Difference between revisions of "2010 United States diplomatic cables leak/Middle East"

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|wikipedia=https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak
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|description=Exposure by [[WikiLeaks]] of acquired [[diplomatic cable]]s, between the [[United States Department of State]] and its diplomatic missions around the world. Many previously unknown statements or opinions about a variety topics have been revealed. This page covers the Middle Eastern leaders, not their companies in particular.
 
|description=Exposure by [[WikiLeaks]] of acquired [[diplomatic cable]]s, between the [[United States Department of State]] and its diplomatic missions around the world. Many previously unknown statements or opinions about a variety topics have been revealed. This page covers the Middle Eastern leaders, not their companies in particular.
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|constitutes=Leak
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|constitutes=Wikileaks/Leaks, Leak
 
|start=2010
 
|start=2010
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|end=2011
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|end=2012
 
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The [[2010 United States diplomatic cables leak]] were said to comprehensive portrayal of the United States' perspective on various subjects related to the Middle East. These classified documents, known as diplomatic cables, exchanged between the United States [[Department of State]] and its diplomatic missions worldwide, have been made public by [[WikiLeaks]]. As a result, numerous previously undisclosed statements and opinions pertaining to a wide range of [[Middle Eastern]] matters have come to light. The following presents a selection of the information contained within these cables.
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The [[2010 United States diplomatic cables leak]] has provided a comprehensive portrayal of the United States' perspective on various subjects related to the Middle East. These classified documents, known as diplomatic cables, exchanged between the United States [[Department of State]] and its diplomatic missions worldwide, have been made public by [[WikiLeaks]]. As a result, numerous previously undisclosed statements and opinions pertaining to a wide range of [[Middle Eastern]] matters have come to light. The following presents a selection of the information contained within these cables.
 
  
 
==Algeria==
 
==Algeria==
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==Israel==
 
==Israel==
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==Israeli–Palestinian conflict==
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{{FA|Israel}}
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In a conversation with Congressman Ackerman in 2007, [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] said Israeli [[President (government title)|President]] [[Shimon Peres]] had admitted to him that the [[Oslo Accords|Oslo peace process]] Peres helped initiate was based on a mistaken premise. Netanyahu said Peres had told him the European and U.S. assistance to the [[Palestinian Authority|Palestinian Authority (PA)]] had established a "bloated bureaucracy, with PA employees looking to the international community to meet their payroll."<ref name="jpost2">{{cite web|author=Hoffman, Gil |url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=197272|title=Wikileaks: 'Peres Admitted Oslo Was Mistake' |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=29 November 2010 |accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref>
 
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In one document from April 2007, Netanyahu, who was opposition leader at the time, describes the [[Palestinian Authority President]] [[Mahmoud Abbas]] as a "nice man who means well" and urges Washington to focus on toppling Hamas through an "economic squeeze" saying it would be "easier to weaken Hamas than to strengthen Abbas."<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8167569/Wikileaks-Israel-satisfied-with-portrayal-of-Iran-position.html |title=Wikileaks: Israel Satisfied with Portrayal of Iran Position — Israel Has Expressed Satisfaction after the Mass Release of US Diplomatic Cables by Wikileaks, Saying It Proved the Jewish State's Position on Iran Was Consistent in Both Public and Private|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=29 November 2010 |accessdate=30 November 2010}}</ref>
 
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In 2008, U.S. diplomats in the Middle East were instructed to secretly collect personal information on Palestinian leaders, and to monitor closely Israeli military and [[telecommunication]] capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|author=Krieger, Hilary Leila|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=197285 |title=Leak: State Dept. Sought Info on Palestinian Leaders |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=30 November 2010 |accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref> One U.S. State Department directive orders U.S. diplomats to report on [[Israeli Military]] tactics, techniques, and procedures dealing with conventional and unconventional counterinsurgency operations.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2008/10/08STATE116392.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|08STATE116392}} |title=Reporting and Collection Needs: Palestinian Issues |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date= |accessdate=30 November 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
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In 2007, then [[Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs]] [[Tzipi Livni]] said she "doubted that a final status agreement could be reached with Abbas, and therefore the emphasis should be on reforming Fatah so that it could beat Hamas at the polls."<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2007/01/07TELAVIV64.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|07TELAVIV64}} | title=Scenesetter for the Secretary's January 13–15 visit to Israel |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]]|date=8 January 2007|accessdate=1 December 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2010}}</ref> Mossad chief Meir Dagan told U.S. diplomat [[Frances Fragos Townsend]] that "nothing will be achieved" in the [[Peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|peace process]] according to a secret cable the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv sent to the State Department. During a two-hour meeting, Dagan told Townsend that [[Palestinian Authority President]] [[Mahmoud Abbas]] would "likely move to [[Qatar]] and join his mysteriously wealthy son there" in the event Hamas took over the West Bank. In the same cable, Dagan was recorded accusing Saudi Foreign Minister [[Saud bin Faisal bin Abdul Aziz|Saud bin Faisal]] of playing a "very negative role" and characterized Qatar as "a real problem", accusing its leader [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani|Sheikh Hamid bin Khalifa al-Thani]] of "annoying everyone." He also suggested the U.S. should move its [[Al Udeid Air Base|bases]] out of Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|author= Katz, Yaakov|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=197119 |title=Wikileaks: Dagan Says Peace Process Will Achieve Nothing |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=28 November 2010 |accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref>
 
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According to a cable from the U.S. embassy in [[Tel Aviv]], Netanyahu supports the concept of land-swaps with the Palestinian Authority and does not want to govern the [[West Bank]] and Gaza but rather to stop attacks from being launched from there.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=197333 |title=Wikileaks: PM 'Doesn't Want To Govern the West Bank' |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=30 November 2010 |accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref>
 
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Netanyahu was described by Luis G. Moreno in one cable: 'Netanyahu warned that when Israel left [[Lebanon]] it created a first Iranian base, that when it left Gaza it created a second Iranian base, and if Israel "promised" a third retreat from the West Bank it would see the same results. There were three options, according to Netanyahu, including withdrawing to the 1967 borders (which would "get terror, not peace"), doing nothing (which he considered "just as bad"), or "rapidly building a pyramid from the ground up." Netanyahu suggested a rapid move to develop the West Bank economically, including "unclogging" bureaucratic "bottlenecks."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2009/02/09TELAVIV457.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09TELAVIV457}} |title=Codel Cardin Discusses Iran, Syria, Palestinians |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=26 February 2009 |accessdate=1 December 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
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In April 2007 [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] said that the [[Palestinian right of return]] would have to be abandoned in return for peace.<ref name="fr24_no_return">{{cite web |title=Netanyahu said no peace with 'right of return': WikiLeaks |publisher=[[France 24]]/[[Agence France Presse|AFP]] |date=2010-11-29 |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20101129-netanyahu-said-no-peace-with-right-return-wikileaks |accessdate=2011-01-04 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20110104192430/http://www.france24.com/en/20101129-netanyahu-said-no-peace-with-right-return-wikileaks |archivedate=2011-01-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Congressman]] [[Gary Ackerman]] summarised his discussion with Netanyahu on this point, saying, 'Netanyahu stated that a return to the [[Green Line (Israel)|1967 borders]] and dividing [[Jerusalem]] was not a solution since further withdrawals would only whet the appetite of radical Islam. Ackerman asked if the Palestinians would accept peace based on the 1967 lines. Netanyahu said he would not agree to such a withdrawal since the 1967 lines were indefensible, but he added that the "right of return" was the real acid test of Arab intentions.'<ref name="07TELAVIV1114">{{cite journal |author=[WikiLeaks Cables] |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/04/07TELAVIV1114.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|07TELAVIV1114}} |title=Ackerman's Meeting With Opposition Leader (Netanyahu) |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |accessdate=28 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207161635/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/04/07TELAVIV1114.html |archive-date=7 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
 
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===Gaza===
 
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In 2008, Israel told U.S. officials that Israel would keep [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]'s [[economy]] "on the brink of collapse", at a level just above that of a humanitarian crisis, according to U.S. diplomatic cables published by Norway's ''[[Aftenposten]]''. "As part of their overall embargo plan against Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed to (U.S. embassy economic officers) on multiple occasions that they intend to keep the Gazan economy on the brink of collapse without quite pushing it over the edge," a November 3, 2008 U.S. cable stated. Israel wanted to maintain Gaza "functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis," according to the cable.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WikiLeaks: Israel aimed to keep Gaza economy on brink of collapse|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5103917|access-date=2021-05-11|newspaper=Haaretz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel pushed Gaza to 'brink of collapse': WikiLeaks|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40926651|access-date=2021-05-11|website=NBC News|date=5 January 2011 |language=en}}</ref>
 
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This Israeli policy was consistent with a January 2008 speech by [[Prime Minister]] [[Ehud Olmert]] in which he said that "We will not harm the supply of food for children, medicine for those who need it and fuel for institutions that save lives. But there is no justification for demanding we allow residents of Gaza to live normal lives while shells and rockets are fired from their streets and courtyards (at southern Israel)."<ref>{{cite news |title=WikiLeaks: Israel aimed to keep Gaza economy on brink of collapse
 
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|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-israel-aimed-to-keep-gaza-economy-on-brink-of-collapse-1.335354 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=5 January 2011 |accessdate=21 January 2011}}</ref> According to a 2011 [[UNRWA]] report, Gaza unemployment rate is at 45% of the total working age population, and real wages have fallen more than 30% in 2010 since 2006, the year Israel imposed the embargo. "These are disturbing trends," said UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness, "and the refugees, who make up two-thirds of Gaza's 1.5 million population, were the worst hit." He said: "It is hard to understand the logic of a man-made policy which deliberately impoverishes so many and condemns hundreds of thousands of potentially productive people to a life of destitution."<ref>{{cite news | title=WikiLeaks: Gaza jobless rate at 45%, five years after full blockade imposed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/14/un-unrwa-report-blockade-gaza-unemployment |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 June 2011 |accessdate=4 September 2011}}</ref>
 
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[[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Israeli Defense Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]] consulted with [[Fatah]] of the [[Palestinian Authority]] and asked if Fatah could take over control of [[Gaza Strip]] after expected Israeli victory during [[Operation Cast Lead]], but met with refusal.<ref>[[Staff writer]] (29 November 2010). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3991155,00.html "WikiLeaks: Israel Wanted PA To Take Gaza"]. ''[[Ynetnews]]''. Retrieved 11 December 2010.</ref>
 
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In June 2007, after violent clashes between Fatah and Hamas broke out in Gaza, Director of Israel Military Intelligence [[Major General]] [[Amos Yadlin]] told U.S. Ambassador [[Richard Jones (U.S. diplomat)|Richard Jones]] that he would "be happy" if Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. Yadlin stated that a Hamas takeover would be a positive step, because Israel would then be able to declare Gaza as a hostile entity. Jones stated that if Fatah loses control of the Strip, Abbas would be urged to form a separate government in the West Bank. Yadlin replied that such developments would please Israel, because the IDF would not have to deal with Hamas as a stateless body. He also added that Israel would be able to cooperate with a Fatah-controlled West Bank.<ref>{{cite news |title=WikiLeaks: Yadlin wanted Hamas takeover |first=Attila |last=Somfalvi |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4002043,00.html |newspaper=[[Ynetnews]] |date=20 December 2010 |accessdate=21 January 2011}}</ref>  The relevant cable cautioned that this did not necessarily represent a consensus view within the Israeli government.<ref>{{Cite journal | url=https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07TELAVIV1733_a.html | title=Military Intelligence Director Yadlin Comments on Gaza, Syria and Lebanon}}</ref>
 
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A cable written in 2006 asserted that some [[multinational corporation|multinational]] companies — [[Coca-Cola]], [[Procter & Gamble]], [[Motorola]], [[Dell]], etc. — complained to U.S. diplomats of being forced to pay bribes to Israeli authorities charged of overseeing the [[Karni Crossing]] to have their products distributed into the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite news | title=WikiLeaks: Israel demanded bribes for goods entering Gaza
 
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|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-israel-demanded-bribes-for-goods-entering-gaza-1.335585 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=6 January 2011 |accessdate=7 April 2011}}</ref> The bribes allegedly occurred one year before Hamas won the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]]s and Israel imposed the economic embargo over Gaza.
 
