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The Abraham Walk
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists | World news | The Guardian
The terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab walks through the Chatrapathi Sivaji train station in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks. Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the atrocity, is one of several groups that have raised funds via Saudi Arabia. Photograph: Sebastian D'souza/AP
Saudi Arabia is the world's largest source of funds for Islamist militant groups such as the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba – but the Saudi government is reluctant to stem the flow of money, according to Hillary Clinton.
"More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups," says a secret December 2009 paper signed by the US secretary of state. Her memo urged US diplomats to redouble their efforts to stop Gulf money reaching extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide," she said.
Three other Arab countries are listed as sources of militant money: Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The cables highlight an often ignored factor in the Pakistani and Afghan conflicts: that the violence is partly bankrolled by rich, conservative donors across the Arabian Sea whose governments do little to stop them.
The problem is particularly acute in Saudi Arabia, where militants soliciting funds slip into the country disguised as holy pilgrims, set up front companies to launder funds and receive money from government-sanctioned charities.
One cable details how the Pakistani militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, used a Saudi-based front company to fund its activities in 2005.
Meanwhile officials with the LeT's charity wing, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, travelled to Saudi Arabia seeking donations for new schools at vastly inflated costs – then siphoned off the excess money to fund militant operations.
Militants seeking donations often come during the hajj pilgrimage – "a major security loophole since pilgrims often travel with large amounts of cash and the Saudis cannot refuse them entry into Saudi Arabia". Even a small donation can go far: LeT operates on a budget of just $5.25m (£3.25m) a year, according to American estimates.
Saudi officials are often painted as reluctant partners. Clinton complained of the "ongoing challenge to persuade Saudi officials to treat terrorist funds emanating from Saudi Arabia as a strategic priority".
Washington is critical of the Saudi refusal to ban three charities classified as terrorist entities in the US. "Intelligence suggests that these groups continue to send money overseas and, at times, fund extremism overseas," she said.
There has been some progress. This year US officials reported that al-Qaida's fundraising ability had "deteriorated substantially" since a government crackdown. As a result Bin Laden's group was "in its weakest state since 9/11" in Saudi Arabia.
Any criticisms are generally offered in private. The cables show that when it comes to powerful oil-rich allies US diplomats save their concerns for closed-door talks, in stark contrast to the often pointed criticism meted out to allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Instead, officials at the Riyadh embassy worry about protecting Saudi oilfields from al-Qaida attacks.
The other major headache for the US in the Gulf region is the United Arab Emirates. The Afghan Taliban and their militant partners the Haqqani network earn "significant funds" through UAE-based businesses, according to one report. The Taliban extort money from the large Pashtun community in the UAE, which is home to 1 million Pakistanis and 150,000 Afghans. They also fundraise by kidnapping Pashtun businessmen based in Dubai or their relatives.
"Some Afghan businessmen in the UAE have resorted to purchasing tickets on the day of travel to limit the chance of being kidnapped themselves upon arrival in either Afghanistan or Pakistan," the report says.
Last January US intelligence sources said two senior Taliban fundraisers had regularly travelled to the UAE, where the Taliban and Haqqani networks laundered money through local front companies.
One report singled out a Kabul-based "Haqqani facilitator", Haji Khalil Zadran, as a key figure. But, Clinton complained, it was hard to be sure: the UAE's weak financial regulation and porous borders left US investigators with "limited information" on the identity of Taliban and LeT facilitators.
The lack of border controls was "exploited by Taliban couriers and Afghan drug lords camouflaged among traders, businessmen and migrant workers", she said.
In an effort to stem the flow of funds American and UAE officials are increasingly co-operating to catch the "cash couriers" – smugglers who fly giant sums of money into Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In common with its neighbours Kuwait is described as a "source of funds and a key transit point" for al-Qaida and other militant groups. While the government has acted against attacks on its own soil, it is "less inclined to take action against Kuwait-based financiers and facilitators plotting attacks outside of Kuwait".
Kuwait has refused to ban the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, a charity the US designated a terrorist entity in June 2008 for providing aid to al-Qaida and affiliated groups, including LeT.
There is little information about militant fundraising in the fourth Gulf country singled out, Qatar, other than to say its "overall level of CT co-operation with the US is considered the worst in the region".
The funding quagmire extends to Pakistan itself, where the US cables detail sharp criticism of the government's ambivalence towards funding of militant groups that enjoy covert military support.
The cables show how before the Mumbai attacks in 2008, Pakistani and Chinese diplomats manoeuvred hard to block UN sanctions against Jamaat-ud-Dawa.
But in August 2009, nine months after sanctions were finally imposed, US diplomats wrote: "We continue to see reporting indicating that JUD is still operating in multiple locations in Pakistan and that the group continues to openly raise funds". JUD denies it is the charity wing of LeT.
via guardian.co.uk
Here we are blown - http://wikileaks.ch/articles/2010/Har-blir-vi-blasta.html
Sweden - Here we are blown
Richard Aschberg, Matthew Carlson, John Wahl, 3rd December 2010, 20:00 GMT
Norway and the United States lured Sweden - in the 55-billion deal on Jas
Sweden became the basis cheated by both Norway and the United States in the multi-billion dollar deal on Jas.
