U.S. declined to cooperate in Dubai probe of Mabhouh killing, WikiLeaks shows

[kgnu_fan]

Source: Haaretz

U.A.E. alleges Mossad orchestrated the assassination of a top Hamas commander in January 2010, asked U.S. to provide credit card details linked to suspects; U.S. last year denied ever receiving such request.


The United States declined a request from the United Arab Emirates to assist an investigation into the assassination of a top Hamas commander.

Dubai suspects Israel's Mossad agency to have been behind the murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhoh in a Dubai hotel in January 2010. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied a role in the killing.

....

The WikiLeaks cable not only proved that the request was indeed made but that it was recorded in a secret State Department cable. By not accepting the request, the Obama administration harmed the Dubai investigation efforts and assisted Israel instead.

....

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-declined-to-cooperate-in-dubai-probe-of-mabhouh-killing-wikileaks-shows-1.333608

---

Credit card, bank, US government, Israel, murder, assassination....

[lunatica]

1. drip, drip, drip

But I wonder if the powers that be are too entrenched for anything to be done about it. They probably are, as Wikileaks itself seems to show.

[UpInArms]

2. don't cha just love our neo-corporate government? n/t

[Arctic Dave]

3. Makes a case for why the banks were so quick to suspend WL payments.

But that would be a "conspiracy".

[jberryhill]

4. But the US is required to assist every criminal investigation in the world

..or something.

[Poll_Blind]

5. Maybe because the trail goes Metabank->Payoneer->Yuval Tal->Israeli Defense Forces?

Why help? Extra judicial assassination is part of our special relationship with Israel.

PB

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jberryhill]

8. +1

Apparently if some Mafia Don gets whacked in Sicily, we are supposed to figure it out

[Violet_Crumble]

21. Here's why the fuck we should care...

Because an assassination squad was sent to another country to murder that man. Not only did they abuse the sovereignty of Dubai, but they also forged passports from Australia, the UK, Germany and Ireland, countries that Israel claims to have a good relationship with...

As for a US list of terrorist organisations. Just because one organisation is listed in the US, that doesn't justify a member of that organisation being murdered by Israel in Dubai. Does that mean you think it's okay to murder anyone who's a member of Hamas, no matter where they are in the world?

[boppers]

26. Ever hear of due process?

The US Constitution?

Some of us actually believe in it, some even swear an oath to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kgnu_fan]

34. He may have killed too many already. Vietnam? Iraq? Imagine that...

[struggle4progress]

7. Apparently, we are doomed to be bombarded constantly by overheated and conflicting accounts of

what wikileaks leaks show or do not show

Beyond the necessary questions about whether a particular alleged cable released by wikileaks is an unforged and unadulterated cable - which for most of us in most cases will be unanswerable -- and beyond the additional skepticism required after the recent uproar in Pakistan over the "relevations" from supposed (but actually non-existent) wikileaks releases, we thus have the additional problem of dishonest media summaries of cables posted on the wikileaks site

Bolding below is mine

WikiLeaks: UAE considered keeping Hamas hit quiet
(AP) – 7 hours ago
... Another cable outlines a request the Emirates made on Feb. 24 for U.S. help in tracking down cardholder details and other information relating to credit cards linked to the suspected killers ... U.S. embassy officials passed on details of the request to the FBI and urged Washington to handle it urgently, according to the cable ... http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnuT2-atkwPf0QHhozzkarC87Zew?docId=7625cf66bb364e3980575a4e9481529e

WikiLeaks: UAE asked US for help in Mabhouh probe
By JPOST.COM STAFF
12/28/2010 09:46
... A cable from the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi from February 24, 2010 describes UAE officials requesting US help in the investigation of the assassination ... The credit card numbers are included in the cable along with a request to quickly provide the information for the UAE government who "urgently" wish to obtain details on the cards ... http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=201240

[jberryhill]

9. But it's a Wikitastic revelation of horrific crimes of something or other!

I'm still breathing into a paper bag to get my blood oxygen level down over this one.

[reorg]

19. there is no conflict: the cable clearly shows that a request was made and passed on

There is no conflict in these summaries.

The conflict is between what the cable clearly says and what the State Department said at the time:

"On Thursday, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters he wasn't aware of a request for assistance from the U.A.E. in the probe."
WSJ, Saturday, FEBRUARY 27, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940704575089482737791118.html

Cable dated 2020/02/24
SUBJECT: UAE REQUEST FOR USG ASSISTANCE IN INVESTIGATION OF KILLING OF MAHMOUD AL-MABHOUH
http://cablesearch.org/cable/view.php?id=10ABUDHABI103&hl=uae

[struggle4progress]

20. Headline says WikiLeaks shows "US declined to cooperate." Article says US did not accept the request

I have no idea whether the wikileaks release is authentic and has not been tampered with. If the release is authentic and has not been tampered with, I still have no idea whether the US honored the request or not

The fact that Crowley told reporters he wasn't aware of the request may mean nothing more than that he wasn't aware of the request: it is unclear to me how anyone can deduce a US refusal to cooperate from Crowley's asserted lack of awareness; the next sentence in your WSJ link is "Spokesmen for the U.S. State Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation both declined to comment Friday" -- which might mean there was an active investigation

[reorg]

25. I don't know why you keep misrepresenting the Haaretz article

U.A.E. alleges Mossad orchestrated the assassination of a top Hamas commander in January 2010, asked U.S. to provide credit card details linked to suspects; U.S. last year denied ever receiving such request.