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In February 2010 IDF Advocate-General Maj. Gen. [[Avichai Mandelblit]] revealed to James Cunningham, US Ambassador to Israel, that the Israeli army had used [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]] in its fight against Gaza militants. The two men met to give the Ambassador more information on the investigation of civilian deaths caused during [[Operation Cast Lead]] in Gaza in 2008–2009. According to the General Mandelblit, 16 civilians were killed in Gaza when a drone fired against militants in front of a mosque. Most of them were praying inside the mosque.<ref>{{cite news | title=WikiLeaks: IDF uses drones to assassinate Gaza militants
 
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|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-idf-uses-drones-to-assassinate-gaza-militants-1.382269 |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |date=2 September 2011 |accessdate=4 September 2011}}</ref>
 
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==Second Lebanon War==
 
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Netanyahu allegedly described [[Kadima]] as a "fake party" and referred to the [[Second Lebanon War]] as "stupid" and criticized the approach of [[Ehud Olmert]]'s policies towards the conflict.<ref name="jpost2"/><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2007/04/07TELAVIV1114.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|07TELAVIV1114}} |title=Codel Ackerman's Meeting with Opposition Leader |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=18 April 2007 |accessdate=30 November 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
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==Iran–Israel relations==
 
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In August 2007, Mossad chief Meir Dagan suggested to the U.S. to use Iranian student unions and ethnic minority groups to try to overthrow the government of [[Iran]].<ref name=ynet>[[Staff writer]] (28 November 2010). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3991099,00.html "WikiLeaks: Dagan Wanted To Topple Iranian Regime"]. ''[[Ynetnews]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2010.</ref> WikiLeaks documents also suggest that Dagan denied plans to attack a [[Syrian]] nuclear facility, just two months before [[Operation Orchard|an attack]] actually happened.<ref>Mandel, Roi (29 November 2010). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3991210,00.html "WikiLeaks: Arab World According to Mossad Chief"]. ''[[Ynetnews]]''. 11 December 2010.</ref>
 
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In June 2009 [[Ehud Barak]], Israel's defence minister, told U.S. congressman that Israel "saw 2010 as a pivotal year" in stopping [[Iran]] from acquiring nuclear weapons, inferring it would attack Iran if the weapons program was not stopped by then. This is the Israeli military's preferred option. Other revelations included that Israeli [[Mossad]] chief [[Meir Dagan]], senior military men and diplomats repeatedly explained to various U.S. visitors Israel's concerns. The United States did not want it to be known that it was supplying bunker-buster munitions that could be used for this purpose.<ref>{{cite web|author=Black, Ian|author-link=Ian Black (journalist)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/28/israel-primed-attack-nuclear-iran |title=Israel Primed To Attack a Nuclear Iran &mdash; US Embassy Cables Show Security Service Has Told Washington 'All Options' Are on Table if Iranian Bomb Looks Inevitable |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 November 2010|accessdate=11 December 2010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/209599 US embassy cables: Ehud Barak sets deadline to resolve Iran nuclear ambitions], Copy of 02 June 2009 Confidential Cable, [[The Guardian]].</ref>
 
  
 
==Jordan==
 
==Jordan==
 
===Iran-Jordan relations===
 
===Iran-Jordan relations===
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A diplomatic cable, dated 2 April 2009, quotes [[Zeid Rifai]], president of the [[Senate of Jordan|Jordanian Senate]], as saying, "Bomb Iran, or live with an Iranian bomb. Sanctions, carrots, incentives won't matter", in a conversation with [[David Hale (diplomat)|David Hale]], US Ambassador to [[Jordan]]. The cable further states "while Rifai judged a military strike would have 'catastrophic impact on the region,' he nonetheless thought preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons would pay enough dividends to make it worth the risks".<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Herb Keinon|Keinon, Herb]]|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=197610|title=Sarkozy: Not Negotiating with Hamas Hurts PA|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=2 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>
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A diplomatic cable, dated 2 April 2009, quotes [[Zeid Rifai]], president of the [[Senate of Jordan|Jordanian Senate]], as saying, "Bomb Iran, or live with an Iranian bomb. Sanctions, carrots, incentives won't matter", in a conversation with [[David Hale (diplomat)|David Hale]], US Ambassador to [[Jordan]]. The cable further said "while Rifai judged a military strike would have 'catastrophic impact on the region,' it was worth it"<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Herb Keinon|Keinon, Herb]]|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=197610|title=Sarkozy: Not Negotiating with Hamas Hurts PA|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=2 December 2010|access-date=14 December 2010}}</ref>
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==Kuwait==
 
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In cables dated between February 2009 and November 2010, issues regarding Guantanamo Bay, Shi'ite fundamentalism, US military involvement in the [[Persian Gulf]], and Kuwait-sponsored extremism were discussed.
 
  
 
===Guantanamo Bay detainees===
 
===Guantanamo Bay detainees===
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{{SMWQ
 
{{SMWQ
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|subjects=Guantanamo, passports, Afghanistan
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|subjects=Guantanamo, passports, Afghanistan, black sites
 
|text=You know better than I that we cannot deal with these people (the Guantanamo detainees). I can't detain them. If I take their passports, they will sue to get them back. I can talk to you into next week about building a rehabilitation center, but it won't happen. We are not Saudi Arabia; we cannot isolate these people in desert camps or somewhere on an island. We cannot compel them to stay. If they are rotten, they are rotten and the best thing to do is get rid of them. You picked them up in Afghanistan; you should drop them off in Afghanistan, in the middle of the war zone.
 
|text=You know better than I that we cannot deal with these people (the Guantanamo detainees). I can't detain them. If I take their passports, they will sue to get them back. I can talk to you into next week about building a rehabilitation center, but it won't happen. We are not Saudi Arabia; we cannot isolate these people in desert camps or somewhere on an island. We cannot compel them to stay. If they are rotten, they are rotten and the best thing to do is get rid of them. You picked them up in Afghanistan; you should drop them off in Afghanistan, in the middle of the war zone.
 
|source_URL=<ref>http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2009/02/09KUWAIT110.html</ref>
 
|source_URL=<ref>http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2009/02/09KUWAIT110.html</ref>
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===Iran===
 
===Iran===
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Kuwait allegedly believes Iran was supporting [[Shia]] extremists in the Persian Gulf and the [[Houthis|Shiite Houthis]] in [[Yemen]].<ref name="http">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/219103|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian| title=US embassy cables: Kuwait wary of Iranian influence|date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
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[[Kuwait]] believed Iran was supporting [[Shia]] extremists in the [[Persian Gulf]] and the [[Houthis|Shiite Houthis]] in [[Yemen]].<ref name="http">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/219103|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian| title=US embassy cables: Kuwait wary of Iranian influence|date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
  
 
===US militarily helping Persian Gulf States===
 
===US militarily helping Persian Gulf States===
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US military is assisting the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf states]] in increasing ballistic missile and counter-air defenses, as well as providing early warning systems against the eventuality of an Iranian missile launch.<ref name="http"/>
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[[US Army]]-elements were assisting the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf states]] in increasing ballistic missile and counter-air defenses, as well as providing early warning systems against the eventuality of an Iranian [[missile]] launch.<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref><ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref>
  
 
===Kuwait based charities financing extremism===
 
===Kuwait based charities financing extremism===
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[[Al Qaeda]] and other groups continue to exploit Kuwait, both as a source of funds and as a key transit point.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Hillary Clinton says Saudi Arabia's critical source of terrorist funding'|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
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[[Al Qaeda]] and other groups exploited Kuwait, both as a source of funds and as a key point for [[arms smuggling]] and [[money laundering]] according to some cables released by [[The Guardian]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073</ref>
  
 
==Lebanon==
 
==Lebanon==
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===Lebanese Civil War===
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{{FA|Lebanon}}
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In a 1976 diplomatic cable released by [[WikiLeaks]], a US diplomat stated "if I got nothing else from my meeting with [[Suleiman Frangieh|Frangie]], [[Chamoun]] and [[Amine Gemayel|Gemayel]], it is their clear, unequivocal and unmistakable belief that their principal hope for saving Christian necks is Syria. They sound like Assad is the latest incarnation of the [[Crusaders]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1976BEIRUT02937_b.html|title=Cable: 1976BEIRUT02937_b|access-date=10 November 2014}}</ref>
 
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===2006 Lebanon War===
 
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Two years after [[2006 Lebanon War|a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel]], then Lebanese defense minister [[Elias Murr]] apparently gave a message to US diplomats, intended to be passed on to Israeli authorities, stating that the Lebanese authorities would not retaliate if Israeli military attacked [[Hezbollah]] in Lebanon.
 
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Murr suggested that Israel would keep the support of Lebanese Christians if they do not attack Christian communities, and that they should not pass certain geographical boundaries to avoid legal retaliation from Hezbollah.<ref name="Ya_Liban_about_Al_Akhbar">{{cite news |title=Al Akhbar Newspaper publishes US cables not found on WikiLeaks |date=3 December 2010 |newspaper=[[Ya Libnan]] |url=http://www.yalibnan.com/2010/12/03/al-akhbar-newspaper-publishes-u-s-cables-not-found-on-wikileaks |access-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210192939/http://www.yalibnan.com/2010/12/03/al-akhbar-newspaper-publishes-u-s-cables-not-found-on-wikileaks/ |archive-date=10 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
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According to the cable, "Murr's opinion is that an Israeli action against Hizbollah would not be a war against Lebanon and that Syria and Iran did not ask Lebanon's permission to equip Hizballah with its rockets. As such, the LAF has been ordered to not get involved with any fighting{{nbsp}}..."<ref name="Ya_Liban_about_Al_Akhbar"/>
 
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<blockquote>Murr was especially concerned for members of the 1st and 8th Brigades in the Beka'a valley ... Murr is afraid that these two units could be dragged into the fight, the ultimate disaster that Murr hopes to avoid. As such, Murr is trying to ascertain how long an offensive would be required to clean out Hezbollah in the Beka'a. The LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) will move to pre-position food, money, and water with these units so they can stay on their bases when Israel comes for Hezbollah--discreetly.<ref name="08BEIRUT372">{{cite journal |last=Sison |first=Michele J. |title=Lebanon: MinDef worried that Hizballah war with Israel imminent |id={{WikiLeaks cable|08BEIRUT372}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]]/[[Al Akhbar (Lebanon)]] |date=11 March 2008 |url=http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/soc/wl/al-akhbar/08BEIRUT372.html |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5viX5fnAD?url=http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/soc/wl/al-akhbar/08BEIRUT372.html |archive-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref></blockquote>
 
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The message had been discussed with the president of Lebanon, [[Michel Suleiman]], who at the time was also the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces,<ref name="Ya_Liban_about_Al_Akhbar"/> with Murr stating that "he promised Suleiman the political cover for LAF inaction."<ref name="08BEIRUT372"/>
 
−
 
 
−
A cable from 17 July 2006, quotes [[Nabih Berri]] suggesting that he supported limited strikes against Hezbollah in a meeting with [[Jeffrey D. Feltman]]. The cable says that Berri described the military assault on Hezbollah by Israel as, "It's like honey. A little bit is good, but if you eat the whole jar you get sick."<ref name="06BEIRUT2407">{{cite web | url=https://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/07/06BEIRUT2407.html | title=BERRI SAYS CEASE-FIRE NECESSARY | access-date=9 August 2015|publisher=[[WikiLeaks]]}}</ref><ref name="berri_pleased_with_2006_israel_raids">{{cite web | url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/archive/wikileaks_berri_pleased_with_2006_israel_raids | title=WikiLeaks: Berri pleased with 2006 Israel raids | access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="narnet-wikileaks1">{{cite web | url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/14314 | title=WikiLeaks Says Berri Backed Attack on Hizbullah, Speaker Denies and Slams al-Mustaqbal | access-date=10 August 2015}}</ref> Berri's press office denounced reported cable leaks and described them as part of a "conspiracy".<ref name="narnet-wikileaks1"/>
 
−
 
 
−
===Nabih Berri and Amal===
 
−
Nabih Berri and the [[Amal movement]], the party he heads, were mentioned in several of the leaked cables. The cables say that Amal still has significant support among Shi'a in Lebanon, but that the movement is rife with corruption, a situation summarized in one cable as, "Amal is near universally derided as corrupt to the core, but it is also considered the only alternative for moderate, secular Shia."<ref name="04BEIRUT4941_a.">{{cite web | url=https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/04BEIRUT4941_a.html | title=LEBANON: WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMAL? | publisher=WikiLeaks | access-date=9 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="gloriacenter">{{cite web|url=http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/12/the-%E2%80%9Cindependent-shi%E2%80%99a%E2%80%9D-of-lebanon-what-wikileaks-tells-us-about-american-efforts-to-find-an-alternative-to-hizballah/#_edn50|title=THE "INDEPENDENT SHI'A" OF LEBANON: WHAT WIKILEAKS TELLS US ABOUT AMERICAN EFFORTS TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO HIZBALLAH|access-date=9 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717161407/http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/12/the-%e2%80%9cindependent-shi%e2%80%99a%e2%80%9d-of-lebanon-what-wikileaks-tells-us-about-american-efforts-to-find-an-alternative-to-hizballah/#_edn50|archive-date=17 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some of the specific allegations are that Berri was described by a relative of [[Musa al-Sadr]] as having provided social services in the south only through "wheeling, dealing, and stealing",<ref name="04BEIRUT4941_a."/> and that Berri receives US$400,000 a month from [[Iran]], using a fourth of the sum to shore up his support and pocketing the rest.<ref name="gloriacenter" /><ref name="06BEIRUT1090">{{cite web | url=https://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/06BEIRUT1090.html | title=AMAL-HIZBALLAH MARRIAGE WEAKENING AMAL | publisher=WikiLeaks | access-date=9 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="lorientlejour">{{cite web | url=http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/698918/Selon_WikiLeaks%2C_Berry_recoit__de_l%27Iran_400_000__dollars_par_mois%2C_le_mouvement_Amal_dement.html | title=Selon WikiLeaks, Berry reçoit de l'Iran 400 000 dollars par mois, le mouvement Amal dément | date=8 April 2011 | access-date=10 August 2015 | language=fr}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
The cables also describe how the number of Amal members is declining as its supporters increasingly turn to Hezbollah. Thousands of young people and government workers are thought to have left Amal in favor of Hezbollah.<ref name="gloriacenter" /> One cable also covers the question of who will be Berri's successor. Berri was allegedly grooming his son to be the leader of Amal, and expelled other popular candidates who could have posed problems for him.<ref name="gloriacenter" />
 
−
 
 
−
===Emirati and Saudi involvement===
 
−
The online Lebanese newspaper ''[[Naharnet]]'' focused on Saudi Arabian financial non-involvement and [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) military involvement in the [[2009 Lebanese general election]] and US officials' opinions of these.<ref name="naharnet_tanks_for_elections">{{cite news|title=WikiLeaks: In UAE Talks, Feltman Complained that Saudi Stopped Funding March 14 |date=12 December 2010 |newspaper=[[Naharnet]] |url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/C9B74E0FF50C292BC22577ED006FD211?OpenDocument |access-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307130930/http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/C9B74E0FF50C292BC22577ED006FD211?OpenDocument |archive-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to an April 2009 cable, Saudi Arabia did not financially support the [[March 14 Alliance]].<ref name="09STATE34688">{{cite journal |last=Rodham Clinton |first=Hillary |author-link=Hillary Clinton |title=Secretary Clinton's April 7, 2009 meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09STATE34688}} |journal=WikiLeaks |date=9 April 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |access-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203244/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> US Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] supported military involvement in the election, referring to "the need to support Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the run up to the elections with concrete displays of support".<ref name="09STATE34688"/> Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs [[Jeffrey Feltman]] stated that "the UAE had been particularly helpful already by funding the delivery of the first ten refurbished tanks for the LAF".<ref name="09STATE34688" />
 
