WikiLeaks cables claim first scalp ....

RLENT · Dec 4, 2010

..... as German minister's aide is sacked ....

Helmut Metzner admitted acting as a mole for the US embassy during negotiations to form a government

"The WikiLeaks revelations have claimed their first political scalp in Europe with the sacking of the German foreign minister's chief of staff, who acted as a mole for the Americans, keeping the US embassy in Berlin posted last year on the confidential negotiations to form Angela Merkel's new government.

Amid a mood of increasing anger in the German political class at the disparaging observations on the chancellor's cabinet from US officials, a liberal MP today demanded the withdrawal of the American ambassador in Berlin, Philip Murphy.

Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister and leader of the liberal Free Democrats, the junior partner in the Merkel coalition, is described unflatteringly in the US cables from Berlin as inexperienced, "exuberant" and "wild".

The cables relate how an FDP insider – "a fly on the wall, a young, up-and-coming party loyalist who was taking notes during the marathon talks" – delivered documents to the US embassy and kept US diplomats informed on the new government formation in October last year.

On Monday Westerwelle dismissed the reports as false and insisted there was no mole. But Helmut Metzner, his chief of staff, was sacked after admitting he was the source of the US intelligence.

"The staff member of the FDP's federal headquarters, who has admitted his contacts with the US embassy in Berlin, has been relieved of his duties as chief of staff for the FDP chairman," said a party statement.

Hans-Michael Goldmann, an FDP MP, told the Bildzeitung newspaper today that a German ambassador abroad behaving like Murphy would be promptly "called home". He added that Murphy had failed to apologise for the scandal."

Gee .... failed to apologize ?

Seriously, I can't believe it ..... I mean it's not like we aren't a humble, modest, unassuming, meek, and unpretentious people, right ?

Original article:

WikiLeaks cables claim first scalp as German minister's aide is sacked

Turtle · Dec 5, 2010

Here's an excellent level-headed and candid analysis of the impact of these leaks (BBC News - Analysis: Impact of Wikileaks' US cable publications). It handles both sides properly, I think. For example, a couple of snippets that illustrate both the problems with these kinds of leaks, and of the good they can do.

Here however a note of caution is in order. Despite the impression given by much of the media, just because US diplomats believe something and report their views in private does not necessarily make it true.

This is above all true of course where the officials concerned have strong personal views, which in turn reflect those of the establishment in general

Another objection is that for the need for confidentiality in diplomacy - so that diplomats can express candid views to their home governments without fearing that they will be spread all over the media. This is a much stronger argument, but in the end it is outweighed - in the West, not obviously in Russia - by the fact that we are after all supposed to be democracies, and our electorates have the democratic right to know more than they have done in recent years about the conduct of their government's foreign policy.

Far too much misinformation and outright lying has surrounded the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Overall, we in the West now live in an atmosphere of security hysteria and obsessive secrecy that would have filled our ancestors with horror.

If the threat of more Wikileaks releases makes this less likely in future, so much the better.

It's a pretty good read.

EnglishLady · Dec 5, 2010

US/UK Leaks
Y'know what I think is more of an outrage is not what the US wiki leaks said, but the "stance" of the UK Governments (both Labour & Conservative).

It was certainly an eye opener how the British Politician's view Britain's future. Without these leaks who would have known their intended course.
I think the next UK election will be very interesting indeed

Quote
"Here however a note of caution is in order. Despite the impression given by much of the media, just because US diplomats believe something and report their views in private does not necessarily make it true. "

Agreed somewhat ... but aren't these Ambassadors ets meant to report their feelings, misgivings to advice the "higher up's" so they know what they are working with?

Of course the British People will take solace in the fact that ....

Quote
"Britons can moreover comfort themselves with the fact that US disdain for us is as nothing to their contempt for another close US ally, namely Italy"

Shadowpanda · Dec 5, 2010

I dont quite get where this US 'disdain' for the UK comes from. Is that something within the Obama administration? I know its not something I feel personally and I dont feel it or see it as part of our culture.
Anyone remember who was sitting in the gallery when Bush addressed congress days after 9/11? it sure the hell wasnt the french (or italian) head of state. But there was Tony Blair and Ive never forgotten that.
As for Italy...who can take any country seriously with a man such a Berluscone as its PM? He's the only first world foreign head of state Ive ever seen that made Bush seem preferable.