The fact that the State Department spokesperson told reporters in a press conference that "he wasn't aware of any request from Dubai" - after the details of the murder, the pictures of the suspects, the fact that they were using American issued credit cards and at least two of the murderers had entered the US after the killing had been top news for about a week or so does indeed ring a little hollow, especially now that we know the exact wording and time of the request which was not only made per cable one day before the news conference but also three days earlier directly to Ms Clinton.

But I agree, if he said "he wasn't aware" it may mean nothing more than that he wasn't aware. Like when a mobster says in court "I don't remember" it could mean nothing more than that he has a very bad memory.

He is probably still not aware of anything, since no further comments have transpired since.

[struggle4progress]

28. Comparison of Crowley to a mobster seems unnecessary and over the top

After reading his essays, I understand that Assange regards government as a form of criminal conspiracy, so I suppose a similar view is unsurprising in his devotees: I myself find that unattractive as an ideological stance and useless for practical analytical purposes

The headline seems misleading to me and so does part of the article

[reorg]

29. The vow of secrecy does seem to be counterproductive

in an open and democratic society, you don't need to be a devotee of some or other activist to recognize this.

Why would the government deny that it follows procedure and investigates suspected criminal activities within its borders, such as identity theft and fraudulent acquisition of credit cards in order to carry out criminal activities elsewhere, or keep mum about it?

Even if the direct request by the U.A.E. had not been made, wouldn't such investigations be the normal and decent thing to do?

[Joanne98]

10. WikiLeaks: UAE considered keeping Hamas hit quiet

Source: AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Diplomatic cables recently released by WikiLeaks indicate authorities in the United Arab Emirates debated whether to keep quiet about the high-profile killing of a Hamas operative in Dubai in January.

The documents also show the UAE sought U.S. help in tracking down details of credit cards Dubai police believe were used by a foreign hit squad involved in the killing. The spy novel-like slaying, complete with faked passports and assassins in disguise, is widely believed to be the work of Israeli secret agents.

Dubai officials didn't discuss Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's death publicly until Jan. 29 — nine days after his body was discovered in a locked airport hotel room and only after Hamas itself announced the killing.

The delayed acknowledgment followed talks at the highest levels of the UAE government, where officials discussed whether "to say nothing at all, or to reveal more or less the full extent of the UAE's investigations," according to one of the cables.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnuT2-atkwPf0QHhozzkarC87Zew?docId=7625cf66bb364e3980575a4e9481529e

[Poll_Blind]

11. "Hamas hit" falsely makes it sound like Hamas did the assassination. Anyway, the...

...tape released as a result of the investigation is still equal parts chilling and fascinating.

Discussion from DU at the time, from an OP of mine entitled: Anyone else see the Dubai assassination video on YouTube? (NOT graphic)

Links to the YouTube videos in there. Incredible investigatory work. I can't imagine how many man-hours were poured into closely analyzing so many information sources to distill that video.

PB

[earcandle]

12. Murder is murder is a crime is murder is a crime is murder is murder... no matter how fascinating.

The rule of law demands a trial. 

[Pavulon]

13. No one to try, they are gone.

and hamas never conducted trials when it sent suicide bombers to blow themselves up on public transportation. Turnabout is fair play.

[Creative]

14. This is the type of stuff that could very well lead to Assange's death.

These guys don't play games.

[Tempest]

15. Now that Israel is involved, his days are numbered. n/t

[Creative]

16. If they believe he has more stuff like this, it could happen sooner, rather than later.

[sabrina 1]

17. This on top of the revelations from Poland where the U.S. government

refused to cooperate on their investigation into detention center torture.

The more we learn about this governement, the more ashamed the U.S. should be.

What exactly are our principles anymore? We trash democratically elected leaders while supporting brutal dictators. We trash some of the world's most respected Human Rights judges from the European Human Rights Court, while protecting torturers from prosecution?

When will the American people finally wake up and stop believing that we are represented by the 'good guys'. It's looking more and more like we are the real bad guys, supporting evil leaders, like Uribe in Colombia, Karamov in Uzbekistan and while giving lip-service to being opposed to torture, slamming those who try to stop it?

Shame on this country.