−
 
 
−
===Saad Hariri's-Hezbollah animosity===
 
−
According to ''[[Al Akhbar (Lebanon)|Al Akhbar newspaper]]'', [[Saad Hariri]] has vowed to crush Hezbollah once the Lebanese Army is consolidated. Druze leader MP [[Walid Jumblat]], leader of the [[Progressive Socialist Party]], expressed his concerns during a meeting with the US Charge d'Affairs, Michele Sisone, over reports indicating that Prime Minister Saad Hariri's [[Future Movement]] was training a Sunni militia composed of 15,000 men in Beirut and more than this number in the northern city of Tripoli to fight Hezbollah. Jumblat said that the establishment of private security companies by Hariri in Beirut and Tripoli indicated that "some persons", like Major General [[Ashraf Rifi]], director general of [[Internal Security Forces|the Internal Security Forces (ISF)]], were giving Hariri bad advice. It was also revealed that [[Wissam al-Hassan]], the then head of the ISF's intelligence branch and very close to Hariri, said that Rifi was wrong in advising Hariri to establish a Sunni militia. Jumblat was also worried that Hariri's militia might cause heavy damage to the [[March 14 alliance|March 14 groups]], especially since [[Lebanese Forces|the Lebanese Forces]] led by [[Samir Geagea]] and [[Suleiman Frangieh]]'s  [[Marada Movement]] were training their supporters at the same time. Frangieh is an arch enemy of Geagea and a key member of the Syrian-backed and Hezbollah-led [[March 8 alliance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/85EB759EC7B4D3C5C225786900315F08?OpenDocument|title=Lebanon's leading news destination|newspaper=Naharnet|access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=9223&frid=23&cid=23&fromval=1&seccatid=113|title=WikiLeaks: Jumblatt Concerned of Hariri 'Militias'|newspaper=Almanar|access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/80DCD800530F9CA8C225785E002BA326?OpenDocument |title=Lebanon's leading news destination|newspaper=Naharnet|access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Lebanese Army's Incompetence===
 
−
[[Nimrod Barkan]], an Israeli official, during a meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman in Israel said that "The March 14 camp is brave, but it has been castrated." Feltman focused on the need to support the Lebanese army against Hezbollah, to which Barkan lashed out at Feltman stating that it would be useless "because the LAF would never directly confront Hezbollah and it could eventually fall under its control". Barkan called for a US-Saudi funded Sunni militia to be organized, Feltman considered that the idea was worth exploring.<ref name="www.salem-news.com">{{cite web|title=Lebanon wiki-cables tell of Treason, US Interference|url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april092011/lamb-wikileaks-wj.php|work=www.salem-news.com|publisher=Salem|access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Iranian takeover of Lebanon===
 
−
According to a cable published in the Israeli [[Haaretz]] quotes the Lebanese Telecommunications Minister, [[Marwan Hamadeh]] saying that 'Iran Telecom is taking over the country!' Hamadeh was referring to 'the complete fiber optic system that Hezbollah had established throughout Lebanon' which he claimed receives funding from Iran and signals 'a strategic victory for Iran, since it creates an important Iranian outpost in Lebanon, bypassing Syria.' 'The value for Hezbollah is the final step in creating a nation state. Hezbollah now has an army and weapons; a television station; an education system; hospitals; social services; a financial system; and a telecommunications system'.<ref>{{registration required}}http://justjournalism.com/media-analysis/more-wikileaks-middle-east-revelations/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527001259/http://justjournalism.com/media-analysis/more-wikileaks-middle-east-revelations/ |date=27 May 2016 }}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==='Hezbollah is like a tumour'===
 
−
According to the Arabic-language Al-Jumhuriya, Lebanon's prime minister-designate [[Najib Mikati]] describes Hezbollah, as a "tumour". He further said it was a "tumor that must be removed", Mikati, argued "Lebanon could not survive with a Hezbollah mini-state". Regardless of his personal views on the group, Mikati said he was expecting Hezbollah to bring Lebanon to a 'sad ending". He assessed that Hezbollah was just like a tumour that, whether benign or malignant, must be removed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah backed Lebanon PM-designate: Hezbollah is 'tumor'|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=45926|newspaper=Middle-East Online|access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Iranian and Syrian conspiracy===
 
−
Israeli [[Mossad]] Chief [[Meir Dagan]] urged caution with respect to Lebanon, noted that "it is necessary is finding the right way to support PM Siniora. He is a courageous man, Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are working hard against him". Dagan noted that "Hariri, Jumblat and others had their parents executed by the Syrians". This anti-Syrian sentiment has forged an alliance based on personal and national interests. Fouad Siniora has worked well with the situation, but Dagan suggested that the odds are against him.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/120696|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Israel grateful for US support|date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Libya==
 
==Libya==
 
===Uranium shipment===
 
===Uranium shipment===
−
A Libyan shipment of [[enriched uranium]] to Russia, brokered by the US, was nearly the cause of an environmental disaster in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[David Leigh (journalist)|Leigh, David]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-libya-enriched-uranium|title=Diplomatic Cables: Gaddafi Risked Nuclear Disaster after UN Slight&nbsp;— Highly Enriched and Unstable Uranium Left on Libyan Runway Because Leader Was Banned from Pitching Tent in New York|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010|location=London}}</ref>
+
A Libyan shipment of [[enriched uranium]] to Russia, brokered by the US, was nearly the cause of an environmental disaster in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] in 2009.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-libya-enriched-uranium</ref>
  
−
===Petro-Canada===
+
===Lockerbie===
−
Libya's state oil company called in a senior [[Petro-Canada]] official with a threat to nationalize his firm's operations in Libya if the Canadian government refused to apologize to the Libyan government. This was in response to Foreign Affairs Minister [[Lawrence Cannon]] earlier promising a tongue-lashing to Libya for the hero's welcome that it extended to a man convicted in the [[Pan Am Flight 103|1988 Lockerbie bombing]]. While the Libyan government did not follow through on its threat, it did issue an order on 30 September 2009 for Petro-Canada to cut production by 50 per cent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/01/31/libya_threatened_to_nationalize_petrocanada_wikileaks.html |title=Libya threatened to nationalize Petro-Canada: WikiLeaks |author=Jim Bronskill|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=31 January 2011 |access-date=1 October 2013}}</ref>
+
Libya's state [[oil]] company called in a senior [[Petro-Canada]] official with a threat to nationalize his firm's operations in Libya if the Canadian government refused to apologize to the Libyan government.  
 +
Foreign Affairs Minister [[Lawrence Cannon]] was the cause of this in [[deep lobbying]] against several conspirators. Libya ordered Petro-Canada to cut production by 50 per cent.<ref>https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/01/31/libya_threatened_to_nationalize_petrocanada_wikileaks.html}</ref>
  
 
==Morocco==
 
==Morocco==
−
 
 
===Corruption===
 
===Corruption===
−
A cable from the US embassy in [[Rabat]] to Washington, D.C. referred to allegations of deeply established corruption,<ref name= GuardianBlackMorocco6December/> claiming that corruption was prevalent at all levels of Moroccan society and [[Royal Moroccan Armed Forces|the military]] was also plagued by it, particularly at the highest levels. This may partly reflect a grand bargain struck by [[Hassan II of Morocco|King Hassan II]] following at least two nearly successful [[coup d'etat|coups]] in the 1970s, his offer to those who plotted against him was essentially "remain loyal, and you can profit".<ref name="08RABAT727">{{cite journal |last=Riley |first=Thomas T. |title=Morocco's military: adequate, modernizing, but facing big challenges |id={{WikiLeaks cable|08RABAT727}} |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=4 August 2008 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/08/08RABAT727.html |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203429/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/08/08RABAT727.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A former US ambassador to Morocco is quoted as "lamenting" about "the appalling greed of those close to King Mohammad VI".<ref name="09CASABLANCA226">{{cite journal |last=Millard |title=Palace coercion plagues Morocco's real estate sector |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09CASABLANCA226}} |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=11 December 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/12/09CASABLANCA226.html |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231202535/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/12/09CASABLANCA226.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Economist/Morocco">{{cite news|title=More dope, no highs&nbsp;— Blushes, frowns but no explosions in the latest WikiLeaks' disclosures|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 December 2010|url=http://www.economist.com/node/17674097|access-date=4 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113064003/http://www.economist.com/node/17674097|archive-date=13 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+
A cable from the US embassy in [[Rabat]] to Washington, D.C. referred to allegations of deeply established corruption, suggesting that corruption a standard part of Moroccan society. The Royal Family of Morocco were using the state ministries to "coerce and solicit bribes in the real estate sector" and even the military and the generals were being bribed. Blamed was King Hassan II and his claim after successful coups in the 1970s against him to "Stay loyal, and you can reap the benefits.", barely staying in power.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/06/wikileaks-cables-morocco-royals-corruption</ref>
−
 
 
−
====State institutions====
 
−
Leaked cables from the US consulate in [[Casablanca]] claim that the [[Royal Family of Morocco|Moroccan Royal Family]] use state institutions to "coerce and solicit bribes in the real estate sector".<ref name="09CASABLANCA226"/> It is reported that decisions for the [[ONA Group]], a Moroccan financial company, are made only by [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|Moroccan King Mohammed VI]] and two associates.<ref name=GuardianBlackMorocco6December>[[Ian Black (journalist)|Black, Ian]] (6 December 2010). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/06/wikileaks-cables-morocco-royals-corruption "WikiLeaks Cables Accuse Moroccan Royals of Corruption&nbsp;— Holding Company Run by King Mohammed VI Extracts Bribes and Concessions from Real Estate Developers, Businesses Complain"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 18 December 2010.</ref>
 
  
 
==Pakistan==
 
==Pakistan==
−
{{main|Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Pakistan)}}
+
{{FA|Pakistan}}
  
−
==Palestine==
+
===Palestine===
−
It was noted in one cable that [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] purportedly raised funds in [[Pakistan]] for the [[Palestinian people]] in response to Israel's attacks on [[Gaza, Palestine|Gaza]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/220186|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian| title=US embassy cables: Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists raise funds in Saudi Arabia|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
+
[[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] raised funds in [[Pakistan]] for the [[Palestinian people]] in response to Israel's attacks on [[Gaza, Palestine|Gaza]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/220186</ref>
  
 
==Qatar==
 
==Qatar==
−
 
 
===Al Jazeera===
 
===Al Jazeera===
−
[[Qatar]] is using the Arabic television news channel [[Al Jazeera]] as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other countries. It is "one of Qatar's most valuable political and diplomatic tools."<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Staff writer]]|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqrdtYIc4k1ZzxfdOvlgFkyYXCwQ?docId=CNG.46b645b43dfaa2dc5d313fea1f79b408.121|title=Qatar Uses Al-Jazeera as Bargaining Chip: WikiLeaks|newspaper=[[Agence France-Presse]] (via [[Google News]])|date=6 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>
+
[[Qatar]] was using the Arabic television news channel [[Al Jazeera]] as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other countries as it was named "one of Qatar's most valuable political and diplomatic tools."<ref>https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqrdtYIc4k1ZzxfdOvlgFkyYXCwQ?docId=CNG.46b645b43dfaa2dc5d313fea1f79b408.121</ref>
  
 
===Financial support for Islamic militants abroad===
 
===Financial support for Islamic militants abroad===
−
Hillary Clinton is alleged to have claimed that Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait continue to fund terror.<ref>{{cite news|author=Benhorin, Yitzhak|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3994950,00.html|title=Clinton: Saudi Arabia Funding Terror&nbsp;— Principal American Ally Described in Diplomatic Cables Revealed by WikiLeaks as Source of Terror Funding|newspaper=[[Ynetnews]]|date=6 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>
+
Hillary Clinton was said to have claimed that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, [[United Arab Emirates]], and Kuwait were funding terror.<ref>{{cite news|author=Benhorin, Yitzhak|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3994950,00.html|title=Clinton: Saudi Arabia Funding Terror&nbsp;— Principal American Ally Described in Diplomatic Cables Revealed by WikiLeaks as Source of Terror Funding|newspaper=[[Ynetnews]]|date=6 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>
  
 
===Diplomatic tendencies===
 
===Diplomatic tendencies===
−
[[Meir Dagan]], the chief of Israel's spy agency Mossad, said that Qatar, poses "a real problem" as [[Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani|Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani]] tries to please all parties in the Middle East, including Syria, Iran, and Hamas.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Staff writer]]|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/1126/World/Region/WikiLeaks-Mossad-chief-sees-Qatar-as-real-problem.aspx|title=WikiLeaks: Mossad Chief Sees Qatar as 'Real Problem'|newspaper=[[Agence France-Presse]] (via [[Al-Ahram Weekly]])|date=3 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>
+
[[Meir Dagan]], the chief of the [[Mossad]] said that [[Qatar]] was "a real problem" as [[Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani|Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani]] was uniting all in the Middle East, including [[Syria]], [[Iran]], and [[Hamas]].<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Staff writer]]|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/1126/World/Region/WikiLeaks-Mossad-chief-sees-Qatar-as-real-problem.aspx|title=WikiLeaks: Mossad Chief Sees Qatar as 'Real Problem'|newspaper=[[Agence France-Presse]] (via [[Al-Ahram Weekly]])|date=3 December 2010|access-date=12 December 2010}}</ref>
  
 
===Qatar-US relations===
 
===Qatar-US relations===
−
The Qatari Prime Minister [[Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani|Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani]], repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari relations "strategic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/214776|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Al Jazeera 'proves useful tool for Qatari political masters'|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
+
The Qatari Prime Minister [[Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani|Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani]], repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari friendship as just "strategic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/214776|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Al Jazeera 'proves useful tool for Qatari political masters'|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
  
 
==Saudi Arabia==
 
==Saudi Arabia==
−
==Financial support for terrorist groups==
+
{{FA|Saudi Arabia}}
−
Diplomats claim that [[Saudi Arabia]]n donors are the main funders of non-governmental armed groups like [[Al-Qaeda]], the [[Taliban]] and [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT). Militants seeking donations often come during the annual [[Hajj|hajj pilgrimage]], [[Umrah]] and [[Ramadan]]. In one occasion, LeT, which carried out the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]], used a Saudi-based front company to fund its activities. A main concern of the officials at the U.S. embassy in [[Riyadh]] is protecting Saudi oilfields from al-Qaida attacks.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news|title=Saudi King Urged U.S. To Attack Iran: WikiLeaks|first=Ross |last=Colvin |work=[[Reuters]] |date=28 November 2010|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AP06Z20101128 |accessdate=28 November 2010}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated7>{{Registration required|date=December 2010}} [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html?pagewanted=2Cables Obtained by WikiLeaks Shine Light Into Secret Diplomatic Channels - Page 2]; ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2010.</ref><ref>Walsh, Declan (5 December 2010). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/05/wikileaks-cables-saudi-terrorist-funding "WikiLeaks Cables Portray Saudi Arabia as a Cashpoint for Terrorists&nbsp;— Hillary Clinton Memo Highlights Gulf States' Failure To Block Funding for Groups Like al-Qaida, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 11 December 2010.</ref> To the dismay of Saudi authorities, right after the [[9/11 attacks]] nearly eighty percent of the mosques in Saudi Arabia voiced support for Bin Laden.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/244077 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudis praise American strike against al-Qaida in Yemen | date=4 December 2010}}</ref>
+
Saudi Arabia was said to support dozens of terror groups, aimed at messing with Israel, Iran, and the [[US]], killing other Arabs if needed, or their sources of income. Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref>
−
 
