“Diplomats for all nations do the same thing.” AMEN. This from the State Department’s spokesman, P.J. Crowley following the latest round of document releases from Wikileaks. The cable in which Hillary was supposedly asking for intelligence from US diplomats around the world actually asked for the following:
Basic biographical data such as diplomats’ names and addresses to their frequent flyer and credit card numbers, to even “biometric information on ranking North Korean diplomats.” Typical biometric information includes fingerprints, signatures, and iris recognition. [CNN]
2 Diplomatic gaffes of our allies illustrate the fact that “every body’s doin’ it:”
- March, 2010 A serious rift in relations between Britain and Israel opened yesterday after a criminal investigation uncovered “compelling” evidence that Jerusalem had cloned the UK passports used in the assassination of a senior Hamas operative in Dubai. Britain responded by expelling a senior Israeli diplomat, believed to be the Mossad station chief in London. [Times]
- March 21, 2001 – Six Russian diplomats accused of direct contact with alleged spy Robert Hanssen have left the United States, officials told CNN. It was not immediately clear when they departed, but earlier Wednesday Secretary of State Colin Powell summoned Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov to the State Department and informed him the United States planned to order the diplomats to leave. The U.S. on Thursday will officially declare the six persona non grata, meaning they are no longer welcome in the country. [CNN]
The latest from Wikileaks will soon be back burner items and we will go forward like every other nation guilty of the same things.
carldagostino
November 29, 2010
I have become familiar with these “wikileaks” only in the past few days. This is more explosive that the Pentagon Papers, huh? It is encouraging that those of us on the bottom of this pyramid’s democracy can get access and demand accountability. What is your opinion on revelation wikileaks content and just it’s ability to leak?
samhenry
November 29, 2010
I focused on a small part of the Wikileaks documents. It would take days or weeks to plow through all of the documents. However, I am happy to hear that the Federal authorities are considering trying to get Wikileaks listed as a terrorist organization. That is what they are. They are irresponsible and they are targeting the US just as surely as al Qaeda. I wonder that they may be trying to see linkage there somehow. That may be my vivid imagination but it would make it easier to list them as terrorists. Based on the amount and content of what has been released, I would consider it an act of war.
DarcsFalcon
November 30, 2010
Alleged spy Robert Hannsen??! He confessed! I’m still angry he wasn’t hanged for treason like he should have been.
I am a firm believer in national security and I think the leaking of certain documents is a form of terrorism. This Julian guy is trying to do nothing more than claim his “15 minutes” by jeopardizing some people’s lives. I believe I read earlier that the Taliban has already threatened those who talked to us. Good one Julian! There’s blood on your hands. Hope the “fame” was worth it.
samhenry
November 30, 2010
I so agree with you, DF. It is a tragedy. It is treason. It should be punishable. I think the UN needs to have international law as well as countries adopt law to not allow this.
carldagostino
November 30, 2010
Speaking of treason, I think these banksters, who Dillon Radigan crucifies daily on MSNBC,are guilty. They have declared economic warfare on individuals, the system and the economy. Their financial manipulations have hurt the country more than the Tals and Alkis. They have committed economic and financial terrorism. They have hit us harder than Pearl Harbor. They have thumbed their nose at the President, the congress that continues to enable them and at working people all over the nation. I have slow-read-scanned the Patriot Act. My copy was 200 pages. Seems like a lot in there can be used to define what the banksters have done as treason and terrorism. I wish concerned people smarter and more capable than I would go after them along these lines.
samhenry
November 30, 2010
Well, Carl, there don’t seem to be many more capable and smarter than you. I wish I had time to read the things you have been able to read to keep so well-informed. I am dyslexic and so it goes slower. I do think that as time goes on, people will be more and more enraged at the fact that the banks have not only had their CEOs spared their fees will continue to rise as Bank of America threatened due to the loss of fees under the new legislation. They are just what you have well expressed. Thanks for your comments this morning.