Wikileaks Diplomatic Cables

[ARCHON]

WikiLeaks under attack, it says, as new leak looms​

(CNN) -- The whistleblower website WikiLeaks is under cyber attack, but even if it goes down, a new cache of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables will still be published Sunday night, it said via Twitter Sunday.
The announcements come shortly after the United States warned WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange that publishing the papers would be illegal and endanger peoples' lives.


The New York Times, The Guardian newspaper in England, and newspapers and magazines in three other European nations are planning to publish new classified material on Sunday, WikiLeaks said on Twitter.


The site is experiencing a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack, it said. That's an effort to make a website unavailable to users, normally by flooding it with requests for data.


The U.S. State Department's legal adviser said Saturday that if any materials in the posting of documents by the site were provided by government officials without proper authorization, "they were provided in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action."


WikiLeaks indicated last week that it was preparing to release a new batch of previously classified U.S. military documents.
"Next release is 7x the size of the Iraq War Logs," the group stated via Twitter Monday. "Intense pressure over it for months. Keep us strong."


State Department Legal Adviser Harold Hongju Koh told Assange he was responding to a letter about the newest leak.
Koh wrote that the department had spoken with representatives from The New York Times and The Guardian newspapers, and the German magazine Der Spiegel about 250,000 documents the whistleblower organization provided to them for publication.
WikiLeaks said Sunday it had also given documents to El Pais in Spain and Le Monde in France.


Koh described the distribution as the "illegal dissemination of classified documents" and said it would "place at risk the lives of countless individuals" -- criticisms that have been repeated by U.S. officials after past postings on the site.


The information blitz from WikiLeaks is expected to offer a glimpse into the worldwide communications of the State Department and its 297 embassies, consulates and missions through what are commonly referred to as "cables."


Koh wrote that releasing such documents could jeopardize relationships with allies, military actions and anti-terrorism operations.
CNN has not had advanced access to the documents, unlike some media organizations, because the company declined to sign a confidentiality agreement with WikiLeaks.

In October, WikiLeaks released nearly 400,000 U.S. military reports about operations in Iraq. In July, it released more than 70,000 reports from the war in Afghanistan.


WikiLeaks under attack, it says, as new leak looms - CNN.com

 

[sparklingway]

Post everything related to this week's diplomatic cables leak in this thread.​

I will post main updates here. Number of cables originating from Islamabad : 2,220.
--------------------------------------

Pakistan related disclosures:-

- A dangerous standoff with Pakistan over nuclear fuel: Since 2007, the United States has mounted a highly secret effort, so far unsuccessful, to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. In May 2009, Ambassador Anne W. Patterson reported that Pakistan was refusing to schedule a visit by American technical experts because, as a Pakistani official said, “if the local media got word of the fuel removal, ‘they certainly would portray it as the United States taking Pakistan’s nuclear weapons,’ he argued.” Source : NYT

- King Abdullah "called President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan the greatest obstacle to that country’s progress. “When the head is rotten,” he said, “it affects the whole body.”

- Mossad chief expressed concern for "well being of President Musharraf"

- Musharraf asked UAE crown prince "whether the UAE had received approval for the Predator!". UAE was supportive of Pakistan's F-16 bid and supported Musharraf when it came to terrorism.

- Israeli Prime Minister "[Ehud] Barak reinforced his message regarding Pakistan in both meetings. He described Pakistan as his "private nightmare," suggesting the world might wake up one morning "with everything changed" following a potential Islamic extremist takeover. When asked if the use of force on Iran might backfire with moderate Muslims in Pakistan, thereby exacerbating the situation, Barak acknowledged Iran and Pakistan are interconnected, but disagreed with a causal chain." Source : Guardian

- Ahmed Wali Karzai said that "Pakistan detained Baradar and other Taliban leaders because they were prepared to discuss reintegration with the Karzai government. Senior Taliban fighters in Pakistan may be prepared to reintegrate, he said, but are forced by the Pakistan Government to continue to fight. AWK said some Afghan Taliban commanders cannot return to Afghanistan because they are on the Joint Priority Effects List (JPEL) and are told by the Pakistanis they must continue to fight or will be turned over to the coalition." Source : NYT

- The King [Abdullah] told General Jones that U.S. development assistance would rebuild trust with the [Pakistan] Army, which he asserted was staying out of politics in deference to U.S. wishes, rather than doing what it "should." Source

- From 1999. US worried about "folk hero status" of Osama Bin Laden and lack of expected public support in hunting him down. Also concerns over hardliners showing moderates as "morally corrupt" and western stooges. Source : Guardian

Regional discloures:-

- Saudi Arabia still leading private financier of Al Qaeda

- "Saudi Arabia urges US attack on Iran to stop nuclear programme"

- Leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt referred to Iran as "evil", an "existential threat" and a power that "is going to take us to war".

