12/05/2010 1:20:36 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In the science fiction film, The Matrix, humanity is, in ignorance, living in a computer simulation and the hero, who has begun to suspect that all is not as it seems, is offered a choice of two pills. The red pill’s effect is “"the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe". But if the hero takes the blue pill, he will see, “how deep the rabbit hole goes."
Last week, the whistle blowing website, WikiLeaks began leaking US government cables from embassies all over the globe and the world tasted the blue pull.
The result was both extraordinary and anti-climactic. The mid-level cables are not of the highest classification, but they do show how diplomacy really works and how statecraft is pursued. There were some genuine revelations - and more to come, such as Saudi Arabia encouraging the US to attack Iran and the possibility that China could live with Korean reunification.
There is some gossip, some informal remarks, but what stands out is the quality of the analysis. The portraits of Mugabe’s dying regime and the eccentricities of Qadaffi are also great reads, with an eye for telling detail.
The other revelations are no less strange, including collecting “biometric information” from Ban Ki Moon and other UN people, though there are no suggestions on how this would be done.
The reationship between the US and the Arab leaders, seems rather comfortable, especially as the Sunni states are concerned about Iran, but without the resources to tackle Tehran. But as the cables also show, Iran is fighting back. From Iraq to Afghanistan and from Azerbaijan to the Gulf, the battle between the US and Iran for the upper hand in the Middle East is, as one regional diplomat put it, "the great hegemonic contest of modern times".
The cables illuminate other aspects of the American approach. It is clear US officials are not averse to pressurising, even bullying, third countries to attain their policy objectives. It is also clear that, lacking an embassy in Tehran and with a limited American presence of any kind inside the country, the US sorely lacks first-hand intelligence.
Under the previous US President, European disregard for Bush’s intellect led to a snobby sense of superiority, which, as much as policy differences, separated the EU from the US. As the Sultan of Oman said that “Tehran should realize that it has to deal with the U.S. as a country, and not just the current administration.” Wasn’t this the EU strategy towards the end of the Bush years?
Finally, the reactions have been mixed. Those criticising WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, are saying that releasing the cables into the wild will lead to deaths of informants, whilst also saying that there is nothing new or important in their contents.
Others have gone further. Sarah Palin, who could benefit from reading the cables closely, thinks Assange should be hunted down, “with the same urgency we pursue al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.” She also wailed on Twitter, "Inexplicable: I recently won in court to stop my book 'America by Heart' from being leaked, but US Govt can't stop WikiLeaks' treasonous act?"
Less moderate is Bill O’Reilly, the Fox News commentator, who is calling for Assange’s execution. Other Tea Party pundits are asking why the CIA didn’t kill the WikiLeaks chief long ago. John Hawkins of Townnhall, a large conservative website says, “Killing Julian Assange would send a message: Julian Assange is not an American citizen and he has no constitutional rights. So, there's no reason that the CIA can't kill him.”
Bearing that in mind, the leaker might like to take up Ecuador’s offer of residence, “no questions asked”.
Undiplomatic Cables
The cables provided a sharp and often caustic view of EU leaders and other political personalities. Here is a list of some of the highlights Sarkozy was mocked as “an emperor with no clothes” who has “has a thin-skinned and authoritarian personal style.”
Merkel was dismissed as “risk averse and rarely creative.”
Putin is described as the “alpha-dog” ruler of a deeply corrupt state dominated by its security forces. Medvedev is described as hesitant in that he “plays Robin to Putin’s Batman,” and “has a more pragmatic vision for Russia than Putin, but there has been little real change.”
Karzai was said to be “driven by paranoia,” and he was described as “an extremely weak man who did not listen to facts, but was instead easily swayed by anyone who came to report even the most bizarre stories or plots against him.”
Ahmadinejad was slammed as being “like Hitler.”
Berlusconi is described as “feckless, vain and ineffective as a modern European leader,” while another cable remarked on the Italian premier’s “frequent late nights and penchant for partying hard,“ asserting that they “mean he does not get sufficient rest.” Another cable from Rome to Washington described Berlusconi as “physically and politically weak.”
The North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il was referred to as a “flabby old chap” and someone who had suffered “physical and psychological trauma” as a result of his stroke.
The wires slam Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as governing with “a cabal of incompetent advisors.”
The documents note Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi as being rarely without the companionship of “his senior Ukrainian nurse,” described as “a voluptuous blonde.”
“Some embassy contacts have claimed that Gadhafi and the 38-year-old Kolotnytska have a romantic relationship. While he did not comment on such rumors, a Ukrainian political officer recently confirmed that the Ukrainian nurses ‘travel everywhere with the Leader,’ “ the cable read.
Another cable told how Gadhafi “appears to have an intense dislike or fear of staying on upper floors, reportedly prefers not to fly over water, and seems to enjoy horse racing and flamenco dancing.”
In the documents, Ali Abdullah Saleh is described as “dismissive, bored and impatient.”
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is described as an “old man” who is “hampered by several factors: his ego and belief in his own infallibility.”
A South African government official described Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe as “the crazy old man.” Ahmad Wali Karzai is depicted as an operator who doubts the value of elections and “is widely understood to be corrupt and a narcotics trafficker.”
Britain’s Sun newspaper told how one British former government minister was described as a “hound dog where women are concerned.” Prince Andrew is also accused of “rude behavior,” The Sun added.
Another cable discussing the wife of Azerbaijan leader Ilham Aliyev said she had extensive plastic surgery and that as a result it is possible to confuse her for one of her daughters.
Who Will Be The First To Decrypt The Wikileaks “Insurance” File
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/who-will-be-first-decrypt-wikileaks-insurance-file
Ahmad Wali Karzai is depicted as an operator who doubts the value of elections and “is widely understood to be corrupt and a narcotics trafficker.” - that is the younger half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai
I want to know who’s behind Assange...funding, protecting, pushing, etc....there’s a LOT more to this.
Assange has TWo 501 C3’s......TAX EXEMPT....WHO IS BEHIND HIM?? SOROS??
[geek]
He got the red and blue pills backward. Red=reality, blue=go back to sleep.
[/geek]
If it isn’t George Soros, it’s someone just like him.
TV and Hollywood are a major part of The Matrix. Keep drooling idiots watching TV/movies stupid and confused.
The NSA.
In a few decades.
That reminds me. I haven't seen a good Hollywood movie in a long time! I should go tomorrow!
Go for it. So many wonderful choices. I was dragged to one a year ago or more. Most of the idiots there were libs. They live in a little dream world - probably like you.
They were so excited about the contrived fantasy with story lines that have been recycled over and over. The flickering electrons excite their tiny monds.
Keep helping the TV networks Saudis and Prince Al Waleed who finance the deaths of our soldiers. You are doing your part for Allah.
How is your tiny mond? My mond is totally stuned
How is your tiny mond? My mond is totally stuned
My tiny mond is stuned by flickering electrons. My beeber was left in Tijuna, where it's doing its part for Allah.
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