Wikileaks is “the largest set of
confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain”. With
251,287 leaked United States embassy cables dating from 1966 to
February 2010, the online confidential document flood has sent ripples
through the entire world. Needless to say, this grand unraveling of the
alleged truth will have an appreciable, if not a great, effect on world
diplomacy and political affairs.
Governments across the globe are
persistent in their efforts to take down the website, but as founder and
editor-in-chief of Wikileaks says, such endeavors would never be able
to stop the online leaks. Following is a list of the top cablegate
revelations, originally compiled by The Lookout.
Regarding Iran’s Nuclear Program
As revealed by certain cables, leaders
of several Middle Eastern countries are secretly apprehensive of the
Iranian nuclear program. In fact, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, in
consistent talks regarding this very matter, has advised the US to “cut
the head of the snake”.
US Diplomats’ Verbal Foray against World Leaders
In several cables, US Diplomats have
been found voicing their highly unflattering opinions of certain world
leaders. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is labeled as “driven by
paranoia”, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi as “feckless, vain, and ineffective
as a modern European leader” and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy as “an
emperor with no clothes”. According to one leak, Libyan leader Moammar
Gadhafi enjoys the company of a “voluptuous blonde” Ukrainian nurse in
all his travels.
US Confiscating HEU from Pakistan
Starting in 2007, the US has been making
off with highly enriched uranium (HEU) from a Pakistani nuclear reactor
so as to prevent its use in the fabrication of nuclear weaponry.
Guantanamo Detainee Trading
Leaks suggest that the present US
administration, as part of their delayed program to shut down Guantanamo
Bay detention camp, has tried to convince countries such as Slovenia
and Kiribati to accept detainees from the maximum security prison in
exchange for huge incentives.
Afghan Vice President Corruption Allegation
One cable accuses Afghan Vice President Ahmed Zia Massoud of taking $52 million in cash in a trip to the United Arab Emirates.
China, US and Unified Korea
United States’ ambassador to Seoul
believes, as suggested in his report to the US administration, that it
may be possible to lure China into agreeing to the peaceful
reunification of Chinese-dependant North Korea and US-allied South Korea
through lucrative business deals. Certain documents reveal that the US
and South Korea have already had numerous discussions regarding the
matter.
Hezbollah Backed by Syrian Arms
According to US intelligence, Syria
continued to support Hezbollah with advanced weaponry only a week after
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad vowed that he would discontinue backing
the Lebanese paramilitary organization.
H. R. Clinton’s Spies
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton has allegedly been ordering diplomats to collect information on
Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, Sudan and Somalia as well as
on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s stand on Iran.
Qatar’s Reluctant Counterterrorism Efforts
One cable describes Qatar’s security
forces as “hesitant to act against known terrorists out of concern for
appearing to be aligned with the U.S. and provoking reprisals”.
Purportedly, the US Department of State deems the country as the worst
in endeavors against terrorism.
Putin-Berlusconi Camaraderie
One cable observes Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin has been increasingly openhanded towards Italian
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, presenting him with generous energy
contracts & “lavish gifts” and Berlusconi has consistently expressed
his support for his Russian counterpart in Europe.
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