- Oman wary of Iran's "deceptive tactics and expansionist ideological desires in the region"

- Kuwait vary of Iran as well

- State dept officials told to collect intel and spy at UN meetings

- Russia and US fear that North Korea has presumably sold to Iran some BM-25 missiles

------

Guardian's data dump

Wikilekas Cablegate Page that will upload cables over next few months

 

[somebozo]

Q1. Where are the leaked cables?

 

[ahmed_naj]

I think wikileaks is under some sort of DDOS attack, I cant access it.

 

[Paan Singh]

^^^^^^^^^
i think sources which got leaked

 

[ARCHON]

Britain fears Islamic fury over WikiLeaks: Report


LONDON: The British government has warned that its citizens in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and other parts of the Muslim world could be targeted in a violent backlash over "anti-Islamic" views expressed in diplomatic documents being leaked this week, media reports said on Sunday.

The whistle-blower website WikiLeaks is to release almost 3 million documents on the internet, including thousands of sensitive diplomatic cables sent to Washington from the American embassy in London, The Sunday Times reported.

It said the British government has warned that its citizens in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and other parts of the Muslim world could be targeted in a violent backlash over "anti-Islamic" views expressed in diplomatic documents.

Some disclosures may put pressure on Britain's "special relationship" withthe US by revealing the private views of diplomats on former premier Gordon Brown, the present Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg.

Brown's rocky relationship with US President Barack Obama that included a visit to New York in September 2009 during which the White House was accused of "snubbing" the former prime minister, is almost certain to be mentioned as is Britain's troop withdrawal from Iraq, The Sunday Telegraph said.

But officials said the real damage could be done by the disclosure of cables in which American diplomats refer to candid British views of key figures in the Muslim world.

According to The Mail today, 92-year-old Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa is among world leaders believed to have been criticised in a leak of US diplomatic files.

Other world leaders who have clashed with the US, including Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai, Libya's Colonel Gaddafi and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, also come off badly in the no-holds barred private cables to the White House from scores of US embassies.

About 800 messages are from the US Embassy in London and some reportedly feature negative and hostile comments about Brown and the Labour Government.

These are thought to relate to the Anglo-US dispute after Britain freed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al Megrahi from a Scottish jail to a hero's welcome in Libya last year.

The cables are believed to include withering US assessments of Brown's personality and prospects of staying in power. Cameron also does not escape from criticism.

Mandela, who stepped down as President in 1999, condemned George Bush over the Iraq War, suggesting the US President had ignored the United Nations' calls for restraint because the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was black. He also called Tony Blair the "foreign minister of the United States " for supporting Bush over Iraq.

The secret cables, due to be published online today, are believed to be from January 2006 to December 2009 - taking in the latter part of Blair's premiership and most of Gordon Brown's.

The report quoted defence insiders to say Britain's national security could be "put at risk" by the revelations, which are understood to include details of the Iraq and Afghan wars plus information about secret service practices and intelligence sources.

The British government has issued a DA-Notice (defence advisory), warning newspapers that publishing the secrets could compromise national security.

"We would condemn any unauthorised release of this classified information just as we condemn leaks of classified material in the UK. They can damage national security, are not in the national interest and, as the US has said, may put lives at risk," the foreign office said.


Britain fears Islamic fury over WikiLeaks: Report - The Economic Times

 

[sparklingway]

Q1. Where are the leaked cables?

I think wikileaks is under some sort of DDOS attack, I cant access it.

^^^^^^^^^
i think sources which got leaked

Like all previous leaks, NYT, Guardian and Der Spiegel had access much, much earlier and opened their news reports alongwith public opening of ******** and dump files. As of now, Wikileaks is under some DDOS attack.

 

[StingRoy]

I think wikileaks is under some sort of DDOS attack, I cant access it.

CIA at work

 

[ARCHON]

Site under cyber attack, says WikiLeaks

The whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has said its website is under a cyber attack. The website, in its Twitter feed has posted this: "We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack."

The website had earlier announced that it would publish more logs on Iraq war on Sunday.

Several countries including the United States, have asked Wikileaks to halt the release of the classified documents of the State Department.

In its latest Twitter feed, Wikileaks has assertained that it will go ahead with its plans. "El Pais, Le Monde, Speigel, Guardian & NYT will publish many U.S. embassy cables tonight, even if WikiLeaks goes down," reads its Twiiter feed.



The Hindu : News / International : Site under cyber attack, says WikiLeaks

 

[justanobserver]

Sir I posted reports from NYTimes in this WikiLeaks plans to release 94 papers about Pakistan - Page 3 thread. Could you please merge it?

