US Diplomat Apologizes For Cursing Ally

[jakeXT]

Source: ABC News

The State Department’s top official for Europe apologized today after being caught making a crude and dismissive remark about the European Union, one of America’s top allies.

The spokeswoman hinted that Russia had taped and leaked the phone call, calling it “a new low in Russian tradecraft.”

A leaked phone call posted on YouTube caught Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland saying “f—k the EU” while speaking with U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt. Nuland used the expletive while complaining that the European Union hasn’t done enough to get Ukraine to break an agreement with Russia and instead sign on to a trade agreement with Europe.

Dmitry Loskutov, an aid to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, was among the first on Twitter to link to the video, which surfaced Tuesday. Rogozin also tweeted, “Sort of controversial judgment from Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland speaking about the EU.”

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/02/official-apologizes-for-f-k-eu-comment/

[Iliyah]

1. Yea, corporate media is all over this bullshit

no coverage on UI failure, snap cuts, and other information concerning the well being of Americans.

[Keefer]

2. Why

are we speaking about our allies that way to begin with? Just more fodder to throw in our face.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. That's not very diplomatic, Ms. Nuland.

[Mass]

4. Victoria Nuland, ex neocon, married to a neocon, ...

She was probably among those who thought Old Europe was bad, like Rumsfeld.

[Blue_Tires]

6. Not to mention moronic

You never, ever ever have 'frank' comments on diplomatic matters over a phone unless you're sure beyond a doubt that the line is 100% secure (on both ends)

[Jesus Malverde]

7. Do we have any doubts that was the case?

These are seasoned professionals..

Pretty sure the NSA is responsible for securing DOS communications.

[Demenace]

11. Why, it has got to be the fault of the NSA?

Now, you want to blame the NSA for not doing such a wonderful job of securing the DOS Communications!

[Jesus Malverde]

12. NSA runs the Information Assurance Directorate (IAD)

Information Assurance Directorate (IAD), which ensures the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of national security and telecommunications and information systems (national security systems).

[jakeXT]

15. The same guys who made encryption unsafe ?

[JDPriestly]

36. Russia says: Anything you can do, I can do better.

Just Russia letting the world know that it's a big boy too.

Doesn't prove much. Good opportunity for Obama to fire Victoria Nuland if he wants to. I'm not saying he should.

[24601]

57. The news story was that it was a private conversation, not that it was a secure

communication. While NSA approves the cryptographic equipment and produces the key, they have to be used to be effective.

The after-action here is going to determine that they were not using secure communications. It also is going to point out that foreign nations intercept US communications whenever they have the capability and opportunity.

[24601]

58. And we have Reuters reporting that it was an unsecure cell phone call. Not much NSA can do

when officials choose to use unsecure communications.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/ukraine-phonecall-idUSL2N0LC1E120140207

[TwilightGardener]

16. What makes her an "ex" neocon? They should have cleaned all these people out

in 2009.

[jakeXT]

18. Maybe now is the opportunity to dump another Kagan fellow after Patraeus

Neocons Guided Petraeus on Afghan War

...

How tight Petraeus’s relationship was with two neocons in particular, Frederick and Kimberly Kagan, was explored Wednesday in a Washington Post article by war correspondent Rajiv Chandrasekaran who described how Petraeus installed the husband-and-wife team in U.S. offices in Kabul, granted them top-secret clearances and let them berate military officers about war strategy.

Though the Kagans received no pay from the U.S. government, they drew salaries from their respective think tanks which are supported by large corporations, including military contractors with interests in extending the Afghan War. Frederick Kagan works for the American Enterprise Institute, and Kimberly Kagan founded the Institute for the Study of War [ISW] in 2007 and is its current president.

http://consortiumnews.com/2012/12/19/neocons-guided-petraeus-on-afghan-war/

[TwilightGardener]

21. Yup--this was the shit going on behind Obama's back--no wonder he didn't trust

the military leadership. Also, I believe it was Kimberly Kagan who brought us Elizabeth O'Bagy, the fake/discredited Syrian rebel "expert" (at 26 years old!) that McCain and Kerry relied on--O'Bagy should be folding sweaters at Old Navy by now.

[Mass]

45. Good point.

Not sure they could have gotten rid of her (career diplomat) but it is useless to promote her.

[warrant46]

50. A Clown why do they have so many Neocons in Power?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. “a new low in Russian tradecraft.” ???

Why is the U.S. government blaming the Russians for leaking it instead of calling it a new low in our own diplomacy? "Fuck the EU" are words that should never be uttered in an official diplomatic capacity by a member of our State Department to a member of a foreign government, even if it's justified. If this lady is that stupid and lacking in self-control, she'll screw up again, especially if our own government is blaming the Russians instead of blaming her.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Why is the U.S. government blaming the Russians for leaking it instead of ..........

Lame attempt at damage limitation despite the fact the cat is now out of the bag.

[another_liberal]

26. Excellent question!

Way to cut to the chase.

[Xolodno]

9. Telling look inside...

Obviously the US government wants the Ukraine squarely aligned west but wants the EU to pick up the economic tab while the country retools for western trade.

