ITH Poker Forum

[CroMagnon]

I always find your comments interesting as you have more insight into the inner workings of the governement/military. My first imperssion after reading some is that this is a bigger deal for the media than an embarassment for the US. Everything I've read so far is ldo. Sunni and Shiites are gunning for each other and the US is in the middle. Putin is called Batman to Dmitry Medvedev's Robin and is still in charge in Russia. All of what I've read is not surprising and I think would already be known by the parties involved.

I can imagine the conversation between Obama and Putin.

Obama: I apologize for calling you Batman. It was an unfortunate and demeaning characterization that should have never occured.

Putin: But not far from accurate, eh? Don't worry. You should hear what we call you.

Cro

[Bullajami]

Wow, thanks for according me expert status.

I don't think too much about this particular event. Embassy Cables are an Embassy staff's official record message to the Secretary of State, but the SECSTATE probably only sees the ones his/her staff allow to filter through. The sheer volume of reporting would make it impossible for any SECSTATE to read all of them.

The Ambassador or Charge d'Affairs usually release the cables, and there does not appear to be any required format for the content. Thus they tend to be a reflection of the thoughts and writing styles of the author. Most of the cables I have read are related to a specific event: the Ambassador meets with the head of state in the country he is in and writes a cable to report the results of the meeting. If he/she so chooses the ambassador can also include personal observations (i.e. Prime Minister X drank scotch while we met, or President Y seemed agitated.)

Some cables will report on a certain situation, possibly at the request of SECSTATE or a staffer. The Ethiopian Ambassador might release a cable on the mood of the Ethiopian people following the elections or some such thing. They are not scientific, just casual human observation - making them of modest value IMO.

The media wants there to be more hype about these documents being released because some of the language in them is candid and unflattering. I really don't see much coming of it, though. Unless a document is discovered that shows that official US policy was one thing and covert US actions were another (i.e. Iran-Contra) then I think it blows over in a week.

$0.02

[nsidestrate]

Ironically, one of the biggest effects of the leak is that we get something we've always wanted -- the Arabs to admit that they really want us to stop Iran.

[toom]

the Arabs to admit that they really want us to stop Iran.

I've read that they've told Israel that they will have unhindered access to Saudi airspace if/when the time comes. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I read it - perhaps it was some neo-con wishful thinking.

[Bullajami]

the Arabs to admit that they really want us to stop Iran.

I've read that they've told Israel that they will have unhindered access to Saudi airspace if/when the time comes. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I read it - perhaps it was some neo-con wishful thinking.

I can't really see an Arab country formally telling Israel they would have free access to airspace. They would allow it, but they wouldn't say it out loud. Maybe they just hinted at it cryptically. The Israelis wouldn't really need permission anyways. The only air force in the region with a reasonable chance to successfully interdict a surprise Israeli air strike package is ours.

I saw yesterday that two Iranian nuclear scientists were attacked in their vehicles. Somebody ran up, strapped a bomb to their cars, ran off and detonated them. That level of sophistication generally requires state sponsorship. In fact, I'd say whoever did it was sending the message that it was state sponsored and there's plenty more where that came from. Any guesses who?

[nsidestrate]

I saw yesterday that two Iranian nuclear scientists were attacked in their vehicles. Somebody ran up, strapped a bomb to their cars, ran off and detonated them. That level of sophistication generally requires state sponsorship. In fact, I'd say whoever did it was sending the message that it was state sponsored and there's plenty more where that came from. Any guesses who?

Didn't I read that these are not the first scientists who died mysteriously there? Looks a lot like what happened to PLO leaders back in the day, does it not?

[darvon]

Deleted by TSA.

[darvon]

In fact, I'd say whoever did it was sending the message that it was state sponsored and there's plenty more where that came from. Any guesses who?

SMERSH?

Big Oil?

BCS?

[Bullajami]

I saw yesterday that two Iranian nuclear scientists were attacked in their vehicles. Somebody ran up, strapped a bomb to their cars, ran off and detonated them. That level of sophistication generally requires state sponsorship. In fact, I'd say whoever did it was sending the message that it was state sponsored and there's plenty more where that came from. Any guesses who?

Didn't I read that these are not the first scientists who died mysteriously there? Looks a lot like what happened to PLO leaders back in the day, does it not?

You may have read that since some other Iranian scientists were previously assassinated.

Israel is surely the logical conclusion here. They have a motive and have done similar things before. Just be aware that's the same reasoning that led to the logical conclusion that Iraq had a robust WMD development program in early 2003. Proof is a tenuous thing.

[janeg]

Deleted by TSA.

[janeg]

Looks like Assange is getting bored with US military and embassies, his next big dump will be on banks

[Bullajami]

Looks like Assange is getting bored with US military and embassies, his next big dump will be on banks

I think he probably just publishes whatever is made available to him at the time. He ought to watch out for himself. Embarrassing most of the world's governments is not always the recipe to an unfettered existence.

[nsidestrate]

Looks like Assange is getting bored with US military and embassies, his next big dump will be on banks

Presumably Bank Of America. Its stock took a beating yesterday following his comment.

[janeg]

Missed that, he didn't spell out which bank in the articles I read. Assange did say they had to shutdown their upload site (at least for a while) as they were being inundated with submissions from all over the world; if he's getting entire HD's then he might not be exaggerating.

[nsidestrate]

Looks like Assange is getting bored with US military and embassies, his next big dump will be on banks

I think he probably just publishes whatever is made available to him at the time. He ought to watch out for himself. Embarrassing most of the world's governments is not always the recipe to an unfettered existence.

On cue, it appears that an arrest warrant has been issued that would apply Europe-wide for him today.