World Leaders, Officials Watch WikiLeaks with Curi
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Date: 11/29/2010 9:19:18 AM
Sender: VOA
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World Leaders, Officials Watch WikiLeaks with Curiosity, Concern
The release of thousands of classified documents from U.S. embassies around the world provides unvarnished look at U.S. diplomacy
A news stand displaying newspapers, some carrying the story on WikiLeaks＇ release of classified U.S. State Department documents, at a newsagent in central London, Nov. 29, 2010.
Newspapers around the world are plastered in headlines Monday about the latest release of thousands of classified U.S. documents by the online whistleblowing group WikiLeaks.
From Washington to Australia to Pakistan, senior officials are responding with alarm to the revelations. Some are looking at the uncensored view of America＇s diplomatic corps as a window into how the State Department sees the world.
Officials in the United States and Britain were quick to condemn the release. And in Paris, a government spokesman pledged France＇s support for the Obama administration as it moved into damage-control mode after the inner thoughts of its diplomatic corps spilled into an open discussion about America＇s friends and foes.
Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced Monday that the government is investigating whether the leak broke any of the country＇s laws.
"The release of this information could prejudice the safety of people referred to in the documentation and indeed could be damaging to the national security interests of the United States and its allies including Australia," McClelland said. "So, obviously, Australia will support any law enforcement action that may be taken."
One of the cables, from the U.S. embassy in Zimbabwe, described Australia as a "rock solid" ally, but said it did not have enough influence to affect events in that country.
McClelland said he has set up a task force to determine, and deal with, the impact of the leaks. Of the quarter-million documents released, 1,400 documents mention Australia, with 1,000 cables originating from the U.S. embassy in Canberra.
"I＇ve asked the Australian Federal Police to look at the issue as to whether any Australian laws have been breached as a specific issue as well," he said.
The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, is an Australian citizen. McClelland said federal police are looking into whether Assange broke any criminal laws. However, he said he had no knowledge of reports that the United States has asked Australia to revoke Assange＇s passport.
The cables contained more damning characterizations of Pakistan and its president, Asif Ali Zardari. According to the New York Times newspaper, Saudi King Abdullah is quoted in one cable as calling Mr. Zardari the greatest obstacle to Pakistan＇s progress. According to the document, he said, "When the head is rotten, it affects the whole body."
The news was splashed across Pakistani newspapers and broadcast on local television stations around the country. Mr. Zardari＇s spokesman accused WikiLeaks of damaging Pakistan＇s relations with Saudi Arabia, and said President Zardari considers King Abdullah as his elder brother.
The cables also cast Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a negative light, suggesting he is sympathetic to Islamists and knows little of the world outside Ankara.
Mr. Erdogan said Monday that he would wait to find out more information before announcing his reaction. He said he would wait to see exactly what Wikileaks is "hiding under its skirt" to see if the claims are serious or not. Mr. Erdogan also said the credibility of Wikileaks is under suspicion.
For Israel, Prime Minister Benhamin Netanyahu, says the diplomatic leak was positive. He said Monday that Israel has not been damaged by the leak and, if anything, its concerns about Iran have been validated. The documents underscore the concern of Arab countries about Iran. In one, Saudi Arabia urges the U.S. to carry out military strikes to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, a stance also advocated by Israel.
The contents of the leaked cables also drew praise from some U.S. allies. Jonathan Powell, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair＇s chief of staff, said that as a diplomat it was fascinating to read the private correspondence of his counterparts. Powell told the Guardian newspaper that overall, the documents show that American envoys are well-connected and well-informed about political issues abroad.
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