The EU, obviously weary of supporting questionable economic European nations (see Greece, Spain, Portugal, etc.) for the sake of a "European Union" basically offered a token package to Ukraine. Can't blame them, particularly when half its nation still wants ties to Moscow, so you have a divided populace on top of, which could make things difficult. So the EU says, if they want closer ties and perhaps eventual inclusion, the Ukraine is going to have to prove it predominately by itself and take the necessary painful steps as well.

Russia obviously wants Ukraine squarely aligned with them. And offered a much better economic package. And lets not forget something important....

Russia does not want a western allied nation on its border, period.

And from other threads, have also indicated they will do to Ukraine what they did to Georgia. And I'm sure an EU Nation leader will jump in as peacekeeper and tell them, accept Moscow's influence, were not interested in pissing off The Bear.

[jakeXT]

10. And they know the right guy for the job

The audio also reveals a frank exchange about America's strategy on how to work with Ukraine's main opposition leaders.

...

The two officials also discuss frankly the merits of the three main Ukrainian opposition leaders - Vitaly Klitschko, Arseniy Yatseniuk and Oleh Tyahnybok - in the conversation.

The female speaker says that Mr Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing world champion, should not be in any new government. "I don't think it's a good idea."

She adds: "I think Yats (Arseniy Yatseniuk) is the guy who's got the economic experience."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26072281

They allege Klitschko has some marriage problems, I wonder where that information is from.

[JDPriestly]

37. It sounds like one of those catty, gossipy conversations that people have with people they.

want to impress and find common ground with. The purpose is partly to discuss politics in the Ukraine, partly to let off steam and partly to cozy up to the person with whom you are taking.

[jakeXT]

43. The question is are they paying, and if so are they getting their money's worth ?

Sergei Glazyev said the US was spending $20m (£12.3m; 14.8m euros) a week on Ukrainian opposition groups, supplying "rebels" with arms among other things.

[JDPriestly]

52. The Russians most definitely are paying.

The Russians offered to forgive Ukrainian debt for gas the Ukrainians purchased.

This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

[jakeXT]

54. They cite a 1994 agreement, I wonder what would happen if the Russians tried that in the US backyard

A senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of meddling in Ukraine, in breach of a 1994 agreement over non-intervention.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26068994

[JDPriestly]

55. You mean like Cuba? They already did.

Remember the Cuban missile crisis?

[jakeXT]

56. Sounds like they were clueless initially, although I'm not an expert on Cuba

The Cuban Revolution which propelled Fidel Castro to power on January 1, 1959, initially attracted little attention in Moscow. Soviet planners, resigned to U.S. dominance over the Western hemisphere, were unprepared for the possibility of a future ally in the region. According to later testimonies from Nikita Khrushchev, neither the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee’s nor KGB intelligence had any idea who Castro was or what he was fighting for. Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev advised them to consult Cuba’s Communists who reported that Castro was a representative of the "haute bourgeoisie" and working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba%E2%80%93Soviet_Union_relations

[Sunlei]

13. US Diplomats should never, ever speak like this even in private. Those cables leaked a couple

years ago had diplomats complaining about stuff too.

If they think "European Union hasn’t done enough to get Ukraine to break an agreement" then state that in public.

One of those "private" cables leaked mentioned a drunk (Russias?)Diplomat? so they couldn't get any official work done. Make that stuff public too. We do not need any of this 'drama crap' from any country.

[Demenace]

14. Folks, for your education, this is why every nations has its own version of the NSA...

...So you can figure out the nonsense the folks around you are planning. Maybe, Snowden and Glenn Greenwald can ask the Russians to stop spying on the Americans since according to some around here that should not happen!

I have also began to see the beginning of an attempt to blame the NSA for not doing its job, by not securing this DOS communication. What would you good folks around here like the NSA to be, good at what they do or stop operating? Pick your damn choice!

[heaven05]

17. much ado about nothing

they say the same things, they just haven't been busted yet. You go girl, tell it like you feel it! I appreciate you and your candor. Fuck em!

[JDPriestly]

38. True.

The Russians are just showing off their surveillance capacity. What a useless "scandal."

[Psephos]

53. The issue isn't what she said, but her ineptness in not using an encrypted phone.

If one doesn't understand the rules of the game, one shouldn't be playing.

So much for smart diplomacy.

[Ash_F]

19. I think I can do her job better.

I have no training in Diplomacy either.

[vdogg]

20. Diplomats

Should be able to have frank conversations in private, just like everyone else. It isn't flowery language all the time, this is simply how people communicate. I'm surprised at the number of people offended by this, I've heard far worse at my job. World diplomacy will not collapse because this woman said a swear word. I'm also detecting a bit of a hypocritical stance in this thread. People who rail on and on about the NSA spying (even when that spying is on foreign countries) now are stating, without any irony at all, that diplomats in our own country should have no expectation of privacy....

[jakeXT]

23. It's probably not the swear word, but by apologizing she is basically validating the authenticity

of the recording.
And based on the content of the recording, she is giving credence to Russia's allegations of US involvement in the Ukraine crisis.