 
−
==Afghanistan-Saudi relations==
 
−
[[Hamid Karzai|Afghan President Karzai's]] visited Saudi Arabia on February 2–3, although richer in symbolism than significance, was a sign that lukewarm Saudi-Afghan relations may finally be warming up. Saudi Arabia announced an aid package of US$150 million for reconstruction in Afghanistan. However, the Saudis continue to have concerns about Afghan corruption and believe greater political unification of the [[Pashtuns|Pashtun community]] is essential. Their apparent wish to de-emphasize Karzai's visit, may also indicate the [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah's]] desire to keep some distance and maintain his credibility as a potential reconciliation mediator.<ref name="http">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/248602 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudi rulers' contempt for Pakistan president Zardari | date=1 December 2010}}</ref> Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Turki Al Faisal called Afghanistan a "puzzle", "where establishing trust with Afghan leaders, and recognizing the links between Pakistan and the Taliban, were keys to success. All financial aid to the Afghan government should be conditional, benchmarks must be set for the leadership, and aid must be withheld until these are met."<ref name="http"/>
 
−
 
 
−
==GCC-Saudi relations==
 
−
Saudi Arabia attempts to block co-operative projects between other [[Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf|GCC]] members. Furthermore, the Saudis are blocking a proposed causeway project between Qatar and the UAE and a proposed gas pipeline project between Qatar and Kuwait, because of Saudi objections, the Kuwaitis are now turning to the Iranians for gas. The Qatar-UAE causeway, when combined with the planned [[Qatar Bahrain Causeway]], would greatly facilitate travel between the three countries this would eliminate the need to transit through Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/07/bahrain-jordan | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: King of Bahrain discusses Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel/Palestine | date=7 April 2011}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Iran-Saudi relations==
 
−
{{See also|Iran&nbsp;– Saudi Arabia relations}}
 
−
 
 
−
===Cut the head of Iranian snake===
 
−
[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] repeatedly urged the U.S. to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.<ref name=autogenerated3>Mohammed, Arshad; Colvin, Ross (28 November 2010). [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AP06Z20101128 "Saudi King Urged U.S. To Attack Iran: WikiLeaks"]. ''[[Reuters]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2010.</ref> In one diplomatic cable, King Abdullah said it was necessary to "cut the head of the snake", in reference to Iran's nuclear program.<ref name=autogenerated4>[[Ian Black (journalist)|Black, Ian]]; Tisdall, Simon (28 November 2010). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/28/us-embassy-cables-saudis-iran "Saudi Arabia Urges US Attack on Iran To Stop Nuclear Programme&nbsp;— Embassy Cables Show Arab Allies Want Strike Against Tehran&nbsp;— Israel Prepared To Attack Alone To Avoid Its Own 9/11&nbsp;— Iranian Bomb Risks 'Middle East Proliferation, War or Both'"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 17 December 2010.</ref><ref name="Atlantic">{{cite web|author=Bonner, Raymond|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/11/by-whatever-means-necessary-arab-leaders-want-iran-stopped/67148/ |title='By Whatever Means Necessary': Arab Leaders Want Iran Stopped|work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=24 November 2010 |accessdate=4 December 2010|author-link=Raymond Bonner }}</ref>  The Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alisherzai had accused Russia of "fully supporting the Iranians' nuclear program", adding that all Shia communities in the region supported this program.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/231326 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=State Department cables: Saudis distrust Pakistan's Shia president Zardari | date=1 December 2010}}</ref>
 
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−
===No to Iranian interference in Arab affairs===
 
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A heated discussion took place between the [[Mottaki|Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki]] and [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Saudi King Abdullah]] noted Iran's interference in Arab affairs." When challenged by the King on Iranian meddling in [[Hamas|Hamas affairs]], Mottaki apparently protested that "these are Muslims." "No, Arabs" countered the King, "You as Persians have no business meddling in Arab matters." The King said the Iranians wanted to improve relations and that he responded by giving Mottaki an ultimatum. "I will give you one year" (to improve ties), "after that, it will be the end."<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/198178 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudi king's advice for Barack Obama | date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
 
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===Iranian supremacy rejected===
 
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[[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] asserted that "Iran is trying to set up [[Hezbollah|Hizballah-like]] organizations in African countries, the Iranians don't think they are doing anything wrong and don't recognize their mistakes."  Abdullah said "he would favor Rafsanjani in an Iranian election, were he to run." He described Iran not as "a neighbor one wants to see", but as "a neighbor one wants to avoid." He said the Iranians "launch missiles with the hope of putting fear in people and the world. A solution to the Arab/Israeli conflict would be a great achievement, the King said, but Iran would find other ways to cause trouble. Iran's goal is to cause problems", he continued, "There is no doubt something unstable about them." He described Iran as "adventurous in the negative sense", and declared "May God prevent us from falling victim to their evil." Mottaki had tendered an invitation to visit Iran, but Abdullah said he replied "All I want is for you to spare us your evil." Summarizing his history with Iran, Abdullah concluded: "We have had correct relations over the years, but the bottom line is that they cannot be trusted."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
 
−
 
 
−
===Iranian nuclear ambitions are evil===
 
−
During a meeting with Dutch and Russian ambassadors in [[Riyadh]], Prince Turki al Kabeer Saudi Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that "if [[Iran]] tried to produce nuclear weapons, other countries in the Gulf region would be compelled to do the same, or to permit the stationing of nuclear weapons in the Gulf to serve as a deterrent to the Iranians."<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/189229 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudi official warns Gulf states may go nuclear | date=28 November 2010}}</ref> Prince Turki also raised concerns that "the United States will negotiate a grand bargain with Iran without consulting Saudi Arabia is a concern we have heard often in recent weeks. Saudi Arabia is also concerned about the Russian-built reactor at Bushehr. A leakage from a plant at that location could bring an environmental catastrophe to Saudi Arabia, pointing out that it is located less than 300 kilometers away from Saudi shores, across open water." The Russian Ambassador Gibinvish, responded that Iran's wants to enrich uranium as it fears being attacked by Israel or the United States and also a sign of Iran's desire to establish its "supremacy" in the region. Prince Turki interjected: "And we cannot accept Iranian supremacy in the region. We are okay with nuclear electrical power and desalination, but not with enrichment." He said that the prospect of Iranian enrichment raises troubling questions about their motivations for doing so: "they do not need it!"<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
 
−
 
 
−
==Iraq-Saudi relations==
 
−
{{See also|Iraq&nbsp;– Saudi Arabia relations}}
 
−
 
 
−
===Iraqi government wary of Saudi Arabia===
 
−
The [[Federal government of Iraq|Iraqi government]] sees Saudi Arabia rather than [[Iran]] as the "biggest threat to the integrity and cohesion of their fledgling democratic state".<ref name="tisdall_saudi_threat_to_iraq">Tisdall, Simon (5 December 2010). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/05/wikileaks-cables-saudi-meddling-iraq WikiLeaks Cables: Saudi Arabia Rated a Bigger Threat to Iraqi Stability than Iran&nbsp;— Baghdad Says It Can Contain Influence of Shia Neighbour, Unlike Powerful Gulf State That Wants a Return to Sunni Dominance]; ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 11 December 2010.</ref> A September 2009 cable stated, "Iraqi contacts assess that the Saudi goal (and that of most other Sunni Arab states, to varying degrees) is to enhance Sunni influence, dilute Shia dominance and promote the formation of a weak and fractured Iraqi government."<ref name="09BAGHDAD2562">{{cite journal |last=Hill |first=Christopher R. |title=The Great Game, in Mesopotamia: Iraq and its neighbors, Part I |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09BAGHDAD2562}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=24 September 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/09/09BAGHDAD2562.html |accessdate=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231211150/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/09/09BAGHDAD2562.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
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−
===Saudi Arabia counters Iraqi Shiite influence===
 
−
Furthermore, Saudis had pressured Kuwait to backtrack on initial agreements with Iraq on issues dating to the Saddam-era. Saudi Arabia was also opposed to Qatar's and Bahrain's plan to seek better ties with Iraq. According to American diplomats, like the Iranians, the Saudis have not hesitated to use their money and political influence inside Iraq. Iraqi contacts assess that the Saudi goal and that of most other Sunni Arab states, to vary degrees is to enhance Sunni influence, diminish Shia dominance and promote the formation of a weak and fractured Iraqi government. The Saudis are using their money and media power through satellite channel like Al-Arabiyya, Al-Sharqiya and other various media they control or influence to support Sunni political aspirations, exert influence over Sunni tribal groups and counter the Shia-led [[Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq|Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI)]] and [[National Iraqi Alliance|Iraqi National Alliance (INA)]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/world/middleeast/06wikileaks-iraq.html?pagewanted=2 | work=The New York Times | first=Michael R. | last=Gordon | title=WikiLeaks Archive&nbsp;— Meddling Neighbors Torment Iraq | date=5 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/226620 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Struggle for Iraq | date=5 December 2010}}</ref> A recent Iraqi press article quoted anonymous Iraqi intelligence sources assessing that Saudi Arabia was leading a Gulf effort to destabilize the Maliki government and was financing "the current al Qaida offensive in Iraq."<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
 
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−
===US invasion gave Iraq to Iran===
 
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In a meeting with White House counterterrorism adviser [[John O. Brennan]], [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Saudi King Abdullah]] stated that "some say the U.S. invasion handed Iraq to Iran on a silver platter; this after we fought Saddam Hussein."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
 
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−
===No hope for Nour al Maliki===
 
−
[[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]], the [[Saud bin Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz|Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud bin Faisal]] and [[Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Prince Muqrin]] all stated that the Saudi government would not send an ambassador to Baghdad or open an embassy there in the near future, citing both security and political grounds in support of this position.<ref name="guardian_King_strike_Iran">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/150519 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudi king urges US strike on Iran | date=28 November 2010}}</ref> The [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Saudi monarch]] stated that he does not trust [[Nouri al Maliki]] because the Iraqi Prime Minister had "lied" to him in the past by promising to take certain actions and then failing to do so. The King did not say precisely what these allegedly broken promises might have been. He repeated his oft heard view that al-Maliki rules Iraq on behalf of his Shiite sect instead of all Iraqis. [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] has expressed his dismay over [[Nouri al Maliki]] by stating that he does not trust him and calling him an "Iranian agent."<ref name="guardian_King_strike_Iran" /> The King and Princes all suggested that the Saudi government might be willing to consider the provision of economic and humanitarian assistance to Iraq at initial stages it would be in the range $75–300 million.<ref name="guardian_King_strike_Iran" />
 
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−
==Israel-Saudi relations==
 
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−
===Israeli seeks to block US planes for Saudi Arabia===
 
−
During the Executive Session of the 40th Joint Political Military Group (JPMG), Israelis expressed their concerns to the Americans regarding the US sale of [[F-15|F-15 planes]] to [[Saudi Arabia]]. Furthermore, Israelis were perturbed that these planes could be stationed at the [[Tabuk Province|Tabuk airfield]] in the northwest corner of Saudi Arabia, close to the Israeli border.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/235359 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Israel seeks to block US planes for Saudi | date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Gulf States nuclear ambitions worry Israel===
 
−
[[Mossad|Israeli Mossad Chief]], [[Meir Dagan]] in a meeting with US under secretary said that "Gulf states and Saudi Arabia are concerned about the growing importance of Iran and its influence on them. They are taking precautions, trying to increase their own military defensive capabilities." Dagan warned that these countries would not be able to cope with the amount of weapons systems they intend to acquire: "They do not use the weapons effectively."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/120696 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Israel grateful for US support | date=28 November 2010}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Pakistan-Saudi relations==
 
−
{{See also|Pakistan&nbsp;– Saudi Arabia relations}}
 
−
 
 
−
===Saudis are players in Pakistan===
 
−
According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, the diplomatic cables reveal that "Saudis are long accustomed to having a significant role in [[Pakistan]]'s affairs."<ref name="time.com">{{cite magazine |first=Ishaan |last=Tharoor |title=WikiLeaks: The Saudis' Close but Strained Ties with Pakistan |date=6 December 2010 |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2035347,00.html |accessdate=13 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209140258/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2035347,00.html |archive-date=9 December 2010 |url-status=dead|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States [[Adel al-Jubeir]] boasted about the Saudi involvement in Pakistani affairs, stating, "We in Saudi Arabia are not observers in Pakistan, we are participants."<ref name="07RIYADH2320">{{cite journal |last=Gfoeller |first=Michael |title=Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US on Pakistani President Musharraf's visit to Saudi Arabia |id={{WikiLeaks cable|07RIYADH2320}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=20 November 2007 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/11/07RIYADH2320.html |accessdate=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203608/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/11/07RIYADH2320.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
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−
===Saudi contempt for Zardari===
 
−
The diplomatic cables also reveal Saudis have never liked the [[Shi'a]]-dominated [[Pakistan Peoples Party|Pakistan People Party]] and complain over [[President of Pakistan|Pakistan President]] [[Asif Ali Zardari]]'s "alleged corruption and incompetence" and suggest a Saudi bias against Zardari as a [[Shi'ite]], friendly with Iran.<ref name="time.com"/> According to a cable sent in October 2008, shortly after the [[2008 Pakistani presidential election]], the Pakistani Deputy Chief of Mission Sarfraz Khanzada said that Saudi financial assistance to Pakistan had been sharply reduced because of "a lack of Saudi confidence in the Zardari government."<ref name="08RIYADH1541">{{cite journal |last=Rundell |first=David |title=Pakistani relations with Saudis "strained" |id={{WikiLeaks cable|08RIYADH1541}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=16 October 2008 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/10/08RIYADH1541.html |accessdate=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203625/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/10/08RIYADH1541.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Khanzada stated his opinion that "the Saudi government appeared to be 'waiting for the Zardari government to fall.{{'"}}<ref name="08RIYADH1541" /> Saudi King Abdullah called President [[Asif Ali Zardari]] of Pakistan the greatest obstacle to the country's progress. "When the head is rotten", he said, "it affects the whole body".<ref name=paki>{{Cite news |author= Allbritton, Chris |title= Pakistan Defends Nuclear Stance Revealed by WikiLeaks|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53208520101129 |work= [[Reuters]] |date=29 November 2010 |accessdate=29 November 2010|author-link= Chris Allbritton}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated11">[[Staff writer]] (29 November 2010).[http://www.aaj.tv/2010/11/saudi-king-calls-zardari-greatest-obstacle-to-pak-progress-wikileaks Saudi King Calls Zardari Greatest Obstacle to Pak Progress: WikiLeaks]. ''[[AAJ TV]]''. Retrieved 3 December 2010.</ref>
 
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−
===Saudi Arabia's friend Nawaz Sharif===
 
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[[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Saudi King Abdullah]] would prefer to see Pakistan run by former PM [[Nawaz Sharif]], and were cutting back assistance to Pakistan to hasten this eventuality. Nawaz "practically lives" in Saudi Arabia, Nawaz had even been favored with reserved prayer space in the [[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi|Prophet's Mosque]] in [[Medina]]. Because Nawaz's daughter is married to a grandson of [[King Fahd]] and he has "become a member of the Saudi royal family. ~ Muhammad Amir("Amir Bhai")"<ref name="time.com"/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/173954 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Pakistani relations with Saudis 'strained' | date=1 December 2010}}</ref><ref>Imtiaz, Saba (8 December 2010). [http://tribune.com.pk/story/87373/external-actors-saudi-arabias-covert-role-in-pakistan "External Actors: Saudi Arabia's Covert Role in Pakistan"]. ''[[The Express Tribune]]''. Retrieved 13 December 2010.</ref> The Saudis were pushing Pakistan's civilian leaders to work together, but "compromise seemed alien to Pakistani politicians."
 
