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Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak

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This is a list of notable content from the United States diplomatic cables leak that reveals the United States' political opinion towards a variety of international affairs. Beginning on November 28, 2010, WikiLeaks had been publishing classified documents of detailed correspondence—diplomatic cables—between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions around the world. On 1 September 2011, it released all of the Cablegate documents in its possession without redaction.

By subject

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The United States Department of State requires the reason for classification to be specified on all classified cables according to these classification categories:

  • 1.4 a) military plans, weapons systems, or operations
  • 1.4 b) foreign government information
  • 1.4 c) intelligence activities, sources, or methods, or cryptology
  • 1.4 d) foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources
  • 1.4 e) scientific, technological or economic matters relating to national security; which includes defense against transnational terrorism
  • 1.4 f) United States government programs for safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities
  • 1.4 g) vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructures, projects or plans, or protection services relating to the national security, which includes defense against transnational terrorism
  • 1.4 h) weapons of mass destruction[1]

Of the 3,420 cables published as of February 3, 2011, 2,647 are classified confidential or secret. Of these, the vast majority are labeled 1.4 (b) or 1.4 (d), or both, indicating that they contain information about foreign relations or governments. 107 of the cables are labeled 1.4 (c).

By transnational organization

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United Nations

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Main article: Spying on United Nations leaders by United States diplomats

In July 2009, a confidential cable originating from the United States Department of State, and under United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's name, ordered US diplomats to spy on Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other top UN officials.[2] The intelligence information the diplomats were ordered to gather included biometric information (which apparently included DNA, fingerprints, and iris scans), passwords, and personal encryption keys used in private and commercial networks for official communications.[2][3] It also included Internet and intranet usernames, e-mail addresses, web site URLs useful for identification, credit card numbers, frequent flyer account numbers, and work schedules.[2][4][5] The targeted human intelligence was requested in a process known as the National Humint Collection Directive, and was aimed at foreign diplomats of US allies as well.[5]

Further leaked material revealed that the guidance in the cables was actually written by the National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency before being sent out under Clinton's name, as the CIA cannot directly instruct State Department personnel.[3][6]

The disclosed cables on the more aggressive intelligence gathering went back to 2008, when they went out under Condoleezza Rice's name during her tenure as Secretary of State.[5]

European Union

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Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, was quoted as saying to Howard Gutman, U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, that the "EU no longer believes in the success of the military mission in Afghanistan". He also added "Europe is doing it [the War in Afghanistan] and will go along out of deference to the United States, but not out of deference to Afghanistan".[7]

In 2007, with reference to negotiations with the EU over the adoption of genetically modified crops, the U.S. Ambassador to France recommended that "we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU".[8]

Council of Europe

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According to a cable from the US embassy in Strasbourg, European human rights standards are "an irritant", and their champion, the Council of Europe, "is an organisation with an inferiority complex and, simultaneously, an overambitious agenda".[9]

NATO

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NATO created plans to defend the Baltic states and Poland known as Operation Eagle Guardian. Nine British, German, U.S. and Polish divisions have been designated for combat operations in the event of a Russian attack. In 2011, NATO wanted to conduct exercises for this new plan. The U.S. also offered to Poland to station special naval forces in Gdańsk and Gdynia as well as stationing F-16 fighter aircraft and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in Poland.[10]

Catholic Church

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After the election of Pope Benedict XVI, US diplomats recommended that the US Department of State seek to 'help shape his approach as he begins to grapple with the world beyond the Vatican's walls'.[11]

By region

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Other information in the tranche of cables released by WikiLeaks on November 28, 2010, and subsequent days included the following:

Global

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Copenhagen Accord on climate change

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Diplomatic cables show how the U.S. "used spying, threats and promises of aid" to gain support for the Copenhagen Accord, under which commitments are made to reduce emissions.[12] The emergent U.S. emissions pledge was the lowest by any leading nation.[13]

List of infrastructure critical to U.S. national security

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Main article: Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative

Perhaps the most sensitive of all releases as of 6 December was a cable from the U.S. State Department sent in February 2009 referencing the Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative and listing installations and infrastructure worldwide that it considered critical to protect U.S. interests from terrorists. Before releasing this list WikiLeaks had deliberately removed details of names and locations, but much was still revealed. Ostensibly the list does not include any military facilities. Instead it includes key facilities that if attacked could disrupt the global supply chain and global communications, as well as goods and services important to the U.S. and its economy.[14]

In the cable the U.S. State Department requests American diplomats to identify installations overseas "whose loss could critically impact the public health, economic security, and/or national and homeland security of the United States".[15] The order was under the direction of the U.S. Department for Homeland Security in co-ordination with the U.S. Department of State.[16]