It shows the American diplomatic reports Aftonbladet today can reveal.
The Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister Barth Eide gave, even before the contract was completed, a clear signal that the U.S. would win the deal.
At the same time delayed the U.S. deliberately major components to Jas-plane to pull the legs of Sweden.
Norwegian Air Force were to replace its entire fleet of American fighter aircraft. A total of 48 aircraft would be replaced, a deal worth 55 billion. After harshly criticized procurement rated Norwegians Swedish JAS Gripen and bought the American F-35.
The deal has been accused by many to have been rigged. According to the critics was the specification of the purchase made to fit the American plane - and the price of the Swedish alternative deliberately distorted so that it became much more expensive than in real life. He was responsible
Aftonbladet can today reveal U.S. diplomatic statements on the affair and secret contacts with the Norwegian Deputy Defense Minister, Barth Eide. It was he who had the main responsibility for procurement.
U.S. Embassy had an early appointment Barth Eide, a key figure in the contract. They noted that Eide was pro-American and had been of benefit to the U.S. earlier: he had given good advice about how it would tackle the Norwegian government.
"In several important issues have Barth Eide been helpful, as in the case of missile defense (where he helped to prevent a Norwegian veto on NATO plan)." Report to the CIA
In a classified document from the Embassy of Eide's private interests and weaknesses. Although details of his wife is included in the report that was sent directly to the CIA and U.S. military intelligence, the DIA.
The reports of the U.S. embassies in Stockholm and Oslo gives a unique insight into the game that cost the Swedish taxpayers and Jas project billions of dollars. Over 50 billion was in the pot.
For the U.S., the deal was not just about money, but also to ensure Norway's involvement in NATO and the monitoring of the northern flank of Europe.
Early was the Norwegian public opinion strongly in favor of the Swedish JAS, and it was very negative in the Norwegian media about the U.S. plane F-35.
In a cry for help from the U.S. embassy in Oslo, 22 September 2008, we are asking Washington for help with political pressure at high level. It will then not be long until everything looks brighter.
On 23 October 2008, Barth Eide, a meeting of the American General Roger Brady. The call is described in the confidential report as "frank":
"If you think you have the best airplane, trust the process."
The same report states that Eide "private has given all indications that the F-35 will be selected."
The deal was then far from complete. According to the official version was still on an evaluation of Jas. I got advice from several directions
Other Norwegian government officials gave the U.S. advice on how they would act to win the competition. On 24 October 2008, the U.S. ambassador in Oslo, Norway, Benson Whitney, a private meeting with the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
According to Whitney's report said the Norwegian Minister:
"It's 'integrity of the process' and if we sit quietly in the boat, everything will go well. He pressed the need for political credibility in the contract, and that the process can withstand the uninformed media attacks. He concluded by saying that we should 'trust'. "
Although Defence Minister Anne-Grete Ström-Erichsen gave encouraging signals to the U.S., the report said. She should also be pointed out that only the Defence Ministry was aware of all the data on the two planes. "Act honorably"
Although the United States by this time was virtually certain to win the contract but it reportedly does not appear that the deal would MoS.
"Continue to participate in all conferences, debates and other public forums on the program offered by the JSF partnership, when and where it is requested, so we do not seem to confident. We must continue to act as an honorable and elegant competitor, "wrote the ambassador's report to Washington.
On 20 November 2008 announced by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Ström-Erichsen decision that the U.S. Lockheed Martin had won the tender.
Just hours earlier put the Swedish Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors together with his Norwegian colleague Power-Erichsen.
She suggested nothing of the affair was finished.
On the same day had Mr Tolgfors also an article in Dagens Nyheter in which he advocated an expanded Nordic cooperation, and said that he was still hopeful a deal with the Norwegians.
But it was nothing. The sudden decision came as a cold shower for Tolgfors and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
On the American Embassy in Oslo, where the entire staff had been working on the deal in several years, it was simultaneously heels and some surprise:
"The timing of the disclosure was surprising because it came earlier than expected, although the Norwegian government's exceptionally strong support for the F-35 was surprising," the embassy in the evaluation of the deal. Wanted to buy radar
But the game behind the aircraft deal was not just on the U.S. embassy in Oslo.
With colleagues in Stockholm, it was also full of activity.
On 25 June 2008 met Mr Tolgfors the U.S. Ambassador Michael Wood.
During the call, tried Tolgfors convince Wood that Sweden was an important partner of NATO and that a Jas-business would also benefit the U.S., because several parts of the plane is American.
Tolgfors bath while the U.S. permission to buy into the American-made radar AESA to the Swedish aircraft.
Tolgfors said that with the radar at Jas-plan would be opportunities to work with NATO to increase.
Here was the U.S. the Swedish Achilles heel and the tactics to be used to compromise the ability of Jas.
The Swedes wanted the go-ahead for the radar system in September - in time for the Norwegians' decision on which plan would be procured.
Through the Ambassador's proposal, outlined in the confidential report, could Americans now achieve substantial gravel in the Swedish machinery:
"We propose that we postpone the decision on AESA permits for Gripen until after Norway's decision in December."