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−
===Pakistan Army is Saudi Arabia's "winning horse"===
 
−
In a May 2009 discussion with Holbrooke, Prince [[Mohammed bin Nayef]], Saudi Assistant Minister of the Interior, describes the Pakistani Chief of Army staff [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]] as a "decent man" and the [[Pakistani Army]] as Saudi Arabia's "winning horse" and its "best bet." Pakistani soldiers needed to be proud of their service, and not hide their identity as soldiers when they were off duty.<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan"/><ref name="09RIYADH670">{{cite journal |last=Rundell |first=David |title=Special advisor Holbrooke's meeting with Saudi Assistant Interior Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09RIYADH670}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=17 May 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/05/09RIYADH670.html |accessdate=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203716/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/05/09RIYADH670.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> for "stability".<ref name="time.com" /> ''Time'' reported that "despite the tensions with Zardari's government, military and intelligence links between Riyadh and [[Islamabad]] remain strong and close." ''Time'' interviewee, Arif Rafiq of an international consulting firm, stated that the cables "demonstrate that the Saudis have deep vested interests in Pakistan and an influence that is so significant that even the U.S. in some way relies on Saudi knowledge of the country."<ref name="time.com"/> [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]] has commented that "Pakistan must let people know that it is fighting a war to keep Pakistan united and its people safe. But if we want one hundred percent from Pakistan, he cautioned, we should make them feel more secure on their border with India." He also noted that King Abdullah "has concerns about the Pakistani government; the biggest problem is the army." He said that [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani|General Kayani]] (Army Chief of Staff) is a "good man."<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/>
 
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−
===Saudi Arabia and UAE fund extremism in Punjab province===
 
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From missionary and Islamic charity organizations and apparently with the direct support of governments in [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]], nearly US$100 million was making its way annually to clerics in [[madrasah|madrassas]] located in the southern part of Pakistan's largest [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab Province]]. A network of [[Deobandi]] and [[Wahhabi]] mosques and madrassahs are being strengthened through an influx of charity which originally reached organisations such as [[Jamaat-ud-Dawa]] and [[Al khidmat foundation]]. Some amount would also be given away to clerics in order to expand these sects. Moreover, children recruited would receive specific indoctrination including sectarian extremism, hatred for non-Muslims, anti-Western/anti-Pakistan government philosophy and are encouraged to wage ''Jihad''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/22/saudi-arabia-uae-financing-extremism-in-south-punjab.html|title = Saudi Arabia, UAE financing extremism in south Punjab|date = 21 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/12640/World/Region/Saudi-Arabia,-UAE-funded-jihadi-networks-in-Pakist.aspx|title = Saudi Arabia, UAE funded jihadi networks in Pakistan: WikiLeaks - Region - World}}</ref>
 
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===Pakistan and Saudi Arabia "unique relationship"===
 
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In a meeting with the [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Saudi Interior Minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]], former US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, [[Richard Holbrooke]] stressed that "U.S. desire for stronger cooperation and a common U.S./Saudi approach to Pakistan based on economic assistance, encouraging cooperation between Pakistani political factions, and transforming the Pakistani army to fight a counterinsurgency war."<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/207396 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudi royals believe army rule better for Pakistan | date=1 December 2010}}</ref> Prince Muhammad bin Nayef noted that the Saudis viewed the Pakistan army as the strongest element for stability in the country.<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan" /> The U.S and Saudi shared the opinion that they might be able to live with some degree of instability in Afghanistan, but not with an unstable Pakistan, because of Pakistan's nuclear arms, fragile politics, and relationship with India. It's clear that Saudi Arabia has a "unique" relationship with Pakistan,  He noted that over 800,000 Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was especially important to Nawaz Sharif, the most popular politician in Pakistan. These were reasons why what happened in Pakistan was of direct concern to both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan" /> Neither the U.S. nor Saudi Arabia could afford to let Pakistan fall apart.<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan" />
 
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−
===Turkey seen as answer to Saudi influence in Pakistan===
 
−
Former US Ambassador to Pakistan, [[Anne W. Patterson]] has expressed her opinion that "Turkey is seen as answer to Saudis' influence in Pakistan keeping that in view Turkey announced an aid package of USD 110 million for the Swat Valley [[Internally displaced persons|IDPs]] in Pakistan and was the only Muslim country to announce such a package. Turkey is well-positioned to be a much more positive role model for the Pakistanis and to neutralize somewhat the more negative influence on Pakistani politics and society exercised by Saudi Arabia."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/208470 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Turkey seen as answer to Saudis' influence in Pakistan | date=1 December 2010}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Lebanon-Saudi relations==
 
==Lebanon-Saudi relations==
−
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to [[David M. Satterfield]], the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight [[Hezbollah]] in [[Lebanon]]. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945514 | work=BBC News | title=Wikileaks: Saudis urge force to destroy Hezbollah | date=8 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-saudi-arab-invasion-lebanon |title=WikiLeaks Cables: Saudis Proposed Arab Force To Invade Lebanon&nbsp;— Foreign Minister Wanted US, Nato and UN Backing for Offensive To End Iranian-Backed Hezbollah's Siege of Government |accessdate=11 December 2010 |date=7 December 2010 |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=MacAskill, Ewen |location=London}}</ref> He accused the U.N. troops in Lebanon of "sitting doing nothing".<ref>[[Staff writer]] (8 December 2010). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3995992,00.html "Saudi Plan for Anti-Hezbollah Force Revealed&nbsp;— Leaked US Diplomatic Cable Says Saudi Arabia Proposed Setting Up Arab Force To Fight Shiite Militants in Lebanon with Help of US, UN and NATO, Fearing That a Hezbollah Victory Against Lebanese Gov't Would Eventually Lead to Iran's Takeover of Country"]. ''[[Ynetnews]]''. Retrieved 13 December 2010.</ref> Saudi Arabia's Information Minister and former ambassador to Lebanon, Abdul Aziz Khoja has called Iranian-backed Hezbollah ''evil''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aslanmedia.com/component/content/article/315-the-connection/2117-lebanon-in-limbo|title = Web Page Under Construction}}</ref>
+
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to [[David M. Satterfield]], the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight [[Hezbollah]] in [[Lebanon]]. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945514</ref>
  
 
==Saudi-Yemen relations==
 
==Saudi-Yemen relations==
−
Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]], described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts [[Al Qaida]] and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghans." He also said "Yemeni President Saleh is losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan"/><ref name="09RIYADH670" /> The insurgent Houthi tribes were "Takfiri and Shi'a 'like Hizballah South'. This was a threat forming around Saudi Arabia that required action now. The Saudis are funding projects in Yemeni tribal areas so the tribal leaders eject radicals."<ref name="09RIYADH670" />
+
Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]], described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts [[Al Qaida]] and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghan, while Yemeni President Saleh was losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Saudi_Arabia</ref>
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−
==Anti-Shiism as Saudi foreign policy==
 
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Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership, moreover [[Wahabism|Wahabbi Sunni Islam]] condones religious incitement against [[Shia]]. The Saudis have traditionally viewed Iraq as a Sunni-dominated bulwark against the spread of Shiism and Iranian political influence. In the aftermath of bombings in predominantly Shia areas across the country in 2009 that killed dozens, [[Nouri al Maliki|PM Maliki]] pointed publicly to one such statement, made by a Saudi imam in May, and stated, "We have observed that many governments have been suspiciously silent on the fatwa provoking the killing of Shiites."<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
 
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−
=="Shi'a triangle"==
 
−
An April 2009 cable claims that<ref name="time.com"/> [[United Arab Emirates]] Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed stated there is "Saudi concern of a [Shi'a] triangle in the region between Iran, the Maliki government in Iraq, and Pakistan under Zardari."<ref name="09STATE34688">{{cite journal |last=Rodham Clinton |first=Hillary |author-link=Hillary Clinton |title=Secretary Clinton's April 7, 2009 meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09STATE34688}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=9 April 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |accessdate=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203244/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Saudi support for a Palestinian state==
 
==Saudi support for a Palestinian state==
−
During [[Nicolas Sarkozy|French President Sarkozy's]] visit to Saudi Arabia, [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] agreed to support the Annapolis initiative to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abdullah told Sarkozy that the issue of Palestinian refugees must first be resolved and that the Israelis must cease all [[Israeli settlements in the West Bank|West Bank settlement]] construction. Abdullah maintained that [[East Jerusalem]] must be the capital of a [[Proposals for a Palestinian state|Palestinian state]] and that this section of Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/138803 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Nicolas Sarkozy offends the Saudis with his bad manners | date=30 November 2010}}</ref>
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During [[Nicolas Sarkozy|French President Sarkozy's]] visit to Saudi Arabia, [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] told Sarkozy Israelis must cease all [[Israeli settlements in the West Bank|West Bank settlement]] construction. Abdullah maintained that [[East Jerusalem]] must be the capital of a [[Proposals for a Palestinian state|Palestinian state]] and that East-Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/138803</ref>
  
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==Guantanamo Bay detainees==
+
==Censorship and propaganda==
−
[[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] proposed that [[Guantanamo detainees]] could be monitored by "implanting detainees with an electronic chip containing information about them and allowing their movements to be tracked with [[Bluetooth]]. This was done with horses and falcons."<ref name="09RIYADH447">{{cite journal |last=Fraker |title=Counterterrorism adviser Brennan's meeting with Saudi King Abdullah |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09RIYADH447}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=22 March 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH447.html |accessdate=5 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108010405/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/03/09RIYADH447.html |archive-date=8 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+
According to a May 2009 cable, the "Saudi regulatory system offers the al-Saud regime a means to manipulate the nation's media to promote its own agenda", and people crying for help were silenced ''ad-hoc''.
  
−
==Vice in Saudi Arabia==
+
All major media outlets in Saudi Arabia&nbsp;— newspapers, such as ''[[Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia)|Al-Watan]]'', ''[[Al-Hayat]]'', and ''[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]'', and free-to-view television networks, such as [[MBC Group]] and [[Rotana (television)|Rotana]]&nbsp;— are owned and controlled by the al-Saud regime, and accordingly [[self-censorship]] were controlled by the royal house of Saud and "motivated by profit and politics". The pro-western ideologies in these newspapers and American programming such as ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood films]] were seen to socially engineer a change in view of the US of the local youth.<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref>
−
 
 
−
===Nightlife===
 
−
In [[Jeddah]], despite the [[Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Saudi Arabia)|Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]] (CPVPV)&nbsp;— the religious police of Saudi Arabia, there is an ongoing underground nightlife, which includes "the full range of worldly temptations and vices" ''i.e.'', "alcohol, drugs, sex" and "working girls" ([[prostitutes]]). Even though these parties are in complete violation of CPVPV's laws, the [[mutaween]] of CPVPV are afraid to raid these parties, since these parties are hosted by the young princes of [[al-Saud]], the monarchic ruling house of Saudi Arabia.<ref name="09JEDDAH443">{{cite journal |last=Quinn |first=Martin R. |title=Underground party scene in Jeddah: Saudi youth frolic under "princely protection" |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09JEDDAH443}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=18 November 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/11/09JEDDAH443.html |accessdate=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231202327/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/11/09JEDDAH443.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Exclusive parties===
 
−
''[[The Economist]]'' summarized cable descriptions of "exclusive parties" in Saudi Arabia, stating, "An American official in Saudi Arabia describes un-Islamic mores at a clandestine [[Halloween]] party, hosted by a royal prince. Alcohol and prostitutes abounded at the event, attended by 150-plus Saudis. The host's status kept the fearsome religious police away. Such parties, the writer concluded, were increasingly typical in the kingdom."<ref name="WikiLeaks 2010">{{cite news |title=More dope, no highs&nbsp;— Blushes, frowns but no explosions in the latest WikiLeaks' disclosures |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=9 December 2010 |url=http://www.economist.com/node/17674097 |accessdate=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113064003/http://www.economist.com/node/17674097 |archive-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Censorship and propaganda==
 