These are noted excerpts from the list:[14]

The publishing of this particular cable, which had been classified secret and not for review by non-U.S. personnel,[15] was followed by strong criticism. U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said the disclosure "gives a group like al-Qaeda a targeting list".[15] British prime minister David Cameron stated that the list was damaging to the national security of both his country and the United States, "and elsewhere". WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said with reference to the cable: "This further undermines claims made by the US Government that its embassy officials do not play an intelligence-gathering role." Part of the cable read: "Posts are not/not being asked to consult with host governments with respect to this request."[16]

Africa

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Africa)

Americas

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Americas)

Asia and Oceania

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Asia and Oceania)

Europe

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Europe)

Middle East

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Middle East)

By company

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BAE Systems

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In 2002, BAE Systems sold Tanzania an overpriced radar. Objections by the then British development secretary Clare Short were overruled by Prime Minister Tony Blair.[17]

Boeing

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A series of cables show how US diplomats and senior politicians intervene on behalf of Boeing to help boost the company's sales.[18][19]

Bouygues

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  • According to a January 2010 cable, "Bouygues Batiment International, a major French construction company, has relocated large numbers of its staff to Turkmenistan from other international operations that have closed due to the international economic downturn." In the same cable, the author comments: "Repeated visits by the company's leadership to praise the president's economic policies and to stay in his good graces helps to guarantee a stream of 'grandiose' projects".[20]

Chevron Corporation

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DynCorp

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Employees of DynCorp, a US government contractor funded by U.S. tax dollars, in Afghanistan paid for the services of underage "dancing boys", apparently a euphemistic reference to Bacha bazi, which is considered child prostitution.[22] The boys were auctioned off to be sexually abused by Afghan policemen, with some to be kept as sex slaves and participate in events funded by DynCorp.[23][24]

Itera

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Russian-based company Itera gifted Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow with a yacht worth €60 million.[25]

Lockheed Martin

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Lobbying for a major Norwegian defense contract for the F-35, and with an eye on further contracts, the US Ambassador to Sweden urged that the export license for the rival fighter's radar be delayed until after the Norwegian decision,[26] while the US Ambassador to Norway sought high-level political advocacy, warned that an adverse decision would "weaken one of the strongest pillars of our bilateral relationship" and damage Norway's long-term interests, and backed ways of "helping the GON (Government of Norway) recognise the seriousness of their decision".[27] In the aftermath of the decision, the Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister said it would be 'very helpful' if the US government were to confirm there had been no political pressure to buy the plane.[28][29]

McDonald's

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McDonald's attempted to pressure the U.S. government to stall the implementation of the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement until El Salvador appointed "neutral judges" in a $24 million lawsuit against the company in 2006.[30]

MasterCard and Visa

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U.S. diplomats lobbied Russian politicians for U.S. credit-card companies MasterCard and Visa Inc. A law proposal currently[when?] undergoing discussion in the Russian State Duma proposes a National Payment Card System to collect all credit-card fees for domestic transactions. This would result in a revenue loss for MasterCard and Visa.[31]

Monsanto

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  • In a 2007 cable, the US ambassador to France, Craig Roberts Stapleton, recommended "retaliation" against European "targets" in order to defend Monsanto sales of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Europe, where controversy over GMOs is strong.[32] In the cable, the French decision to suspend Monsanto's MON 810 patented seed product line was described as "damaging" and not "science-based".[33] The French government's "apparent recommitment" to the precautionary principle written in the French Constitution was also referred to as "damaging".[33] In the cable, Stapleton stated, "Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory."[33]
  • A 2007 cable reports a meeting between several agricultural biotechnology companies (Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Monsanto) where they raise concerns to the French governments stance on agricultural biotechnology.[34][full citation needed] The concerns included the destruction of test fields by activists, whether French police will enforce vandalism laws, whether French farmers will have to be on a public list saying they are growing GMOs, and whether France will follow EU approval guidelines. Also the cable discussed an approval dispute about a genetically modified potato variety from BASF which the French government showed signs of approving, but later ruled against. No United States government representatives were involved.
  • A 2009 cable reports the May 13 meeting of US diplomats report with Monsanto's Director for Biotechnology for Spain and Portugal.[35] The representative voices concerns over increased "Anti-biotechnology activists in the EU" and their attempts to build support for a prohibition on cultivation of the MON810 corn variety. The cable concludes with an action request for continued support of "Spain's science-based agricultural biotechnology position" in response to the requests of Monsanto and Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs State Secretary Josep Puxeu.