Thus were the Swedes, but a complete solution. Thanked of tactics
Shortly after the announcement had Barth Eide, a private meeting with Ambassador Benson Whitney. The meeting described in reports as "very relaxed". Barth Eide should also have thanked the Embassy for their tactics to get the deal in port. He also complained of Saab's reaction after the decision.
For the U.S., Norway was the deal-just a start. Billions would also be conducted by both Denmark and Holland.
The reports from the Oslo embassy went through the successful tactic. The outwardly tread carefully as there seemed to be affected Norway's independence:
"Secretly, we were much more powerful."
Aftonbladet have searched Mr Tolgfors for comment, but Defence Minister refuses to answer questions.
Late yesterday, he announced through his press secretary Michael Ostlund that he did not want to "review rumors and Wikileaksdokument".
via wikileaks.ch
http://wikileaks.ch/articles/2010/Har-blir-vi-blasta.html
literal translation by google translate
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US embassy cables: Fears over safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons | World news | guardian.co.uk
10. (S/NF) Day also promised that the UK had "put measures in place to protect your interests" during the UK inquiry into the causes of the Iraq war. He noted that Iraq seems no longer to be a major issue in the U.S., but he said it would become a big issue -- a "feeding frenzy" -- in the UK "when the inquiry takes off."
via guardian.co.uk
US embassy cables: Fears over safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons | World news | guardian.co.uk
Tuesday, 22 September 2009, 14:13
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 LONDON 002198
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EO 12958 DECL: 09/21/2019
TAGS PARM, KNNP, PREL, CH, EG, FR, IN, IR, IZ, JA, KN, PK,
RS, SL, UK
SUBJECT: U/S TAUSCHER'S MEETINGS WITH FS MILIBAND AND OTHER
HMG OFFICIALS
Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).Summary
- US diplomats meet David Miliband and Foreign Office officials to discuss concerns about nuclear proliferation around the world and progress towards Obama's stated goal of arms control and disarmament. They discuss China's efforts to build a nuclear arsenal, and highlight concerns about the Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Recent intelligence suggests that Pakistan 'is not going in the right direction', the meeting hears. Key passage highlighted in yellow.
- Read related article
1. (S/NF) Summary: Under Secretary Tauscher held meetings in London on September 2-4 on the margins of the P5 Conference on Confidence Building Measures Towards Nuclear Disarmament with Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Simon McDonald, Head of the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, Mariot Leslie, Director General, Defence and Intelligence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Jon Day, MOD Director General for Security Policy. The UK interlocutors expressed broad support for USG goals with regard to nonproliferation and disarmament and highlighted the need for close P3 and P5 coordination in the lead-up to the UNSC Heads of Goverment Summit and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Confererence (RevCon). They also predicted that UK arms control policy would not be affected either by next year's elections or the upcoming Strategic Defense Review. McDonald cited the need to get tough with Iran if it did not respond to overtures by the end of September. U/S Tauscher expressed continued commitment to ratification of the Defense Trade Treaty and noted that she is working with the Senate to resolve questions concerning implementation. End Summary
Welcoming U.S. Leadership
-------------------------
2. (S/NF) While in London for the September 3-4 P5 Conference on Confidence Building Measures Towards Nuclear Disarmament, U/S Tauscher held separate meetings September 2-4 with Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Simon McDonald, Head of the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, Mariot Leslie, Director General, Defence and Intelligence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Jon Day, MOD Director General for Security Policy. The British interlocutors underscored that the UK welcomes U.S. leadership on nonproliferation, disarmament and arms control. FS Miliband expressed appreciation for President Obama's Prague speech, observing that the process for getting to "a world at or close to zero in terms of nuclear arms is not a straight line" but is long and complex. McDonald said that for the last forty years the nuclear states have downplayed the obligation to spread civil nuclear power and to disarm; President Obama's leadership presents an opportunity to change that dynamic. DG Leslie observed that UK decision makers are "fired up by how the President has made the (nonproliferation) agenda his own." Prime Minister Brown wants to "refresh and refurbish" the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), she said. DG Day said he was "delighted" that the U.S. has "resumed leadership" on nonproliferation, arms control and disarmament.
Maintaining P3 and P5 Unity
---------------------------
3. (S/NF) Leslie stressed that the UK position is "really very similar to your Administration on nearly everything." The UK's goal is for the P5 to work well together but we should "not scare the horses," which means "not scaring off the French" and "keeping the Chinese and Russians on board." She acknowledged that it was "hard to get everyone together" for the 9/3-4 P5 Conference, but expressed hope that it would help cement P5 unity in the lead-up to the NPT Review Confererence (RevCon). Day acknowledged that the 9/3-4 P5 Conference was not a vehicle designed to make progress by "leaps and bounds." He stressed that "the engagement is valuable" and would help cement P5 unity.