−
According to a May 2009 cable, the "Saudi regulatory system offers the al-Saud regime a means to manipulate the nation's media to promote its own agenda", and criticism of the al-Saud regime is not tolerated at all.<ref name="09RIYADH651">{{cite journal |last=Rundell |first=David |title=Ideological and ownership trends in the Saudi media |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09RIYADH651}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=11 May 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/05/09RIYADH651.html |accessdate=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231202254/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/05/09RIYADH651.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> All major media outlets in Saudi Arabia&nbsp;— newspapers, such as ''[[Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia)|Al-Watan]]'', ''[[Al-Hayat]]'', and ''[[Asharq Al-Awsat]]'', and free-to-view television networks, such as [[MBC Group]] and [[Rotana (television)|Rotana]]&nbsp;— are owned and controlled by the al-Saud regime, and accordingly [[self-censorship]] is the order of the day&nbsp;— which is "motivated by profit and politics". The pro-western ideologies in these newspapers and American programming&nbsp;— such as ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood films]]&nbsp;— are seen as an antidote to extremist religious thoughts in the recruitment of terrorists, especially young teenagers, because of the demographic target groups of these programs.<ref name="09RIYADH651" />
 
  
 
==Oil Production==
 
==Oil Production==
−
Cables revealed that the US was warned by [[Sadad al Husseini]], a senior Saudi government oil executive, that the [[Oil reserves in Saudi Arabia|country's oil reserves]] are overstated by as much as 300&nbsp;billion barrels (40% of the claimed reserve). It is therefore not possible for Saudi Arabia to prevent the oil price from rising.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks |title=WikiLeaks cables: Saudi Arabia cannot pump enough oil to keep a lid on prices |date=9 February 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |author=John Vidal |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/02/201129171520279835.html |date=9 February 2011 |accessdate=9 February 2011 |title=Saudi oil reserves 'overstated' |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref>
+
[[Sadad al Husseini]], a senior Saudi government oil executive, warned oil levels in the country were overstated by as much as 300 billion barrels (or 40% of the claimed reserve). Saudi Arabia was said to have little to say about [[oil]] prices at all.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks</ref>
−
 
 
−
 
 
  
 
==Syria==
 
==Syria==
 
===Arms shipments to Hezbollah===
 
===Arms shipments to Hezbollah===
−
It was alleged that Syria increased its arms shipments to Hezbollah despite its claims that new shipments had ceased.<ref name="nyt_cables_2">{{Registration required|date=December 2010}} [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html?pagewanted=2 Cables Obtained by WikiLeaks Shine Light Into Secret Diplomatic Channels - Page 1]; ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved 28 November 2010.</ref>
+
Syria increased its arms shipments to Hezbollah despite its claims that new shipments had ceased.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html</ref>
  
 
===Tabloid incident===
 
===Tabloid incident===
−
A Syrian foreign minister was alleged to have fallen for a "tabloid-like story" regarding the death of [[Princess Diana]]. An American ambassador stated that this displayed the Syrian government's "'stark ignorance' of the outside world".<ref name=autogenerated6>{{cite news|author1=[[David Leigh (journalist)|Leigh, David]] |author2=Booth, Robert |title=US Embassy Cables Flush Out Royal Gossip&nbsp;— Nuggets of Diplomatic 'News' about Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew Found in Leaked Dispatches|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/29/us-embassy-cables-flush-royal-gossip|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 November 2010|access-date=18 December 2010|location=London}}</ref>
+
A Syrian foreign minister was scolded for pushing a [[conspiracy theory]] coming from a "tabloid-like story" regarding the death of [[Princess Diana]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks</ref>
  
 
===Assassination of Rafic Hariri===
 
===Assassination of Rafic Hariri===
−
[[Omar Suleiman (politician)|Omar Suleiman]], chief of the [[Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate]], stated that Syria "desperately" wants the halt of the [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon|investigation]] about the [[assassination of Rafic Hariri]], prime minister of Lebanon, on 14 February 2005.<ref>{{cite news|author=Copy of diplomatic cable dated 2 January 2008|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/136139 |title=US Embassy Cables: Egypt Spy Chief Promises Pressure on Hamas|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 November 2010|access-date=5 December 2010|location=London}}</ref> Syria is suspected of involvement in that assassination and in the [[Lebanon bombings and assassinations (2004–present)|2005 killings of anti-Syrian figures]] in neighbouring Lebanon.<ref>Pannell, Ian (14 December 2010). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4530136.stm "Syrians Defiant as Accusations Mount"]. [[BBC News]]. Retrieved 21 December 2010.</ref>
+
[[Omar Suleiman (politician)|Omar Suleiman]], chief of the [[Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate]], pushed for new searches for the [[assassination of Rafic Hariri]], prime minister of Lebanon, on 14 February 2005 as he suspected Syria of involvement in that assassination and in the [[Lebanon bombings and assassinations related to it. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4530136.stm</ref>
  
 
==Tunisia==
 
==Tunisia==
−
 
 
===Corruption===
 
===Corruption===
−
''[[The Economist]]'' referred to corruption in Tunisia, stating that "cables from Tunisia bluntly depict the regime of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali as a sclerotic [[police state]] increasingly tarnished by [[nepotism]]",<ref name="Economist/Morocco"/> referring to a 17 July 2009 cable. The cable stated, "Corruption in the inner circle is growing."<ref name="09TUNIS492">{{cite journal |last=Godec |first=Robert F. |title=Troubled Tunisia: What should we do? |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09TUNIS492}} |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=17 July 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/07/09TUNIS492.html |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231202302/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/07/09TUNIS492.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another from 23 June 2008 said "corruption in Tunisia is getting worse".<ref name="23JUN2009">[http://middleeast.about.com/od/tunisia/a/tunisia-corruption-wikileaks.htm Text of 23 June 2008 US Tunis Embassy Cable], By Pierre Tristam, MiddleEast.About.com</ref><ref name="08TUNIS679">{{cite journal |last=Godec |first=Robert F. |title=Corruption in Tunisia: what's yours is mine |id={{WikiLeaks cable|08TUNIS679}} |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=23 June 2008 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/06/08TUNIS679.html |access-date=18 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118174250/http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/06/08TUNIS679.html |archive-date=18 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' suggested the cables about corruption were one of the reasons behind the overthrow of president Ben Ali in the [[2010–2011 Tunisian protests]].<ref>David D. Kirkpatrick, David D. 14 January 2011 [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/world/africa/15tunis.html?_r=1&hp Tunisia Leader Flees and Prime Minister Claims Power] the New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2011</ref>
+
The regime of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali was a completely corrupt [[police state]] with huge amounts of [[nepotism]]", referring to a 17 July 2009 cable. The cable stated, "Corruption in the inner circle is growing. What should we do? It was said to have even been one of the causes of the fall of President Ben Ali in the [[Arab Spring]].<ref>http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/07/09TUNIS492.html</ref><ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Tunisia</ref>
  
 
===Political turmoil===
 
===Political turmoil===
−
According to [[Robert Godec]], the US Ambassador to Tunisia, [[Zine el Abidine Ben Ali]], President of Tunisia, and his government have "lost touch with the Tunisian people".<ref name="09TUNIS492" /><ref>[[Ian Black (journalist)|Black, Ian]] (7 December 2010). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-tunisia-first-lady "WikiLeaks Cables: Tunisia Blocks Site Reporting 'Hatred' of First Lady&nbsp;— US Embassy Warns Tunisian Anger over Corruption and Unemployment, as Well as 'Intense Dislike' for President's Wife, Threaten Country's Stability"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 13 December 2010.</ref> Furthermore, they "tolerate no advice of criticism whether domestic or international".<ref name="09TUNIS492"/> Godec also reports that "[even] average Tunisians are now keenly aware of [corruption in the inner circle], and the chorus of complaints is rising. Tunisians intensely dislike, even hate, First Lady [[Leïla Ben Ali|Leila Trabelsi]] and her family".<ref name="Economist/Morocco"/><ref name="09TUNIS492"/>
+
According to [[Robert Godec]], the US Ambassador to Tunisia, [[Zine el Abidine Ben Ali]], President of Tunisia, and his government have "lost touch with the Tunisian people" as the presidential family "tolerated no advice of criticism whether domestic or international". The Son-In-Law was meanwhile hosting dinners with US officials with pet tigers and chefs from all over the world.<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Tunisia</ref>
  
 
===Allegations of torture===
 
===Allegations of torture===
−
The Canadian Ambassador to Tunisia, Bruno Picard, is reported in released documents to have insisted that Tunisia tortures prisoners who are suspected of terrorism and that he had first-hand evidence. The claim was made at a meeting about returning Tunisian prisoners to their home country from the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]]. Tunisia has insisted it does not practice torture, however Picard claimed this was "bullshit". Following the claims the US Embassy held a meeting with the Canadian, British, French, German and Italian ambassadors to suggest they avoid accepting any Tunisian former prisoners from Guantanamo.<ref>[[Staff writer]] (2 December 2010). [https://ipolitics.ca/2010/12/02/tunisia-tortures-prisoners-canadian-envoy-says-in-leaked-diplomatic-cable/ "Tunisia Tortures Prisoners, Canadian Envoy Says in Leaked Diplomatic Cable"]. ''[[The Canadian Press]]'' (via [[ipolitics.ca]]). Retrieved 13 December 2010.</ref>
+
The Canadian Ambassador to Tunisia, Bruno Picard, argued [[Tunesia]] was torturing many prisoners from [[black sites]]. The claim was made at a meeting about returning Tunisian prisoners to their home country from the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]]. Tunisia has insisted it does not practice torture, however Picard claimed this was "bullshit". The US Embassy held a meeting with the [[Canadian]], [[British]], [[French]], [[German]] and [[Italian]] [[ambassadors]] to boycott them for transporting [[Guantanamo]] prisoners.<ref>ipolitics.ca/2010/12/02/tunisia-tortures-prisoners-canadian-envoy-says-in-leaked-diplomatic-cable/</ref>
−
 
 
−
===Sakher al-Materi===
 
−
''The Economist'' stated, 'In a chatty account of a lavish dinner at the beachside villa of the Tunisian president's son-in-law, the American ambassador marvel[ed] at desserts flown in from [[Saint-Tropez]], the multitude of servants, and a pet tiger that ate four chickens a day. The host may be interested to know that while bragging about his clout he struck his guest [the US ambassador] as "demanding, vain and difficult", with a limited knowledge of or interest in world affairs.'<ref name="Economist/Morocco"/>
 
  
 
==United Arab Emirates==
 
==United Arab Emirates==
 
==Iran-UAE relations==
 
==Iran-UAE relations==
 
===Iran nuclear program===
 
===Iran nuclear program===
−
{{See also|Iran – United Arab Emirates relations}}
+
{{See also|Iran|Nuclear weapons}}
−
[[Abu Dhabi]] Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Mohammed bin Zayed]] of the [[United Arab Emirates]], referred to as MBZ in the cables, urged the US "not to appease Iran" and described Iran's then-leader Ahmadinejad to [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]].<ref name="jpost1">{{cite web|author=Keinon, Herb|author-link=Herb Keinon|url=http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/OpinionAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=197286 |title=WikiLeaks: Burying Linkage between Peace Process, Iran |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=30 November 2010 |accessdate=30 November 2010}}</ref> He said that UAE is even more worried about Iranian intentions than is Israel and described a nuclear-armed Iran as "absolutely untenable". He believes that "all hell will break loose" if Iran attains the bomb, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey developing their own nuclear weapons capability and Iran "instigating Sunni-Shia conflict".<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/201549 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Saudis fear 'Shia triangle' of Iran, Iraq and Pakistan | date=3 December 2010}}</ref>
+
[[Abu Dhabi]] Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Mohammed bin Zayed]] of the [[United Arab Emirates]], described Iran's then-leader Ahmadinejad to [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]].<ref>http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/OpinionAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=197286</ref>  
  
−
In the cable leak, Mohammed bin Zayed was said to believe Israel will strike Iran if Iran develops nuclear missiles, causing Iran to launch missile attacks on the region including the UAE. He believes that an Israeli strike will not be successful in stopping Iran's nuclear program, but instead cause Iran to "unleash terror attacks worldwide".<ref name="09ABUDHABI736">{{cite journal|url=https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI736_a.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09ABUDHABI736}} |title=Crown Prince sounds alarm on Iran |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=20 July 2009 |accessdate=17 November 2018}}</ref> Mohammad bin Zayed also stated that Iran surrounding Israel is "driven by ideological conviction and will threaten Israel's existence should it go nuclear". At the same time, he described Iran's ambitions as reflecting a desire to "restore Persia's great-power status, rather than driven by religious convictions".<ref name="09ABUDHABI736" />
+
The [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] was again pointed to as problem to end all problems, and hinted "eighty percent of the Iranian public is amenable to persuasion". Moderate Palestinians would be needed and Israeli PM [[Netanyahu]] would be needed to be ignored.
 +
He said that UAE is scared to death to [[Israel]], said if Iran has a nuke "all hell will break loose" because, [[Egypt]], Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey would make their own as well to "instigating Sunni-Shia conflict".<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/201549</ref>
  
−
Mohammed bin Zayed suggested that the key to containing Iran revolves around progress on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. He argued that it will be essential to bring Arab public opinion in line with the leadership in any conflict with Iran and that roughly "eighty percent of the public is amenable to persuasion". The US has to bring a [[two state solution]] over the objections of the Netanyahu government to win over the people. He suggested working with moderate Palestinians that support the road map, and that "there is no time to waste".<ref name="09ABUDHABI736" />
+
In the cable leak, Mohammed bin Zayed was said Israel would strike Iran if Iran develops nuclear missiles, Iran to launch missile attacks on the region ''and other Arab countries''. Israeli was not able to strike Iran's nuclear program for good, but instead cause Iran to "unleash terror attacks worldwide". Iran was antisocially painted as good for [[Muslims]] and needing to have their own bomb.<ref>https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI736_a.html</ref>
  
−
==Lebanon-UAE relations==
+
==Lebanon & UAE relations==
 
===Lebanese Armed Forces===
 
===Lebanese Armed Forces===
−
[[Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed]] has said that UAE will purchase additional munitions for [[Lebanese Armed Forces]] helicopters, donated by the UAE to [[Lebanese Armed Forces|LAF]] last year, but is waiting for France to provide a price estimate.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/>
+
[[Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed]] said that the UAE funded [[Lebanese Armed Forces]] helicopters, but was stonewalled by France to provide a price estimate.<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak</ref>
−
 
 
−
==Pakistan-UAE relations==
 
−
{{See also|Pakistan – United Arab Emirates relations}}
 
  
 