[Pavulon]

22. Yea fuck us. Fuck our money for aid in haiti,

fuck us for responding to the tsunami.. Has the US ever done anything right? If by wake up you mean subscribe to you fuck the US position no.. It will not happen.

[Violet_Crumble]

23. How does doing a few good things wipe out the bad the US does?

I'm sure we could find a few good things that Iran has done. But as with the US, so fucking what? Instead of trying to wipe out all the bad with a few good things, why not acknowledge the things the poster pointed out are true and the US is a major violator of human rights and right down there with some of the *evil regimes* that it loves to complain about? Why not be critical of the US for the horrific things it does?

[TheMadMonk]

24. You fucking betcha. The United States tops (or comes damed close)...

...the list of developed nations that repeatedly fails to deliver aid monies it has pledged.

It's pledged response to the Tsunami was pathetic. Less than Australia which has less than 1/10 the population of the US. And IIRC many many months after the disaster, a good deal of that plegde had yet to be distributed. A story that is oft repeated with respect to many other disasters around the World.

Far too much US "aid" comes in the form of private development funding. It comes long after the disaster. Almost none of it goes to the actual victims of the disaster. Fishing villages become tourist resorts and the former inhabitants end up in displaced persons camps or are otherwise scattered to the four winds.

And have you ever noticed how often American "Aid" comes dressed in kahki and/or cammo?

You really picked a piss poor example to demonstrate the American exceptionalism you so desperately cling to. America (or her interests) are establishing quite a reputation for "disaster capitalism" and for aiding those interests in benefitting from the disaster, all too often to the FURTHER detriment of the actual victims on the ground.


But go ahead and cite other examples: Prosperity in South and Central America; Environmental and Social responsibility in Africa; Peace in the Middle East. Peace ANYWHERE in the Middle East; Fair labour relations laws everywhere the US does business; Perhaps your world's best practice in industrial farming and animal husbandry; Life expectancy; Infant mortality; Long term cancer survival rates; National literacy level; Availiable leisure time.

On virtually any indicator you pick to examine, the United States consistently ranks in the worst 50th percentile. And yet in spending assosciated with many of those indicators, the USA ranks in the top 10th percentile.


This is not a "Fuck the US" position. This is one little bit of the rest of the world telling the US that it's sick of being told to Go fuck itself.

[Violet_Crumble]

30. Very well put. And let's not forget the damage the US did to Haiti pre-earthquake...

Well, I guess if anyone wants to slip into a warm and fuzzy daydream where the US rushes round the world selflessly helping the little people and being a beacon of specialness and hope in a dark world full of evil Chavez's and a threatening and nasty Cuba primed to overrun the US, then we would forget about that unfortunate chapter in history ;)

btw, awesome user name, even though every time I see it I get an ugly mental image of him smirking away. Yuck...

[TheMadMonk]

32. Well I hope it comes across a BIT more maniacle than a mere smirk.

After all my look alike was supposed to be at least partially responsible for the fall of an empire. And knobbing a queen always rates better than a smirk.

[sabrina 1]

27. The American people responded to Haiti and to the Tsunami

The American people do the right thing, they are generous and giving and decent and always can be depended on to reach out to those in need.

Too bad they are so badly represented by their government. A government that illegally invades other countries and lies to them to get their support. A government that tortures other human beings and that backs brutal dictators using the American people's money to buy them off.

You need to learn to distinguish between the people and the government.

We need government reform badly in this country. The world is blaming us for the actions of our government. They are doing things in our name without our approval, and in most cases, without the knowledge of the people.

Has the U.S. ever done anything right? Yes, it has. It did the right thing when it led the world after WW11 to sign on to the Geneva Conventions, respecting all human life, outlawing torture and abuse of other human beings, even enemies. It was a shining light that people around the world could look up to and derive hope from for a more peaceful and humane world.

What happened? We are now the most feared, not the most respected, country in the world. Because people like you won't take responsibility for what the government does and would rather turn a blind eye to the atrocities being perpetrated by a government that is so far removed from its own people it is simply stunning.

We have lost the moral high ground, lost credibility with the people of the world. And anyone who cares one bit about this country will not put on blinders and pretend none of this is true. Like a parent who loves a child but knows that child is on the wrong path, they will face facts, hard as it may be and then do all they can to correct the behavior that is destroying their child.

Your reaction to a statement of facts, reminds me of parents who think their children can do no wrong and refuse to listen to teachers, pastors, family members who try to help them see that the child needs help. And then one day when it is too late and their child is grown and in jail, wonder 'how did this happen'?

You wear blinders if you wish. You won't be the first or the last who refused to admit that something was very wrong with their government, until it was too late. This country needs new policies and clearly new politicians who are not under the control of Wall St. and the MIC. And anyone who loves it will be working hard to achieve that.

[defendandprotect]

18. kick

[Behind the Aegis]

31. Too bad the article didn't stick to facts and ventured into editorial.