 

[ARCHON]

India keen to know contents of forthcoming WikiLeaks​

India is not really concerned about a new potentially embarrassing release of classified US diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks but is certainly interested in finding out what the 4 million documents contain. On whether US government has got in touch with India on the WikiLeaks, Krishna said, "We have been out of the country for the last three–four days. So I do not know whether anything has come from them. We have read in the media that the (fresh) WikiLeaks (documents) might appear very soon."


On Saturday, the US had warned India and other key governments across the world about a new potentially embarrassing release of classified documents by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks which may harm the American interests and create tension in its ties with its "friends".

On whether India was concerned what the leaks might contain, the minister said "Indian government is not really concerned. But we are certainly interested in finding out what this WikiLeaks are all about because they say that they are going to put on the web 4 million documents. So we will watch with interest."

On the delay in action being taken by Pakistan on 26/11 perpetrators, the minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had spoken about the whole issue with particular reference to Pakistan.

"So whatever the Prime Minister has said in the presence of US President Barrack Obama (during his recent visit to India) while addressing the media persons, I think that is the parameters within which we function."

On whether the issue of permanent seat for India in the UN security council will be taken up during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's forthcoming visit to India, Krishna said, the issue will figure.

"When we take up discussions with the Chinese leader on multilateral issues, the reforms of the United Nations, in particular this issue (India's UNSC bid) would also certainly going to figure in our discussions."


India keen to know contents of forthcoming WikiLeaks - Hindustan Times

 

[JanjaWeed]

here is what NY times has to say.. article is too long, so just the link..

Cables Shine Light Into Secret Diplomatic Channels

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

btw interesting points about pakistan too.. mostly to do with nuke reactors..

 

[ARCHON]

Wikileaks: US referred to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as 'Hitler'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is referred to as "Hitler" while President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is called a "naked emperor" in US documents released by Wikilieaks on Sunday.

Pages from the German newspaper Der Spiegel were leaked early, before a mass publication of thousands of secret cables by the whiste-blowing website.

The documents also say that North Korean leader Kim Jong -il suffers from epilepsy, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddhafi's full-time nurse is a "hot blond".

The German Chancellor is referred to as Angela "Teflon" Merkel and Afghan President Hamid Karzai is "driven by paranoia", the documents claim.


US officials referred to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as an "Alpha Male," while President Dmitry Medvedev is "afraid, hesitant."
Der Spiegel also quoteed the State Department as saying that President Barack Obama "prefers to look East rather than West," and "has no feelings for Europe".


The leak came minutes after Wikileaks claimed that it was under cyber attack on Sunday ahead of the expected release of thousands of secret documents.

On its Twitter feed Wikileaks said: "We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack."


Wikileaks added that several newspapers would go ahead and publish secret United States documents even if the website crashed.
The latest leak is expected to publish US embassy reports on other countries and the website said it would be bigger than recent leaks on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


The US state department has claimed that the release would put lives at risk but Mr Assange said America was afraid of being held to account.


Spain's El Pais, France's Le Monde, Germany's Der Speigel, The Guardian. and the New York Times are set to publish the material.
Details of the documents were first released on Twitter after a member of the public in Germany purchases a copy of Der Spiegel which had been put on the news-stand too early.


The Foreign Office condemned the leak of the State Department cables but insisted that it would not damage British-US relations.
"We condemn any unauthorised release of this classified information, just as we condemn leaks of classified material in the UK," a spokesman said.


"They can damage national security, are not in the national interest and, as the US have said, may put lives at risk.
"We have a very strong relationship with the US Government. That will continue."


British officials fear that the confidential cables will reveal details of a secret operation to disrupt Iranian smuggling of nuclear materials through the Gulf and Turkey.


Officials involved in overseeing British policy in the region say that diplomatic materials compiled between 2008 and 2010 on Iran contained sensational information that could jeopardise efforts to disrupt the nuclear programme if unveiled on WikiLeaks.

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's "close relationship" with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, is also said to be among WikiLeaks documents due to be released.


Mr Berlusconi has been friends with former KGB agent Mr Putin, for more than five years and the two have held numerous bilateral meetings as well as entertained each other on holiday.


Of concern to Washington was said to be the deal between Italian energy firm ENI and Russian gas giant Gazprom, over the South Stream pipeline as well as the "very cordial relationship between Mr Putin and Mr Berlusconi".

Wikileaks: US referred to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as 'Hitler' - Telegraph

 

[ARCHON]

How 250,000 US embassy cables were leaked


An innocuous-looking memory stick, no longer than a couple of fingernails, came into the hands of a Guardian reporter earlier this year. The device is so small it will hang easily on a keyring. But its contents will send shockwaves through the world's chancelleries and deliver what one official described as "an epic blow" to US diplomacy.