===Pakistan's leaders===
 
===Pakistan's leaders===
−
In July 2009, [[Abu Dhabi]] Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Mohammed bin Zayed]], Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said Zardari was "dirty but not dangerous" and that former prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] was "dangerous but not dirty -- this is Pakistan".<ref name=paki>{{Cite news |author= Allbritton, Chris |author-link= Chris Allbritton |title= Pakistan Defends Nuclear Stance Revealed by WikiLeaks|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53208520101129 |work= [[Reuters]] |date=29 November 2010 |accessdate=29 November 2010}}</ref>
+
In July 2009, [[Abu Dhabi]] Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Mohammed bin Zayed]], Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, called PM Zardari "dirty but not dangerous" but prime minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] was "dangerous but not dirty -- this is Pakistan", not explaining what was better.<ref>http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53208520101129</ref>
−
 
 
−
===Support to Pakistan F-16 acquisition===
 
−
Mohammed bin Zayed supported the US's decision to sell [[F-16]] aircraft to Pakistan to strengthen the Musharraf government, saying the sale would not alter the balance of strength between India and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|url=https://www.ndtv.com/wikileak/wikileaks-india-pakistan-and-f-16s-440614|title=WikiLeaks: India, Pakistan and F-16s |work=NDTV.com |date=29 November 2010 |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>
 
  
 
===Baloch insurgency===
 
===Baloch insurgency===
−
[[Ahmad Shuja Pasha|DG ISI General Shuja Pasha]] commented that India, the UAE, and Russia were funding, arming, and training the Baloch rebels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/84902/wikileaks-india-russia-supporting-baloch-insurgency/|title = MPS told Russia, India and UAE involved in Baloch insurgency|date = 2 December 2010}}</ref>
+
[[Ahmad Shuja Pasha|DG ISI General Shuja Pasha]] commented that India, the UAE, and Russia were funding, arming, and training rebels from Baloc.<ref>http://tribune.com.pk/story/84902/wikileaks-india-russia-supporting-baloch-insurgency/</ref>
  
 
===Drone attacks in Pakistan===
 
===Drone attacks in Pakistan===
−
In a cable it was noted that UAE had allowed Americans to use an airstrip of UAE in Pakistan ([[Shamsi Airbase]]) in order to launch [[Drone strikes in Pakistan|drone strikes]] against militants. UAE was displeased over publicity of support to US military in Pakistan when it was revealed by [[Tommy Franks|General Tommy Franks]] in his book "American Soldier" due to the concerns that public knowledge of this confidential assistance may cause risks to the security of UAE or UAE officials in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/26/2005-uae-upset-over-publicity-of-support-to-us-military-in-pakistan.html|title = 2005: UAE upset over publicity of support to US military in Pakistan|date = 25 May 2011}}</ref>
+
The [[UAE]] allowed Americans to use an [[airport]] of the UAE in Pakistan ([[Shamsi Airbase]]) in order to launch [[Drone strikes in Pakistan|drone strikes]] against militants. UAE was angry when [[Tommy Franks|General Tommy Franks]] revealed this in his book "American Soldier" due to his fear UAE officials would be killed in Pakistan.<ref>http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/26/2005-uae-upset-over-publicity-of-support-to-us-military-in-pakistan.html</ref>
  
 
===Alleged Indian and Iranian support for insurgents in Pakistan===
 
===Alleged Indian and Iranian support for insurgents in Pakistan===
−
The UAE believed that [[India]] and [[Iran]] had aided [[Taliban]] and [[Pushtun]] separatists in Pakistan, and that Pashtuns in the UAE may be supporting the Taliban.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/uae-officials-believed-india-helped-pak-taliban-pashtuns-1622629.html |title=UAE Officials Believed India Helped Pak Taliban, Pashtuns |publisher=[[Press Trust of India]] (via [[daily.bhaskar.com]]) |date=6 December 2010|accessdate=13 December 2010}}</ref>
+
The UAE believed that [[India]] and [[Iran]] had aided [[Taliban]] and [[Pushtun]] separatists in Pakistan, and that Pashtuns in the UAE were supporting the Taliban.<ref>http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/uae-officials-believed-india-helped-pak-taliban-pashtuns-1622629.html</ref>
−
 
 
−
==UAE-UK relations==
 
−
===Prince Andrew===
 
−
Diplomats in the UAE revealed that Mohammed bin Zayed, [[Abdullah II of Jordan]] and the UK's [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York]], are "close friends" that "frequently hunt &mdash; in Morocco and Tanzania".<ref name=autogenerated6>{{cite news|author1=Leigh, David|author-link=David Leigh (journalist)|author2=Booth, Robert |title=US Embassy Cables Flush Out Royal Gossip &mdash; Nuggets of Diplomatic 'News' about Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew Found in Leaked Dispatches|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/29/us-embassy-cables-flush-royal-gossip|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 November 2010|accessdate=18 December 2010|location=London}}</ref>
 
  
−
==UAE-US relations==
 
 
===Predator drones===
 
===Predator drones===
−
UAE military officials have pressured the US to acquire [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|Predator B drones]] to be used in countering Iran citing that Iran is known to be developing its own drones. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed told US General [[John Abizaid]] "That's why we need it first...give me Predator B".<ref name="WiredN">{{cite news|last=Rawnsley|first=Adam|title=WikiLeaks Reveals Everybody's Christmas List: The World Wants Drones|url=https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/11/wikileaks-reveals-everybodys-christmas-list-the-world-wants-drones/|work =[[Wired News]]|date=29 November 2010|accessdate=3 December 2010}}</ref>
+
UAE military officials pressured the US to acquire [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|Predator B drones]] to be used in Iran warning of Iran developing much better drones.<ref>https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/11/wikileaks-reveals-everybodys-christmas-list-the-world-wants-drones/|work =[[Wired News]]|date=29 November 2010|accessdate=3 December 2010}}</ref>
  
 
===Mohammad bin Zayed===
 
===Mohammad bin Zayed===
−
In a cable leak, then US ambassador to the UAE [[Richard G. Olson]] described Mohammed bin Zayed as "the key decision maker on national security issues", and assessed that he had "authority in all matters except for final decisions on oil policy and major state expenditures." He described the UAE president [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] as "a distant and uncharismatic personage", in contrast with Mohammed bin Zayed, who Olson regarded as a "dynamic member of the generation succeeding the geriatric cases who have dominated the region for decades." He continues to state that Mohammed bin Zayed is "a reformer, actively seeking to improve the life of his citizens and the UAE's future through better education and health care, and through economic diversification, including investments in clean energy to prepare his citizenry for a post-hydrocarbon future". According to Olson, Mohammad bin Zayed has structured the [[UAE Armed Forces]] to be closely aligned with the US and continues to "support us where he thinks we have been right (Afghanistan), but also where he thinks we have pursued misguided policies (Iraq)."<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI862_a.html |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09ABUDHABI862}} | title=Scenesetter for the President's meeting with Shaykh Mohammed Bin Zayed |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=31 August 2009 |accessdate=17 November 2018}}</ref>
+
In a cable leak, then US ambassador to the UAE [[Richard G. Olson]] described Mohammed bin Zayed as "the key decision maker on national security issues" as he had "authority in all matters except for final decisions on oil policy and major state expenditures" with the UAE president [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] "a distant and un-charismatic personage", as only Zayed was a "dynamic member of the generation succeeding the geriatric cases who have dominated the region for decades." Unsurprisingly, Mohammad bin Zayed was said to have the [[UAE Armed Forces]] work with the US."<ref>https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI862_a.html</ref>
  
 
===Terror donors===
 
===Terror donors===
−
It was noted in a cable that UAE-based donors have provided financial support to a variety of terrorist groups, including al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, LeT, Hamas and other terrorist groups. Washington agencies noted that there is limited information on the identity of Taliban and LeT donors in the UAE.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Hillary Clinton says Saudi Arabia 'a critical source of terrorist funding' | date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
+
UAE-based donors have provided financial support to dozens of terrorist groups, but [[D.C]] couldn't provide names of donors, naming [[Hilary Clinton]] as a source of many of these claims.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073}</ref>
−
 
 
−
In another cable leak, discussion was noted regarding the UAE regulations requiring declarations for cash imports of over US$10,800, but no regulations existing covering cash exports. The US embassy was working closely with UAE government on the problem of cash couriers and the need to develop a plan to stop UAE based cash being transferred to fund terror groups.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/128665| location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: UAE urged to do more about terror cash couriers | date=5 November 2007}}</ref>
 
  
 +
UAE regulations requiring declarations for cash imports of over US$10,800, but no regulations existing covering cash exports were said to be awful. "Cash couriers" were said to needed to be banned.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/128665</ref>
  
 
==Yemen==
 
==Yemen==
 +
===Axis of Nukes and Terorrists===
 +
During a meeting with General David Petraeus, Yemen's then-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh said that if the United States were to conduct attacks on Al Qaeda bases in [[Yemen]], he would publicly claim that the Yemeni military had carried out the operations, concealing any [[US]] involvement. Saleh laughed at the officials when he said, "We'll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours." With the room erupting in laughter as Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs, Rashad Mohammed Alimi, also discussed misleading Yemen's Parliament regarding US participation in bombings while US officials looked baffled.
  
−
===Attacks on Al-Qaeda bases in Yemen===
+
Yemen's primary National Atomic Energy Commission was said to store iridium and cobalt-60, as reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency ([[IAEA]]). A cable reported that the sole security guard responsible for the facility had been removed from his post on December 30, 2009 and in a very strange story, the sole closed-circuit [[television]] security camera, which monitored the facility, had been out of order for six months without any repairs. No explanation was given and IAEA did not launch an investigation.
−
[[Ali Abdullah Saleh]], then president of Yemen, said if the US attacks [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|Al Qaida bases in Yemen]], he would tell the people of Yemen that it was the Yemeni military that has carried out the attacks rather than the US. He asserted that "we'll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours" in a meeting with General [[David Petraeus]], head of [[United States Central Command|US Central Command]]. [[Yemen]]'s deputy prime minister for defense and security affairs, Rashad Mohammed Alimi, also joked about lying to Yemen's Parliament on US involvement in bombings.<ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2010|reason=no wiki article on "the lift"; appears to be blog of unknown credentials. perhaps better source can be found}} {{cite web|author= Vermeulen, Mathias|url=http://legalift.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/yemen-deputy-prime-minister-admits-lying-to-parliament-on-us-involvment-of-bombings/ |title=Yemen Deputy Prime Minister Admits Lying to Parliament on US Involvement in Bombings|publisher=The Lift|date=29 November 2010 |access-date=13 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Booth, Robert |author2=[[Ian Black (journalist)|Black, Ian]]  |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-yemen-us-attack-al-qaida |title=WikiLeaks Cables: Yemen Offered US 'Open Door' To Attack al-Qaida on Its Soil&nbsp;— Dispatches Reveal President's Secret Deal To Let US Launch Missile Attacks on Aqap, But Claim It as Yemen's Own Work|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=3 December 2010|access-date=13 December 2010|location=London}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Security of radioactive stockpiles===
 
−
A January 2010 cable from [[Sana'a]] warned of concerns about the security of Yemen's main National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) storage facility,<ref name="guardian_yemen_unguarded">{{cite news |author=McVeigh, Karen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/19/wikileaks-cables-yemen-al-qaida |title=WikiLeaks Cables: Yemen Radioactive Stocks 'Were Easy al-Qaida Target'&nbsp;— Sana'a Official Told US Diplomats Solo Sentry Had Been Removed from Atomic Facility and CCTV System Was Broken |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920225542/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/19/wikileaks-cables-yemen-al-qaida |archive-date=20 September 2013 |url-status=dead |location=London |df=dmy }}</ref> which "normally contains [[IAEA]] Category I and II amounts of [[iridium]] and [[cobalt]]-60".<ref name="10SANAA19">{{cite journal |last=Seche |first=Stephen A. |title=XXXXXXXXXXXX sounds alarm over unprotected radioactive materials |id={{WikiLeaks cable|10SANAA19}} |publisher=WikiLeaks |date=9 January 2010 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/01/10SANAA19.html |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231195821/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/01/10SANAA19.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> The cable stated, "The lone security guard standing watch at Yemen's main radioactive materials storage facility was removed from his post on December 30, 2009" and "The only closed-circuit television security camera monitoring the facility broke six months ago and was never fixed".<ref name="10SANAA19"/>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 09:58, 25 October 2023

Concept.png 2010 United States diplomatic cables leak/Middle East 
(Wikileaks/Leaks,  Leak)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
AP101130113075.jpg
Start2010
Exposure by WikiLeaks of acquired diplomatic cables, between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions around the world. Many previously unknown statements or opinions about a variety topics have been revealed. This page covers the Middle Eastern leaders, not their companies in particular.

The 2010 United States diplomatic cables leak were said to comprehensive portrayal of the United States' perspective on various subjects related to the Middle East. These classified documents, known as diplomatic cables, exchanged between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions worldwide, have been made public by WikiLeaks. As a result, numerous previously undisclosed statements and opinions pertaining to a wide range of Middle Eastern matters have come to light. The following presents a selection of the information contained within these cables.

Algeria

On 17 December 2007, to the US Secretary of State, the US Ambassador to Algeria, Robert Ford, said how former government officials, opposition leaders, and journalists "paint a picture of an Algerian regime that is fragile in ways it has not been before, plagued by a lack of vision, unprecedented levels of corruption and rumblings of division within the military rank and file".[1]

Bahrain

In cables from 2005 to 2009, Bahrain was offended by threats to Arab solidarity, the assassination of Hariri, and voiced a desire to increase its television broadcasting capabilities.

Iran and Qatar conspiring to divide Arab interests

The Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain argued that Iran is conspiring with Qatar, Hezbollah and Hamas to divide Arab countries. Bahrain and other Arab governments were angry at media reports that an Iranian official described Bahrain as "Iran's fourteenth province".[2]

Hariri assassination blame falls on Syria

King Hamad said that Syria was behind the assassination of Rafic Hariri.[3]

Bahrain wants to develop its TV/Radio capability

King Hamad said that he instructed Bahrain's minister of information Abdul-Ghaffar to get help from the US to turn its television broadcasting into a world class operation.[3]

Egypt

In cables dated between 2008 and 2009, the "declining state of the Egyptian military and the unwillingness of the Defense Minister Tantawi to accede to US suggestions of Egyptian human rights reform in return for US economic aid". A billion dollars worth of military hardware sold to Egypt, to make peace with Israel as well as "priority access to the Suez canal and Egyptian airspace" was also discussed.[4]

Defense Minister Tantawi

Defense Minister Tantawi was seen as good guy for his cooperation with Israel and helping maintain a blockade against Hamas, as he was said to be an eighty-year-old veteran of five wars with Israel and thereby uninterested in another conflict. However, Tantawi was described as being extremely stubborn and uncooperative with his own generals, and the US officials argued he was to unintelligent to understand the post Camp David "military situation" which was argued by the cable to create dissent between him and his Soviet trained military officers and the American trained part of the new Egyptian Military.[5] caused low and mid-level NCOs ministries around Cairo to openly complain about Tantawi (as he was nicknamed "Mubarak's Poodle"), claiming that he is "running the military into the ground" and that he only has his job due to his unwavering loyalty to Mubarak. H

Further criticism pointed to his weird preference of spending U.S. aid on advanced tanks and fighter jets to fight large-scale wars with outdated tactics, being criticised by CIA leader David Petraeus.[6] He was pointed as refusing any simple political option, and only willing to use the army to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood.