Pfizer

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The drug company Pfizer hired private investigators to find evidence against the Nigerian attorney general Michael Aondoakaa to pressure him into dropping charges against the company. Pfizer was sued in Nigeria over the deaths of children in drug trials.[36]

Petro-Canada

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Libya's state oil company called in a senior Petro-Canada official with a threat to nationalize the firm's operations in Libya if the Canadian government refused to apologize to the Libyan government. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon had earlier promised a tongue-lashing for the hero's welcome that Libya extended to a man convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. While the Libyan government did not follow through on its threat, it did issue an order on September 30, 2009, for Petro-Canada to cut production by 50 percent.[37]

Royal Dutch Shell

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Ann Pickard, Royal Dutch Shell's then-vice-president for Sub-Saharan Africa, wrote that Shell had "seconded people to all the relevant ministries" of the Nigerian government, and therefore was informed about all important political decisions. She said the Nigerian government had ""forgotten" about the extent of Shell's infiltration and was unaware of how much the company knew about its deliberations". The cables showed that Shell shared and swapped intelligence with the US. After the release of the cables, Celestine AkpoBari, of Social Action Nigeria, said "Shell and the government of Nigeria are two sides of the same coin. Shell is everywhere. They have an eye and an ear in every ministry of Nigeria. They have people on the payroll in every community, which is why they get away with everything. They are more powerful than the Nigerian government." Ben Amunwa of the London-based oil watchdog Platform said "Shell claims to have nothing to do with Nigerian politics. In reality, Shell works deep inside the system, and has long exploited political channels in Nigeria to its own advantage".[38]

Diplomatic analysis of individual leaders

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Main article: Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (analysis of individual leaders)