The Tape

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014720661

State Dept. Press Conference

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017174272

[vdogg]

29. True

She is acknowledging the validity of the tapes, but I think it would be far more problematic if they were to lie about it. If you ever have a chance to listen to any of the released Oval Office tapes from the Nixon, Johnson, or Kennedy administrations, you will notice discussions equally as frank and impolitic. Yes they are diplomats and professionals, but they're also people. This is how people act behind closed doors. I'm not condoning them meddling in another country's affairs, I'm just saying that the flap over what was said is much ado about nothing.

[another_liberal]

25. Do you think it's proper for us to be choosing what government Ukraine will have?

How would we feel if China was trying that trick with our government?

[Spider Jerusalem]

27. Proper? no.

Entirely consistent with over a century of US foreign policy in places like Haiti, Iran, Vietnam, the Congo, Argentina, Nicaragua, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Chile...sure.

[another_liberal]

30. Such disgraceful, counterproductive precedents do not make it the smart thing to do . . .

I'm sure you will agree?

[vdogg]

31. No

I don't think it's proper, but it happens. All countries meddle to some extent, including Russia (whom it might add are the ones who released the tape). That's not really the point I was addressing though, see my reply to Jake above.

[another_liberal]

32. Blaming Russia for what our diplomat said?

Don't make me laugh! If she hadn't said it, there would be nothing to release.

[vdogg]

33. No

If the hadn't been spying, they would have nothing to release. Or is spying only wrong if America does it?

[another_liberal]

34. You are still missing the point.

Shooting the messenger hardly addresses our outrageous interference in the internal politics of Ukraine, and the whole EU for that matter. Plus the fact that our accusation against Russia has not been proven. Where the recording came from is still an open question.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

28. That's not how I would communicate, if I were a diplomat

Maybe with close intimate friends or family members, if i'd had a few drinks, I might use raw language that way. But for someone working in an official capacity as a diplomat I'd be more careful, especially when talking about the closest ally of the U.S. These things have a way of getting out, whether they're repeated by the recipient to lovers or friends or written about in journals to be later published in memoirs. You are right in that it's not the end of the world, but it's embarrassing for this administration.

[JDPriestly]

39. Yes. We need an international protocol on internet surveillance with government's working togeth

[thesquanderer]

22. Maybe a diplomat should understand the meaning of the word "diplomatic."

Just saying...

[another_liberal]

24. For a different point of view on this story . . .

And more fascinating details on our latest attempt to give another country the government we want it to have:

http://rt.com/news/nuland-phone-chat-ukraine-927/

[dipsydoodle]

40. latest attempt to give another country the government we want it to have

check this out :

Ukrainian Left-Wing Activists' Appeal to UN, EU, and USA: Don't Back Civil War & Fascist Coup in Ukraine!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=721085

- See more at: http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2014/01/ukrainian-left-wing-activists-appeal-un-eu-and-usa-dont-back-civil-war-fascist-coup-uk#sthash.wVZRxuTe.uhBHiM8G.dpuf

[another_liberal]

44. I have not seen this story getting any coverage.

I can't (corporate control of our media) imagine why?

As always, thanks for the excellent links, dipsydoodle.

[Beacool]

35. The Russians leaked it?

She should have added: Fuck Putin and his crummy Olympics too. Might as well go for the whole enchilada.

The Russians have their own version of the NSA? Who knew........

[davidpdx]

41. People on DU seem to think Puttypoo isn't capable of doing anything bad

including surveilling their own people and the rest of the world. Yes, I agree. Fuck Putin and the Olympics.

[Beacool]

48. Putin is former KGB, that should be all people need to know about him.

The guy is a despot and probably a killer too. He's also as corrupt as Karzai in Afghanistan. The Olympic Committee must have drunk too much vodka to award Sochi the Winter Olympics.

[another_liberal]

46. One thing you seem to have over looked . . .

There is yet to be any proof offered concerning who actually released the tape. That is still very much an open question.

[Beacool]

49. True, but there's no doubt that Russia would have released it if they had the tape.

Everyone is complaining that the minute they got to Sochi their computers and phones were hacked. Privacy is not a concern for Putin, quite the contrary.

[another_liberal]

51. I would not put it past them.

They definitely know how to play hard ball.

[jakeXT]

42. Merkel labels US diplomats' words on EU, Ukraine 'totally unacceptable'

Meanwhile, on Thursday a spokeswoman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Nuland’s comments were “totally unacceptable.”

http://rt.com/news/nuland-ukraine-money-reforms-017/

[jakeXT]

47. Nuland on leaked talk with Pyatt: I am not commenting on diplomatic conversations

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has declined to comment on an audio recording of her telephone conversation with U.S. Ambassador in Kyiv Geoffrey Pyatt, which was released on YouTube.

She said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday that she would not comment, as this was a private, diplomatic conversation.

Speaking about the impact of this conversation on U.S. relations with Russia, Nuland said that the two countries have a very deep and complex relationship and that they had been working on various issues.

In particular, she said, the United States and Russia are working a lot on issues related to Iran, Syria, and arms control.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/189221.html