4. (S/NF) We need a strong, but unanimous, signal from the UN Security Council (UNSC) at the UNSC Heads of Government Summit, Simon McDonald stressed, noting that the first draft resolution was a disappointment. The UK interlocutors agreed on the importance of P5 unity at the summit, as well as on the importance of close P3 and P5 coordination in the lead-up to the summit and to the NPT RevCon. McDonald also observed that Libya was on the UNSC and that the P5 should take positive note of the fact that Libya has made a "strategic shift" on nuclear proliferation.
France and P3 Unity
-------------------
5. (S/NF) DG Leslie said that the UK had done a "lot of hard
LONDON 00002198 002 OF 005
work and expressed a commitment to disarmament...and the French are uncomfortable with this." Leslie said that the UK "gets on well" with the French, but the French are "excessively worried about what they view as unilateral UK disarmament." She said that P3 talks would help maintain P3 unity; "We need to reassure France," she said. Leslie characterized closer U.S.-France relations as "extremely healthy."
6. (S/NF) U/S Tauscher, Leslie, and Day agreed to regular P3 meetings, starting in October, to help cement P3 unity. French interlocutors also agreed, during separate bilateral meetings with Tauscher, on the importance of regular P3 consultations.
Missile Defense and the Nuclear Posture Review
--------------------------------------------- -
7. (S/NF) U/S Tauscher described the Missile Defense review underway in Washington, with emphasis on countering the Iranian missile threat to Europe with proven technology. She also described the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which would replace the 2002 NPR and would address questions such as extended deterrence and security assurances. Her UK interlocutors expressed considerable interest in both reviews, and she made clear the U.S. would consult bilaterally and with NATO as soon as the reviews progress to that point.
Political consensus on a Strategic Defense Review
--------------------------------------------- ----
8. (S/NF) Day acknowledged that "the next year will be pretty disruptive" in the UK as the two major parties prepare for the next general election. He stressed that both the Labour and Conservative parties are committed to a Strategic Defense Review after the election. He predicted that neither political conflict between the two major parties nor the defense review would affect arms control policy, although he advised that these factors "may distract the attention" of political leaders. He predicted that "defense will be a bigger issue than it usually is" during the British electoral period. He cited intense debate over Britain's role in Afghanistan and the "defense budget crisis" as two prominent issues.
9. (S/NF) Day opined that "mobilizing" NATO allies after General McChrystal released the results of his review would be "very difficult." "Our message" to the U.S. is "bear with us... we will continue to work closely with you," Day said. He pledged to work closely with the U.S. on the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and National Posture Review (NPR) as well as on the UK's Strategic Defense Review. In regard to the UK review, Day observed that he had worked on the last review in 1997-98, and he bemoaned the lack of institutional memory within HMG regarding the review process.
10. (S/NF) Day also promised that the UK had "put measures in place to protect your interests" during the UK inquiry into the causes of the Iraq war. He noted that Iraq seems no longer to be a major issue in the U.S., but he said it would become a big issue -- a "feeding frenzy" -- in the UK "when the inquiry takes off."
Iran
----
11. (S/NF) Tauscher made clear that Iran needed to respond to the P5 1 offer prior to the UNGA, at which point there would be a stock-taking; absent progress, attention would turn to substantially stronger sanctions. FS Milband opined that U.S. Administration is "rightly trying to overcome a deficit of prejudice and mistrust in a relatively short time" by diplomatic outreach to Iran. He continued that the Iranian elections were a "bad outcome" -- an outcome that had given extremists the upper hand and resulted in a "culling of reformists." Miliband said that, in his opinion, Iran's extremist government would not make concessions in a short time. Nonetheless, the U.S. "Administration's support for a diplomatic solution is very wise." He praised the impact of financial sanctions spearheaded by Treasury U/S Levey. Leslie asserted that the Iranian administration is "in a state of flux" and "not focused," so probably unable to respond to overtures.
LONDON 00002198 003 OF 005
12. (S/NF) McDonald stressed that the PM supports the President's outreach efforts to Iran, but this outreach should not be "open ended." The UK view is that "if Iran is not responsive, we have to get serious." UK experts have concluded that stronger sanctions should be in place by the end of the year if Iran is not significantly responsive by the end of September. McDonald observed that it would take some time to negotiate a UNSCR; in the meantime, the UK is considering national steps it could take as well as possible steps the EU could take. HMG shares NSA Jones' view that proliferation problems posed by Iran and North Korea should be addressed together, not as separate, unrelated issues, McDonald said.
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
------------------------------------
13. (S/NF) UK interlocutors sought an update from U/S Tauscher on the progress toward U.S. Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) -- and on the President's leadership on CTBT ratification. Tauscher said the ratification of the CTBT had high priority. START had a certain urgency, given the December 5 expiration; we were working in parallel to prepare for ratification of CTBT, including a new National Academy study, a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), and a funded program to modernize our nuclear infrastructure. UK interlocutors made clear they would welcome U.S. CTBT ratification, which would be a tangible sign to the world of U.S. commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. McDonald noted that since the 1993 Executive Order, the U.S. has acted as if the CTBT had been ratified, which he characterized as an argument that could persuade reluctant senators. UK interlocutors also sought an update from Tauscher on the progress of START negotiations and the status of the NPR.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
-----------------------------------------
14. (S/NF) "We need to put some steel in Director General-elect Amano," Miliband opined. Amano has a key role and he "must be a leader and a consensus-builder who reports faithfully what experts tell him." McDonald observed that the IAEA seems more prepared than it has in the past to address Iranian conduct. Tauscher agreed we need to make Amano a success.