The leaked diplomatic cables provided criticism of varying degrees by U.S. embassy staff of their host governments:[39][40] These details were quite embarrassing to both leaders as well as the U.S. officials who worked on these cables.[41][42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "5 Fah-3 H-710 E.o. 13526 and Smart Email Classification".
  2. ^ a b c Booth, Robert; Borger, Julian (November 28, 2010). "US Diplomats Spied on UN Leadership — Diplomats Ordered To Gather Intelligence on Ban Ki-Moon — Secret Directives Sent to More than 30 US Embassies — Call for DNA Data, Computer Passwords and Terrorist Links". The Guardian. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  3. ^ a b MacAskill, Ewen; Booth, Robert (December 2, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: CIA Drew Up UN Spying Wishlist for Diplomats — Agency Identified Priorities for Information on UN Leaders — Cables Reveal Further Evidence of Intelligence Gathering". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  4. ^ "Cables Show US Sought Personal Info of Foreign Diplomats at UN". The Times of India. Press Trust of India. November 29, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Mazzetti, Mark (November 28, 2010). "U.S. Expands Role of Diplomats in Spying". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  6. ^ "Diplomats Ignored Spying Requests, Former Officials Say". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.[dead link]
  7. ^ Staff writer (December 5, 2010). "EU Doubts Afghanistan Success: WikiLeaks Files". CBC News. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  8. ^ Vidal, John (January 3, 2011). "WikiLeaks: US Targets EU over GM Crops — US Embassy Cable Recommends Drawing Up List of Countries for 'Retaliation' over Opposition to Genetic Modification". The Guardian. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Hirsch, Afua (December 17, 2010). "US Criticises Court That May Decide on Julian Assange Extradition — Leaked Dispatches Reveal Diplomats' Disdain for Council of Europe's Stance Against Extraditions to US and Secret Renditions". The Guardian. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Traynor, Ian (December 6, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables Reveal Secret Nato Plans To Defend Baltics from Russia — Leaked Diplomatic Cables Reveal Russia Strategy — British troops identified for combat operations — Washington Offers To Beef Up Polish Security". The Guardian. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  11. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI Succeeds John Paul II". WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable: 05VATICAN467. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Carrington, Damian (December 3, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How US Manipulated Climate Accord — Embassy Dispatches Show America Used Spying, Threats and Promises of Aid To Get Support for Copenhagen Accord — WikiLeaks Cables: Cancún Climate Talks Doomed To Fail, Says EU President — Cancún Climate Change Summit: Week One in Pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  13. ^ "Who's On Board with the Copenhagen Accord". US Climate Action Network. n.d. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  14. ^ a b Kendall, Bridget (December 6, 2010). "Wikileaks: Site List Reveals US Sensitivities". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d Lister, Tim (December 7, 2010). "WikiLeaks Lists Sites Key to U.S. Security". CNN. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c Haynes, Deborah; Mostrous, Alexi; Whittell, Giles (December 7, 2010). "Wikileaks Lists 'Targets for Terror' Against US". The Times (via The Australian). Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  17. ^ David Leigh (December 19, 2010). "WikiLeaks cables: Tanzania official investigating BAE 'fears for his life'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  18. ^ Lipton, Eric; Clark, Nicola; Lehren, Andrew W. (January 2, 2011). "Diplomats Help Push Sales of Jetliners on the Global Market". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  19. ^ "US Govt Worked For Boeing – WikiLeaks". The Young Turks (via YouTube). Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  20. ^ "Turkmenistan: Bouygues' Ship In The International". WikiLeaks. 26 November 2004. WikiLeaks cable: 10ASHGABAT5. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ MacAskill, Ewan (December 15, 2010). "Chevron Discussed Oil Project with Iran, Claims Iraqi PM — Embassy Cable Reveals Nouri al-Maliki Believed US Energy Firm Negotiated with Iran About Cross-Border Oilfield Despite Sanctions". The Guardian. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  22. ^ Boone, Jon (December 2, 2010). "Foreign Contractors Hired Afghan "Dancing Boys," WikiLeaks Cable Reveals — Episode Fuelled Afghan Demands That Private Security Firms Be Brought Much More under Government Control". The Guardian. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  23. ^ "WikiLeaks: Texas Company Helped Pimp Little Boys To Stoned Afghan Cops" Archived September 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Houston Press, December 7, 2010.
  24. ^ "US embassy cables: Afghan government asks US to quash 'dancing boys' scandal". The Guardian, December 2, 2010. Contains the text of the cable dated June 24, 2009.
  25. ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated October 23, 2008 (December 2, 2010). "US Embassy Cables: President of Turkmenistan Wanted 'Abramovich-Style' Yacht". The Guardian. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  26. ^ "Proposed Response to Swedish Request to Release AESA RADAR for Gripen Fighter Planes". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  27. ^ "Norway Fighter Purchase: High-Level Advocacy Needed Now". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  28. ^ "Lesson Learned from Norwegian Decision To Buy JSF". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  29. ^ Sweetman, Bill. "WikiLeaks, Weaklings and Weasels". Ares — A Defense Technology Blog. Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  30. ^ Boseley, Sarah (21 December 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: McDonald's Used US To Put Pressure on El Salvador — Burger Giant Tried To Delay US Legislation in Order To Aid Lawsuit Being Fought in Central American Country, Cables Reveal". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  31. ^ Harding, Luke; Parfitt, Tom (December 8, 2010). "WikiLeaks cables: US 'lobbied Russia on behalf of Visa and MasterCard'". The Guardian. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  32. ^ Goodman, Amy; Gonzalez, Juan; Smith, Jeffrey (December 23, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables Reveal U.S. Sought To Retaliate Against Europe over Monsanto GM Crops". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  33. ^ a b c Stapleton, Craig (December 14, 2007). "France and the WTO ag biotech case". WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable: 07PARIS4723. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  34. ^ "AgBiotech Wikileaks Cable". February 9, 2007.
  35. ^ Duncan (May 19, 2009). "Spain's Biotech Crop Under Threat". WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable: 09MADRID482. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  36. ^ Boseley, Sarah (December 9, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: Pfizer Used Dirty Tricks To Avoid Clinical Trial Payout — Cables Say Drug Giant Hired Investigators To Find Evidence of Corruption on Nigerian Attorney General To Persuade Him To Drop Legal Action". The Guardian. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  37. ^ Jim Bronskill (January 31, 2011). "Libya threatened to nationalize Petro-Canada: WikiLeaks". The Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  38. ^ Smith, David (December 8, 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: Shell's Grip on Nigerian State Revealed — US Embassy Cables Reveal Top Executive's Claims That Company 'Knows Everything' About Key Decisions in Government Ministries". The Guardian. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  39. ^ Tisdall, Simon (November 29, 2010). "Wikileaks Cables Reveal China 'Ready To Abandon North Korea'". The Guardian. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  40. ^ Strasser, Max (December 2, 2010). "Who's Who in WikiLeaks — The World Leaders Embarrassed by Cablegate". Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Foreign Policy. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  41. ^ Adams, Guy; Sengupta, Kim (December 6, 2010). "US Forced To Shake Up Embassies Around the World after WikiLeaks Revelations". The Independent. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  42. ^ Landay, Jonathan S. (November 28, 2010). "WikiLeaks Release Reveals Embarrassing Diplomatic Details". McClatchy. Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
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