WikiLeaks cables: CIA drew up UN spying wishlist for diplomats

[sabra]

Source: Guardian UK

• Agency identified priorities for information on UN leaders
• Cables reveal further evidence of intelligence gathering


The US state department's wishlist of information about the United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, and other senior members of his organisation was drawn up by the CIA, the Guardian has learned.

The disclosure comes as new information emerged about Washington's intelligence gathering on foreign diplomats, including surveillance of the telephone and internet use of Iranian and Chinese diplomats.

One of the most embarrassing revelations to emerge from US diplomatic cables obtained by the whistleblowers' website WikiLeaks has been that US diplomats were asked to gather intelligence on Ban, other senior UN staff, security council members and other foreign diplomats – a possible violation of international law.

US state department spokesman PJ Crowley, in interviews since the release, has tried to deflect criticism by repeatedly hinting that although the cables were signed by secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, and her predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, they originated with another agency. But he refused to identify it.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/02/wikileaks-cables-cia-united-nations

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[EFerrari]

2. Crowley is the new Fletcher while Gibbs collapses into monosyllables.

Crowley is the one that said if our troops transfer Iraqi prisoners to certain torture in Iraqi hands, it's the Iraq government's responsibility because they have command and control.

[Solly Mack]

3. He was on the Pentagon channel earlier...I was channel surfing

...I hissed and kept going

[EFerrari]

4. LOL

That's my reaction to him, too. :)

[tantric_truth_serum]

5. So, where are the U.S.-Israeli Embassy Cables?

Strange how even at the WikiLeaks site, there are no "cables" from or to Israel from the U.S. When is that load going to be released (if ever) Mr. Assange?

[yurbud]

6. does anyone doubt that they don't use these methods against our own legislators?

If they can't be bought, they can be harrassed, blackmailed, and threatened. If none of that works, see Paul Wellstone.

[bemildred]

7. It's not "embarassing", it's "illegal".

I look forward to Sen. Bond and Sen. Feinstein demanding an investigation into of this violation of out treaty obligations.