Russia-Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
--------------------------------------------- -
15. (S/NF) Leslie commended U.S.-Russian progress on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) talks. She said that the UK was looking for the U.S. to deal with Russia since "our relations (with Russia) are very poor." Leslie said that despite UK-Russia bilateral problems, HMG would be able to work with Russia through the NPT process and she expressed hope that Russia "could do the right thing" to address global proliferation. She noted the Russian proposal for a conference that could help address Egyptian concerns. Day opined that after START negotiations are successfully concluded, Russia might be inclined to seek "another deal" in regard to Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), since such discussions would "keep them at the top table" in terms of negotiations.
---------------
16. (S/NF) Leslie flagged the "inconvenient truth" that "China is building its nuclear arsenal." She evoked an arms race in the Pacific in light of India's nuclear program. Nonetheless, Leslie said she was optimistic regarding China's commitment to multilateral cooperation and she suggested that the U.S. and the UK should push China for progress "until they say 'stop it'." She noted that the Chinese had "pretty much" said a year ago that if the U.S. ratifies the CTBT, China would follow suit. Further, China has "dumped" Pakistan in the Conference on Disarmament (CD), which is a "good sign." Tauscher urged P5 action to get Pakistan to stop blocking progress in the CD on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
17. (S/NF) The UK has deep concerns about the safety and
LONDON 00002198 004 OF 005
security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, and China could play a big role in stabilizing Pakistan, Leslie said. Pakistan has accepted nuclear safety help, but under the IAEA flag (albeit British technicians). The Pakistanis worry that the U.S. "will drop in and take their nukes," Leslie said.
18. (S/NF) Day expressed support for the development of a "cold war"-like relationship between India and Pakistan that would "introduce a degree of certainty" between the two countries in their dealings. He noted that recent intelligence indicates that Pakistan "is not going in a good direction." Pakistan sees the debate about Afghanistan in the U.S. and the UK as demonstrating that the allies lack the will to maintain their commitment there. The Pakistanis also believe that their recent successes against extremists in the Swat valley validate their belief that they can deal with their own internal problems without changing their approach toward India. Day asked if the U.S. would be "obliged" to cut relations with Pakistan if the military took over again; he said that the last time the military assumed power the UK had maintained military-to-military ties. Day also asked for the U.S. perspective on Nawaz Sharif, whom he described as "potentially less venal" than other Pakistani leaders.
Nonproliferation and Public Diplomacy
-------------------------------------
19. (S/NF) Leslie opined that P5 states are "losing the public diplomacy arguments about nonproliferation" and civil nuclear power, with the P3 and the P5 "being portrayed as the bad guy." Day expressed a similar sentiment, noting that there is "no real recognition" of what the UK has done in terms of nonproliferation and disarmament, "either in our own media or worldwide." U/S Tauscher agreed that we all need to do a much better job of getting our narrative out, and noted that the State Department has brought in new people to help to do that.
20. (S/NF) Leslie acknowledged that there had been divisions within HMG about the strategy for addressing proliferation. In Leslie's view, the risk of proliferation is a bigger threat than terrorism but it ranks lower than terrorism on the public's list of perceived threats. She flagged efforts both by states and by terrorist groups to obtain nuclear weapons. She cited former FS Beckett's speech at the Carnegie International Nonproliferation Conference in June 2007 as setting out the UK's commitment to a nuclear free world. In HMG's view, President Obama's Prague speech expressed the same commitment. Disarmament alone )- without successfully addressing proliferation )- would not make the world safer, so "we need to manage disarmament," Leslie stated. She rejected the French assertion that that the U.S. and the UK are "starting a (public) debate that is not there" by publicly addressing issues of nuclear disarmament.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation
-------------------------
21. (S/NF) UK interlocutors noted HMG's commitment to civil nuclear power and that the nuclear weapons states have done a poor job in terms of Article IV of the NPT. FS Miliband commented that the nuclear weapons states have a credibility problem with the non-nuclear weapons states. Leslie said that the UK had demonstrated its commitment to "moving forward" civil nuclear issues, citing the UK-hosted and organized nuclear fuel cycle conference in March 2009 as an example. Tauscher agreed that we should support nuclear power and nuclear cooperation in a manner that does not lead to the spread of dangerous technologies, citing our agreement with the UAE as an example.
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
-----------------------
22. (S/NF) FS Miliband asked about the status of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), insisting "we are not trying to keep people from bearing arms in the USA." He asked if it was "conceivable" for the U.S. to ratify the treaty. Tauscher stated she was not optimistic given the Second Amendment issues being raised by opponents, but said the Administration was planning to review the ATT and we are prepared to listen to the UK make its case on this issue. FS Miliband said that the UK launched its campaign in favor of the ATT in September 2008 with the support of some U.S. companies.
