Wikileaks reveals hundreds of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables
Top story: The self-described whistleblower organization Wikileaks began the release of over 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables on Sunday, presenting an unprecedented inside look into the opinions of U.S. diplomats and foreign leaders in some of the world's most sensitive regions. Wikileaks provided the documents, which were gathered from more than 270 U.S. diplomatic posts throughout the world, to the New York Times, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, Le Monde, and El Pais several weeks ago. Wikileaks published 226 cables on its website, and plans a phased release of the rest of the documents, with each new release focusing on a new country or topic.
The documents promise to complicate U.S. diplomatic relationships worldwide - and also embarrass foreign leaders who are not used to having their candid views aired so publicly. The cables document Arab leaders' views toward Iran, which are generally more hawkish than their public statements. Saudi King Abdullah in April 2008, for example, told diplomats that the United States must "cut off the head of the snake" to stop Iran's nuclear program. Such aggressive statements were echoed by other Gulf monarchs, including the leaders of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Other cables reveal U.S. officials' unvarnished view of domestic politics in countries throughout the world. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told French Defense Minister Herve Morin in Feb. 8, for example, that "Russian democracy has disappeared and the government was an oligarchy run by the security services." Other cables reportedly reveal the U.S. diplomats' deep concern with the Turkish government, characterizing the foreign minister as an "exceptionally dangerous" figure with Islamist inclinations.
The White House responded to the release on Sunday by releasing a statement that said: "We condemn in the strongest terms the unauthorized disclosure of classified documents and sensitive national security information."
Iranian nuclear scientists attacked: Motorcycle-riding attackers attached bombs to the cars of two Iranian nuclear physicists in Tehran, killing one of them and injuring the other.
| Asia - The United States and South Korea conducted military drills five days after North Korea shelled a South Korean island.
- An man wearing an Afghan police uniform opened fire on ISAF troops during a training mission, killing six.
- China's official estimate of AIDS-related deaths in the country increased by 20,000 over the previous year.
Middle East - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed Wikileaks' release of U.S. diplomatic cables as a deliberate attempt by the United States to pressure Iran.
- Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest opposition group, said that it had not won any seats outright in the first round of polling after Sunday's legislative election.
- The Iraqi government arrested at least twelve individuals suspected of being behind a deadly attack on a church in Baghdad last month.
Europe - An electrician in southern France said that he was in possession of hundreds of previously unseen works by Pablo Picasso.
- Investors sold Spanish debt on Monday amidst new fears of the country's economic stability, pushing the 10-year bond rate to an eight-year high.
- Moldova's pro-Europe coalition gained the lead in the country's election on Sunday.
Americas - Brazilian police seized over 30 tons of marijuana in a drug bust.
- A captured Mexican drug lord reportedly admitted to ordering much of the violence that has struck the city of Juarez in the past year.
- 12 of the 18 candidates in Haiti's presidential election denounced the country's election as fraudulent, and called for the results to be annulled.
Africa - Wal-Mart announced its plan to buy 51 percent of South Africa's Massmart.
- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will not attend a joint European Union-African summit in Tripoli, Libya.
- Somali pirates hijacked a ship flying under the Malaysian flag in the Indian Ocean.
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-David Kenner FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
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