The 1.6 gigabytes of text files on the memory stick ran to millions of words: the contents of more than 250,000 leaked state department cables, sent from, or to, US embassies around the world.

What will emerge in the days and weeks ahead is an unprecedented picture of secret diplomacy as conducted by the planet's sole superpower. There are 251,287 dispatches in all, from more than 250 US embassies and consulates. They reveal how the US deals with both its allies and its enemies – negotiating, pressuring and sometimes brusquely denigrating foreign leaders, all behind the firewalls of ciphers and secrecy classifications that diplomats assume to be secure. The leaked cables range up to the "SECRET NOFORN" level, which means they are meant never to be shown to non-US citizens.

As well as conventional political analyses, some of the cables contain detailed accounts of corruption by foreign regimes, as well as intelligence on undercover arms shipments, human trafficking and sanction-busting efforts by would-be nuclear states such as Iran and Libya. Some are based on interviews with local sources while others are general impressions and briefings written for top state department visitors who may be unfamiliar with local nuances.

Intended to be read by officials in Washington up to the level of the secretary of state, the cables are generally drafted by the ambassador or subordinates. Although their contents are often startling and troubling, the cables are unlikely to gratify conspiracy theorists. They do not contain evidence of assassination plots, CIA bribery or such criminal enterprises as the Iran-Contra scandal in the Reagan years, when anti-Nicaraguan guerrillas were covertly financed.

One reason may be that America's most sensitive "top secret" and above foreign intelligence files cannot be accessed from Siprnet, the defence department network involved.

The US military believes it knows where the leak originated. A soldier, Bradley Manning, 22, has been held in solitary confinement for the last seven months and is facing a court martial in the new year. The former intelligence analyst is charged with unauthorised downloads of classified material while serving on an army base outside Baghdad. He is suspected of taking copies not only of the state department archive, but also of video of an Apache helicopter crew gunning down civilians in Baghdad, and hundreds of thousands of daily war logs from military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It was childishly easy, according to the published chatlog of a conversation Manning had with a fellow-hacker. "I would come in with music on a CD-RW labelled with something like 'Lady Gaga' … erase the music … then write a compressed split file. No one suspected a thing ... listened and lip-synched to Lady Gaga's Telephone while exfiltrating possibly the largest data spillage in American history." He said that he "had unprecedented access to classified networks 14 hours a day 7 days a week for 8+ months".

Manning told his correspondent Adrian Lamo, who subsequently denounced him to the authorities: "Hillary Clinton and several thousand diplomats around the world are going to have a heart attack when they wake up one morning and find an entire repository of classified foreign policy is available, in searchable format, to the public ... Everywhere there's a US post, there's a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed. Worldwide anarchy in CSV format ... It's beautiful, and horrifying."

He added: "Information should be free. It belongs in the public domain."

Manning, according to the chatlogs, says he uploaded the copies to WikiLeaks, the "freedom of information activists" as he called them, led by Australian former hacker Julian Assange.

Assange and his circle apparently decided against immediately making the cables public. Instead they embarked on staged disclosure of the other material – aimed, as they put it on their website, at "maximising political impact".

In April at a Washington press conference the group released the Apache helicopter video, titling it Collateral Murder.

The Guardian's Nick Davies brokered an agreement with Assange to hand over in advance two further sets of military field reports on Iraq and Afghanistan so professional journalists could analyse them. Published earlier this year simultaneously with the New York Times and Der Spiegel in Germany, the analyses revealed that coalition forces killed civilians in previously unreported shootings and handed over prisoners to be tortured.

The revelations shot Assange and WikiLeaks to global prominence but led to angry denunciations from the Pentagon and calls from extreme rightwingers in the US that Assange be arrested or even assassinated. This month Sweden issued an international warrant for Assange, for questioning about alleged sexual assaults. His lawyer says the allegations spring from unprotected but otherwise consensual sex with two women.

WikiLeaks says it is now planning to post a selection of the cables. Meanwhile, a Guardian team of expert writers has been spending months combing through the data. Freedom of information campaigner Heather Brooke obtained a copy of the database through her own contacts and joined the Guardian team. The paper is to publish independently, but simultaneously with the New York Times and Der Spiegel, along with Le Monde in Paris and El País in Madrid. As on previous occasions the Guardian is redacting information likely to cause reprisals against vulnerable individuals.


How 250,000 US embassy cables were leaked | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[mjnaushad]

Speaking to another Iraqi official about Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, King Abdullah said, “You and Iraq are in my heart, but that man is not.” The king called President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan the greatest obstacle to that country’s progress. “When the head is rotten,” he said, “it affects the whole body.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html?pagewanted=2&hp