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23. (S/NF) Day observed that there is "sometimes a sense" that the FCO "pushes" the ATT while the MOD opposes it. He stressed that the MOD and the UK defense industry "support strongly" the ATT. He said that he had personally seen the impact of MANPADS in Sierra Leone, and stated that ground to air missile proliferation is a major problem that the ATT could address. "Given our operational deployments in Afghanistan, we're focused on" the ATT," he said.
NATO - Strategic Concept
------------------------
24. (S/NF) Day raised the NATO Strategic Concept review, predicting a major debate in the Alliance about deterrence and its strategic dimensions. A "major objective" should be "to minimize fallout" on nuclear issues. He noted that the Secretary General (SYG) would prepare the first draft. The North Atlantic Council (NAC) will need to review the final product since the first stage of work is done among a small group of nations and many others will be "suspicious." The direction of NATO's debate will depend on the outcome of the German elections: the Social Democratic Party (SPD) could force a debate, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) would not, Day said. Day volunteered that he had been "soured" by the last two Strategic Concepts. Tauscher said that the USG would be addressing some of the issues in developing the Strategic Concept as part of our Nuclear Posture Review.
25. (S/NF) Day said SYG Rasmussen "must not take his foot off the accelerator of reform." The SYG must be a strong leader, needs "some early wins," and must have the kind of access in Washington that former NATO SYG Robertson had, Day said.
Defense Trade Treaty
--------------------
26. (S/NF) UK interlocutors sought an update from U/S Tauscher on the status in the Senate of the U.S.-UK Defense Trade Treaty. Tauscher explained that we are working with the Senate to resolve questions concerning implementation. Day emphasized that the Treaty "matters operationally... this is the sort of stuff that saves lives." McDonald stressed that the Treaty was not just an agreement between two leaders, former President Bush and former Prime Minister Blair, "but an agreement between our two systems." McDonald expressed appreciation for Tauscher's affirmation that implementing legislation is not necessary for the Treaty to go into force. Tauscher replied that the purpose of the Treaty was to cut red tape, and we don,t want to put it back in the implementation. Leslie stressed that the UK did not want to "complicate" the Administration's efforts to get the Treaty fully ratified. The UK interlocutors expressed appreciation for Tauscher's commitment to the Treaty's ratification and her explanation of the Administration's steps to achieve that goal.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
--------------------------------------------- --------------
27. (S/NF) FS Miliband asked for U.S. support for UK candidate John Freeman as Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General.
Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
SUSMAN
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WikiLeaks cable reveals secret pledge to protect US at Iraq inquiry | World news | The Guardian
WikiLeaks cable reveals secret pledge to protect US at Iraq inquiry
Ministry of Defence told US that UK had 'put measures in place' to protect American interests during Chilcot inquiry
- Robert Booth
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 November 2010 21.12 GMT
- Article history
Tony Blair and other senior British officials were called to give evidence at the Chilcot inquiry, but no US officials were called. Photograph: PA
The British government promised to protect America's interests during the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, according to a secret cable sent from the US embassy in London.
Jon Day, the Ministry of Defence's director general for security policy, told US under-secretary of state Ellen Tauscher that the UK had "put measures in place to protect your interests during the UK inquiry into the causes of the Iraq war".
The admission came in the cable sent on 22 September 2009, which recorded a series of high-level meetings between Tauscher and UK defence officials and diplomats, which involved the then foreign secretary, David Miliband.
Day was a senior adviser to the Labour government, and told the American delegation that "Iraq seems no longer to be a major issue in the US", but said it would become a big issue – a "feeding frenzy" – in the UK "when the inquiry takes off".
The revelation of the move to defend Washington threatens to undermine the inquiry, which was launched by Gordon Brown 'to identify lessons that can be learned from the Iraq conflict'. It is due to deliver its findings around the turn of the year.
The diplomats do not record which measures the British government took to protect US interests. No American officials were called to give evidence in public, and evidence from US officials was heard in private during visits by inquiry members to the US. The inquiry was also refused permission to publish letters between George Bush and Tony Blair written in 2002 in the run-up to the war, even though they were referred to in evidence. There were fears that the release of the details could harm both UK-US relations, and those with other countries. In January, a Blair ally told the Guardian: "They are full of scurrilous remarks about other people, including [Jacques] Chirac [the former French president]."
Tonight, Andrew Burgin, a spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition, was reported as saying: "This shows is the beginning of the cover-up".
"This really brings the whole inquiry into disrepute," he said. "Those involved in this cover-up must be held to account. The implications are so serious that there may need to be a new inquiry."
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Mervyn King should quit over 'political bias', says Blanchflower
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WikiLeaks embassy cables: download the key data and see how it breaks down
US embassy cables culprit should be executed, says Mike Huckabee
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The admission came in the cable sent on 22 September 2009, which recorded a series of high-level meetings between Tauscher and UK defence officials and diplomats, which involved the then foreign secretary, David Miliband.
Anyone still think David should be Labour leader instead of Ed?
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No, Truck Turner, I certainly dont. david was is an arch blairite, full of the same Blairite deception and spin. The labour MPs, so prone to shoot themselves in their feet, just do not realise the deliverence they have been given from that blairite david Milli-thingy. I am glad Ed Miliband is the leader.