Iraq War

Former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak said the US should find a "fair dictator" to rule Iraq and to "Strengthen the Iraqi armed forces, relax your hold, and then you will have a coup. Then we will have a dictator, but a fair one."[7]

Egypt-Iran relations

Mubarak said that Iranian leaders are "big, fat liars", and that Iran's backing of terrorism is "well-known".[8]

The cables also said Mubarak was happy to be able to sell congress members that Iraq was detoriating so much that he could say "I told you so". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 December 2010.</ref> According to one cable, Mubarak only was focused on Iran as the primary enemy for the times facing Egypt, and an Egyptian official said that Iran is running spooks with black ops inside Egypt to control the Egyptian government.[9]

Iran

Full article: Iran

Israel

Full article: Israel

Jordan

Iran-Jordan relations

A diplomatic cable, dated 2 April 2009, quotes Zeid Rifai, president of the Jordanian Senate, as saying, "Bomb Iran, or live with an Iranian bomb. Sanctions, carrots, incentives won't matter", in a conversation with David Hale, US Ambassador to Jordan. The cable further said "while Rifai judged a military strike would have 'catastrophic impact on the region,' it was worth it"[10]

Guantanamo Bay detainees

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, referring to Kuwaiti Guantanamo detainees, said:

“You know better than I that we cannot deal with these people (the Guantanamo detainees). I can't detain them. If I take their passports, they will sue to get them back. I can talk to you into next week about building a rehabilitation center, but it won't happen. We are not Saudi Arabia; we cannot isolate these people in desert camps or somewhere on an island. We cannot compel them to stay. If they are rotten, they are rotten and the best thing to do is get rid of them. You picked them up in Afghanistan; you should drop them off in Afghanistan, in the middle of the war zone.”
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,  Wikileaks (2010)  [12]

Iran

Kuwait believed Iran was supporting Shia extremists in the Persian Gulf and the Shiite Houthis in Yemen.[13]

US militarily helping Persian Gulf States

US Army-elements were assisting the Persian Gulf states in increasing ballistic missile and counter-air defenses, as well as providing early warning systems against the eventuality of an Iranian missile launch.[14][15]

Kuwait based charities financing extremism

Al Qaeda and other groups exploited Kuwait, both as a source of funds and as a key point for arms smuggling and money laundering according to some cables released by The Guardian.[16]

Lebanon

Full article: Lebanon

Libya

Uranium shipment

A Libyan shipment of enriched uranium to Russia, brokered by the US, was nearly the cause of an environmental disaster in Tripoli in 2009.[17]

Lockerbie

Libya's state oil company called in a senior Petro-Canada official with a threat to nationalize his firm's operations in Libya if the Canadian government refused to apologize to the Libyan government. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon was the cause of this in deep lobbying against several conspirators. Libya ordered Petro-Canada to cut production by 50 per cent.[18]

Morocco

Corruption

A cable from the US embassy in Rabat to Washington, D.C. referred to allegations of deeply established corruption, suggesting that corruption a standard part of Moroccan society. The Royal Family of Morocco were using the state ministries to "coerce and solicit bribes in the real estate sector" and even the military and the generals were being bribed. Blamed was King Hassan II and his claim after successful coups in the 1970s against him to "Stay loyal, and you can reap the benefits.", barely staying in power.[19]

Pakistan

Full article: Pakistan

Palestine

Lashkar-e-Taiba raised funds in Pakistan for the Palestinian people in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza.[20]

Qatar

Al Jazeera

Qatar was using the Arabic television news channel Al Jazeera as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other countries as it was named "one of Qatar's most valuable political and diplomatic tools."[21]

Financial support for Islamic militants abroad

Hillary Clinton was said to have claimed that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait were funding terror.[22]

Diplomatic tendencies

Meir Dagan, the chief of the Mossad said that Qatar was "a real problem" as Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was uniting all in the Middle East, including Syria, Iran, and Hamas.[23]

Qatar-US relations

The Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari friendship as just "strategic".[24]

Saudi Arabia

Full article: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia was said to support dozens of terror groups, aimed at messing with Israel, Iran, and the US, killing other Arabs if needed, or their sources of income. Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership[25]

Lebanon-Saudi relations

Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to David M. Satterfield, the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight Hezbollah in Lebanon. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.[26]

Saudi-Yemen relations

Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts Al Qaida and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghan, while Yemeni President Saleh was losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".[27]

Saudi support for a Palestinian state

During French President Sarkozy's visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah told Sarkozy Israelis must cease all West Bank settlement construction. Abdullah maintained that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a Palestinian state and that East-Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.[28]

Censorship and propaganda

According to a May 2009 cable, the "Saudi regulatory system offers the al-Saud regime a means to manipulate the nation's media to promote its own agenda", and people crying for help were silenced ad-hoc.

All major media outlets in Saudi Arabia — newspapers, such as Al-Watan, Al-Hayat, and Asharq Al-Awsat, and free-to-view television networks, such as MBC Group and Rotana — are owned and controlled by the al-Saud regime, and accordingly self-censorship were controlled by the royal house of Saud and "motivated by profit and politics". The pro-western ideologies in these newspapers and American programming such as Friends, Desperate Housewives, the Late Show with David Letterman and Hollywood films were seen to socially engineer a change in view of the US of the local youth.[29]

Oil Production

Sadad al Husseini, a senior Saudi government oil executive, warned oil levels in the country were overstated by as much as 300 billion barrels (or 40% of the claimed reserve). Saudi Arabia was said to have little to say about oil prices at all.[30]

Syria

Arms shipments to Hezbollah

Syria increased its arms shipments to Hezbollah despite its claims that new shipments had ceased.[31]

Tabloid incident

A Syrian foreign minister was scolded for pushing a conspiracy theory coming from a "tabloid-like story" regarding the death of Princess Diana.[32]

Assassination of Rafic Hariri

Omar Suleiman, chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, pushed for new searches for the assassination of Rafic Hariri, prime minister of Lebanon, on 14 February 2005 as he suspected Syria of involvement in that assassination and in the [[Lebanon bombings and assassinations related to it. [33]

Tunisia

Corruption

The regime of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali was a completely corrupt police state with huge amounts of nepotism", referring to a 17 July 2009 cable. The cable stated, "Corruption in the inner circle is growing. What should we do? It was said to have even been one of the causes of the fall of President Ben Ali in the Arab Spring.[34][35]

Political turmoil

According to Robert Godec, the US Ambassador to Tunisia, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, and his government have "lost touch with the Tunisian people" as the presidential family "tolerated no advice of criticism whether domestic or international". The Son-In-Law was meanwhile hosting dinners with US officials with pet tigers and chefs from all over the world.[36]

Allegations of torture

The Canadian Ambassador to Tunisia, Bruno Picard, argued Tunesia was torturing many prisoners from black sites. The claim was made at a meeting about returning Tunisian prisoners to their home country from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Tunisia has insisted it does not practice torture, however Picard claimed this was "bullshit". The US Embassy held a meeting with the Canadian, British, French, German and Italian ambassadors to boycott them for transporting Guantanamo prisoners.[37]

United Arab Emirates

Iran-UAE relations

Iran nuclear program

See also: Iran and Nuclear weapons

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, described Iran's then-leader Ahmadinejad to Hitler.[38]

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict was again pointed to as problem to end all problems, and hinted "eighty percent of the Iranian public is amenable to persuasion". Moderate Palestinians would be needed and Israeli PM Netanyahu would be needed to be ignored. He said that UAE is scared to death to Israel, said if Iran has a nuke "all hell will break loose" because, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey would make their own as well to "instigating Sunni-Shia conflict".[39]

In the cable leak, Mohammed bin Zayed was said Israel would strike Iran if Iran develops nuclear missiles, Iran to launch missile attacks on the region and other Arab countries. Israeli was not able to strike Iran's nuclear program for good, but instead cause Iran to "unleash terror attacks worldwide". Iran was antisocially painted as good for Muslims and needing to have their own bomb.[40]

Lebanon & UAE relations

Lebanese Armed Forces

Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed said that the UAE funded Lebanese Armed Forces helicopters, but was stonewalled by France to provide a price estimate.[41]

Pakistan's leaders

In July 2009, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, called PM Zardari "dirty but not dangerous" but prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "dangerous but not dirty -- this is Pakistan", not explaining what was better.[42]

Baloch insurgency

DG ISI General Shuja Pasha commented that India, the UAE, and Russia were funding, arming, and training rebels from Baloc.[43]

Drone attacks in Pakistan

The UAE allowed Americans to use an airport of the UAE in Pakistan (Shamsi Airbase) in order to launch drone strikes against militants. UAE was angry when General Tommy Franks revealed this in his book "American Soldier" due to his fear UAE officials would be killed in Pakistan.[44]

Alleged Indian and Iranian support for insurgents in Pakistan

The UAE believed that India and Iran had aided Taliban and Pushtun separatists in Pakistan, and that Pashtuns in the UAE were supporting the Taliban.[45]

Predator drones

UAE military officials pressured the US to acquire Predator B drones to be used in Iran warning of Iran developing much better drones.[46]

Mohammad bin Zayed

In a cable leak, then US ambassador to the UAE Richard G. Olson described Mohammed bin Zayed as "the key decision maker on national security issues" as he had "authority in all matters except for final decisions on oil policy and major state expenditures" with the UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan "a distant and un-charismatic personage", as only Zayed was a "dynamic member of the generation succeeding the geriatric cases who have dominated the region for decades." Unsurprisingly, Mohammad bin Zayed was said to have the UAE Armed Forces work with the US."[47]

Terror donors

UAE-based donors have provided financial support to dozens of terrorist groups, but D.C couldn't provide names of donors, naming Hilary Clinton as a source of many of these claims.[48]

UAE regulations requiring declarations for cash imports of over US$10,800, but no regulations existing covering cash exports were said to be awful. "Cash couriers" were said to needed to be banned.[49]

Yemen

Axis of Nukes and Terorrists

During a meeting with General David Petraeus, Yemen's then-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh said that if the United States were to conduct attacks on Al Qaeda bases in Yemen, he would publicly claim that the Yemeni military had carried out the operations, concealing any US involvement. Saleh laughed at the officials when he said, "We'll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours." With the room erupting in laughter as Yemen's Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs, Rashad Mohammed Alimi, also discussed misleading Yemen's Parliament regarding US participation in bombings while US officials looked baffled.

Yemen's primary National Atomic Energy Commission was said to store iridium and cobalt-60, as reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). A cable reported that the sole security guard responsible for the facility had been removed from his post on December 30, 2009 and in a very strange story, the sole closed-circuit television security camera, which monitored the facility, had been out of order for six months without any repairs. No explanation was given and IAEA did not launch an investigation.

References

  1. ↑ Ford, Robert (19 December 2007). "An ailing and fragile Algerian regime drifts into 2008". WikiLeaks. Template:WikiLeaks cable. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "Scribunto").
  2. ↑ "Cable Viewer". wikileaks. Wikileaks. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "Scribunto").
  3. ↑ a b {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  4. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  5. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  6. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  7. ↑ Staff writer (1 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Mubarak Advises US To Find 'Fair Dictator' to Iraq" Archived 4 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. Al Sumaria. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  8. ↑ https://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/29/world/la-fg-wikileaks-arabs-20101130
  9. ↑ Abstract (full article requires paid subscription). Bergman, Ronen (11 December 2010). "Iran, Israel and the Arab Contradiction — The WikiLeaks Cables Reveal that Egypt and Saudi Arabia Can't Decide if They Fear a Shiite Bomb More Than They Hate the Jewish State". The Wall Street Journal. 14 December 2010.
  10. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  11. ↑ http://wikileaks.dd19.de/cable/2009/02/09KUWAIT110.html
  12. ↑ [11]
  13. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  14. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)
  15. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)
  16. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073
  17. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-libya-enriched-uranium
  18. ↑ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/01/31/libya_threatened_to_nationalize_petrocanada_wikileaks.html}
  19. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/06/wikileaks-cables-morocco-royals-corruption
  20. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/220186
  21. ↑ https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqrdtYIc4k1ZzxfdOvlgFkyYXCwQ?docId=CNG.46b645b43dfaa2dc5d313fea1f79b408.121
  22. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  23. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  24. ↑ {{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
  25. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)
  26. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945514
  27. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Saudi_Arabia
  28. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/138803
  29. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)
  30. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks
  31. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/world/29cables.html
  32. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overstated-wikileaks
  33. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4530136.stm
  34. ↑ http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/07/09TUNIS492.html
  35. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Tunisia
  36. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Tunisia
  37. ↑ ipolitics.ca/2010/12/02/tunisia-tortures-prisoners-canadian-envoy-says-in-leaked-diplomatic-cable/
  38. ↑ http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/OpinionAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=197286
  39. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/201549
  40. ↑ https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI736_a.html
  41. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak
  42. ↑ http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53208520101129
  43. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/84902/wikileaks-india-russia-supporting-baloch-insurgency/
  44. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/26/2005-uae-upset-over-publicity-of-support-to-us-military-in-pakistan.html
  45. ↑ http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/uae-officials-believed-india-helped-pak-taliban-pashtuns-1622629.html
  46. ↑ https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/11/wikileaks-reveals-everybodys-christmas-list-the-world-wants-drones/%7Cwork =Wired News|date=29 November 2010|accessdate=3 December 2010}}
  47. ↑ https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI862_a.html
  48. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/242073}
  49. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/128665

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