As to Blair himself, i dearly would like to see him get his just deserts for all the lies, deception and murders he has committed.
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From the start it has been pretty obvious that Chilcot has been about finding nothing and covering-up anything and everything. The questioning the make-up of the inquiry team, etc.
This leak now just confirms the inquiry as a cove-up. Clearly Chilcot now has to tell us what this protection mechanism is if he is to pretend to have any credibility. Over to you Chilcot ...
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So even the Chilcot inquiry has been rigged in advance. Is this the most politically corrupt country in the history of the planet ?
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@mustspeak:
agree entirely.
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Maybe if we give some more billions in Overseas Aid we will be able to teach them about Governance and integrity in politics.
And some of these Security experts seem to be little more than bar room gossips! I'm just surprised Damien Mc Bride didn't put in his tuppenworth.
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Well this is prima facie evidence that the inquiry is rigged to be a whitewash. We either need a new inquiry, or Chilcot needs to disclose exactly what these measures were and repudiate them.
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fishandart
30 November 2010 9:48PM
So even the Chilcot inquiry has been rigged in advance. Is this the most politically corrupt country in the history of the planet ?
Sadly, no, this is about average. It's just people are paying attention for a change.
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If anyone was still questioning whether these leaks were in the public interest, this cable alone shows that they are.
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I think this should get front page
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Yes protecting US interests by stacking the committee with pro-Iraq War pro-Blair mandarins... Chilcote commission, who precisely do they think they are fooling?
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If you start a war on the basis of lies piled upon lies piled upon lies in order to please the ego of a macho and foolish foreign potentate (G.W. Bush), "national security" and integrity become incompatible. End of.
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Secret
Perverse
Evil
Coersive
Illegal
LyingRelationship
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Forgot "A" for Allied
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Yet again this comes as no surprise. At least its a solid riposte to all those ghastly Blair apologists who were all over CIF during the public hearings, defending their man and the integrity of the Chilcot Inquiry.
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Protecting US interests? So speculation that "9/11 was an inside job" would be right out, then? ;-)
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Was the 'pledge' requested by the Americans? Or volunteered?
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Is this the most politically corrupt country in the history of the planet ?
The developing world laughs at your hubris.
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Of course everyone denouncing this cover -up will be a 'Leftie' and anti-American, and nothing like this could ever happen on the coalitions watch....
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Ah, now THIS is more like it...
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I wrote this back in Jan in response to this farce of an inquiry
Blair Witch
Explain to me this inquiry, exactly how it works,
You want me to tell the truth
You are my judge and jury
So full of sound and fury
appointed by my mate
what great tale will this commission create?Sir John Chiclet, let the show begin,
let’s find the smoking gum
add a little drama to to daily grind of the hum drum
Let’s scratch their itch, give a forum to their opinions
let them believe they are more than indentured minionsDid I illegally start a war with iraq?
Did Reagan through iran-contra
introduce America to crack?At david’s camp I met with a Bush
and on that night, his message clear and bright
“thou shall not kill without a reason
WMD’s will protect us from treason”Armed with my defense
i rushed back to old blighty
Tony Piper played the flute
Promised friends tons of loot
sounded the alarm
it worked like an old snake charmYes, there was dissent
But I knew I won
better they raise their fists to heaven
my plan was on.Anyway let’s get back to the proceedings at hand
By the way in America, this inquisition
has barely hit the newsstandGiven it involves the last administration
and its illegal act
like me, they know this bald tribunal
does not sound the bell for theirs or my funeralI thank you sir john chiclet for this time
for using the taxpayers dime
Acquitting me of any crimeI could not afford this PR campaign
clearing my run for EU President again
I will not forget your name
Now, is it too early for champagne?Patricia O’Connor, January 2010
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The developing world laughs at your hubris.
Yeah, leave France out of it!
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Not only should this be a front page story, but the Guardian should be asking Chilcot for an interview right now so he can explain himself.
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Poor Ed Miliband. He must now call for an enquiry against his own brother.
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Surely the makeup of the panel on the Chilcot Inquiry should have told us that it was meant to be a whitewash. What will be genuine comedy will be how these
fools will present their conclusions without further humiliating themselves now we know what the task was that they have been commanded to deliver i.e the protection of American interests. It cannot be done. Thank goodness for wikileaks.
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Hardly surprising, but nonetheless, bring it on wikileaks - let's see what other skeletons are in the closet of the British & US governments, that supposedly represent their respective voters' interests.
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Does it have any information? I don't think the world is not expecting more than this from the royal butler of US of America. By the way how can US of America intimidate the Wiki leaks for espionage when their own diplomats were/are asked to do the same. Secondly how can the western media be refrained to publish these details in the land of freedom of expression and the provenance free and fair democracy? Height of Oxymoron.
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Yes Indianrook, both our houses of parliament are replete with oxymoron's.
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As was said at the time- the inquiry was a sham. Now we know a little bit more as to why and how its a sham.
US and UK special relationship? Yeah, thick as thieves!
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Brown has tried to prove that he was not pro-war, and has wriggled out of any blame by laying all the responsibility on Blair. Doesn't look like that any more!
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Brown has tried to prove that he was not pro-war, and has wriggled out of any blame by laying all the responsibility on Blair. Doesn't look like that any more!
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Sorry Guys, this won't make the front pages, the BBC "Treason" over the World Cup Bid is much more important to the Tabloids and the proles.
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The really is nothing so transparent and reputable as the British establishment, a glorious collection of privately educated, mendacious parasites. Chilcott was a whitewash and a joke long before this leak appeared, but this really does put the issue to bed. Chilcott is little more than a waste of taxpayers money - we pay them to lie to us.
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Guardian - surely this is front page news! And worthy of detailed follow-up....
Chilcot is now wounded beyond repair. How can it proceed with its unacceptable MO now public?
At the very least the fact that this inquiry is a cover up is now in the open - a journalistic investigation into what assurances were given to the US, and how (voluntarily, under coercion?) should follow. Or perhaps that would do too much damage to Labour politicians for some to stomach...?
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Seen any tumbrils lately?
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All the fuss about losing our sovereignty to Brussels is obviously to conceal the fact we are completely controlled from Washington.
Like all the other leaks, this merely confirms what many of us strongly suspected.
I just hope we have not paid FIFA officials enough to get the World Cup.
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@fishandart
So even the Chilcot inquiry has been rigged in advance.
"The outcome of British public enquiries are always known in advance."
Sir Humphry Appleby (paraphrased)
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Are we surprised?
Did anyone really have any faith in the Chilcot Inquiry which is now totally undermined. Most of us out here on the snow-bound streets of bankrupt Britain always thought that it was a waste of time and money.
We know that David Milliband was instrumental in trying to prevent even the High Court referring to certain information supplied by the U.S. The new government has just settled the court action rather than have further revelations about our involvement in torture etc. Thousands of pounds given to men who, at the very least, clearly had little love for the UK. "Fixing" the miserable little Chilcot inquiry would not be a problem.
No wonder that Chilcot allowed Blair to "grandstand" and talk about Iran and the future. Chilcot just does not have the ability to "get to the point" and to keep witnesses to the point.
Unless Chilcot is simply an "establishment man" then he should reveal the measures which were put in place to protect the Americans and then resign from the Inquiry. Won't happen though will it ?
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All this proves is that the inquiry is a waste of time and an establishment cover up. David milliband has a lot to answer for thank god he did not win the labour leadership election.
You know I was watching the other day (for those of you who are old enough to remember) original episodes of the Lone Ranger and I couldn't help remembering there was a time when I was naive enough to think we were the good guys. How stupid was that!
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I was hoping for another inquiry. And if I am lucky, inquires of previous inquiries.
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It was obvious from the way that Tony Blair was able to take charge of his session at the Inquiry , that this would be another Establishment whitewash, HE HAS STILL NOT EXPLAINED WHY LORD GOLDSMITH'S ADVICE CHANGED IN ONE WEEK and was allowed to get away with this omissio. There was only one beacon of hope, and that was the cut -to-the-chase evidence of Elizabeth Wilmshurst, she was, of course, the ONLY one to resign with honour over the Iraq War. So it seems that Sir John will join Lord Hutton and Lord Butler in acquiring expertise in the application of very thick coats of whitewash.
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All politicians of all parties were and are totally complicit, otherwise why have Bliar and Co not been indicted for war crimes????
Certainly brings up the questions surrounding the demise of Dr Kelly again now doesn't it?
The only real solution would be the fumigation of the rats nests that are the Commons and the Lords
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Ministry of Defence told US that UK had 'put measures in place' to protect American interests during Chilcot inquiry
WHITEWASH;
STRING PULLING
FIXED;
RIGGED;
GERRYMANDERED;
Our politicians: The majority of them are a shower of shit!!We have always had an inkling but thanks to WikiLeaks much has been confirmed.
We must do every thing in our power to protect that great citizen
Julian AssangeCan we nominate him for the, Nobel Peace Prize? Definitely a much better option than Obama.
Now lets get that, Bush and Blair, on a one way trip to the Netherlands - '' The Court Case of the Century '
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The Chilcott "inquiry" was then, just a waste of money, the parameters of which any conclusion could have been drawn was so narrow that that the result had probably already been drawn up. What a waste of time.
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Assange has done more for the cause of freedom & democracy than the whole race of politicians of all countries put together.
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I attended a good chunk of the Chilcot Inquiry and came to the conclusion that it is an irrelevancy along with its members. It appeared to me that they were more interested in playing to the naive gallery (mostly empty) and not getting to the nuts and bolts of the Iraq war. They actually made me sick after a while, because it was clear that their job was to protect Tony Blair and the US position, regardless of life lost or lies told. I disrespected them even more when they accommodated that big old fat illiterate buffoon John Prescott. Need I say any more!
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The revelation of the move to defend Washington threatens to undermine the inquiry
You mean that the enquiry might be a whitewash?
Now who´d have thunk that?
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jesus wept
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Special relationship? That between servant and master maybe. And the US complains about other countries portraying them 'negatively'! They're just a gang of bullies.
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