US

Clinton Tour Showed Limits of WikiLeaks Damage

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Two things about the WikiLeaks effect on U.S. foreign relations were apparent on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s first overseas trip since the publication of a trove of secret State Department messages.

First: The disclosures aren’t crippling her brand of diplomacy. Second: The releases almost certainly will dog her for months and complicate her job, particularly with only a fraction of the quarter-million diplomatic messages made public so far.

As a sign of how seriously the U.S. takes the potential for serious diplomatic damage, Clinton said she had recommended that President Barack Obama call some leaders to smooth things over. She didn’t say which ones she suggested.

WikiLeaks questions intruded throughout her trip this past week to Central Asia and to the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, where she attended a security conference with dozens of Arab leaders and hundreds of officials from around the world. Those questions consumed time she otherwise would have spent talking with foreign leaders about other matters.

But there was scant evidence that the leak furor, however troublesome, amounted to more than an irritant to real diplomacy. Even in the midst of the publicity storm, she managed to close a deal with the former Soviet republic of Belarus on securing nuclear materials.

At each stop she bemoaned the document dump of more than 250,000 State Department reports, many classified secret, variously describing the deed as “illegal,” ”regrettable,” ”thoughtless“ and ”irresponsible.” She made clear her belief that it’s not just the U.S. government that is left vulnerable.

“I believe this attack, if left unpunished, will be just the first of many against anyone, anywhere,” she said in Bahrain.

Clinton realizes, she said Tuesday in Kazakhstan, that other countries will keep pressing for explanations about the substance of the sometimes-undiplomatic dispatches as well as Washington’s inability to stop them from leaking.

Her goal in the coming weeks, she told reporters flying back to Washington with her late Friday, is “to make sure, as (more) things become public, if they raise concerns, I will be there to reach out and talk to my counterparts or heads of state and government.”

She insisted the problem will blow over and diplomacy will return to normal, though with greater efforts at preserving secrecy. She said she came to that conclusion after meeting with dozens of leaders on her trip and calling many others.

“A lot of people were reassured,” she said, trying to put the best face on an embarrassing situation. “They got their questions answered and joke about it and realize we’re going to keep doing business, and nothing was going to slow down our outreach and our diplomacy.”

Most of the questions she fielded in public meetings with students and civic leaders had no relation to WikiLeaks.

In Astana, Kazakhstan, she expressed regret, in public and in private, for the leaks. Among the material were confidential reports from U.S. Embassy officials that cast high-level Kazakh government officials in a sometimes unflattering light. Still, there seemed to have been no lasting damage to U.S. relations with a country Washington is working closely with on nuclear issues.

Her Kazakh counterpart, Kanat Saudabayev, all but dismissed the matter, telling reporters it amounted to “the normal price” that unfortunately must be paid sometimes in the rough-and-tumble world of diplomacy. He said it would have no lasting effect on relations with the U.S.

The diplomatic path also seemed smooth on her stops in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

She had a harder time dealing with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. He was mentioned in U.S. cables as having profited from close relations with Moscow. One document suggested that the friendship between the Italian leader and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was so strong and Italy’s dependance on Russian energy so significant that Berlusconi has a “distorted” view of Moscow.

In a meeting with Clinton in Astana during a security conference, Berlusconi complained angrily about the leak, according to Clinton aides who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private meeting. He later appeared before reporters with Clinton, and she praised him and his government as valued and long-standing allies.

In Bahrain, Clinton saw a different, perhaps even encouraging, side to the fallout from the leaks.

Bahrain’s foreign minister, Sheik Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, spoke with unusual public candor about his government’s belief that the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is so troubling that it has to be stopped. “We can never accept and we can never live with” an Iran that has the capacity to turn enriched uranium into nuclear bombs, he told reporters with Clinton at his side.

He was responding to a question about a secret State Department cable that quoted Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as privately arguing “forcefully for taking action to terminate their (Iran’s) nuclear program, by whatever means necessary.”

That reflected a view held widely — but rarely voiced publicly — by leaders of the Gulf’s predominantly Sunni Arab rulers, who fear Shiite Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

It might be argued that by lifting the lid on the Gulf Arabs’ candid views on Iran, the leak of the diplomatic cables has emboldened Iran’s nervous neighbors and given more weight to Obama administration arguments on the need for a concerted international effort to isolating Iran and compelling it to change course.

Comments (29)

  • Slayer
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 6:47pm

    Hillary does not want this attack to go ‘unpunished’. But the Left think this is great and these are the leaders that Progressive Liberal voters gave us. While the Left go at each others’ throats, we all go down in flames.

    Report Post » Slayer  
  • New-American-Saviors
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 3:38pm

    First of al it’s Hilliary Clintons Damage -control statement. Also who would TRUST any Whitehouse
    Appointee. Yes I’m aware people felt bad for her so she rose to the rank of Semi-Prophet,and a place
    in History .

    She’s going to be remembered as a bitter,Partisan,Self Righteous Politician now instead of Poor Hilliary..Look what that Evil Bill Clinton did to you. And as she Proudly stated..”I’m a Progressive” when they all believed they were moving forward on the Socialist=Progressive Agenda.

    So if you want to believe Hillary Clinton on ANY issue go ahead,but reserve judgement on the damage this has done as she’s just making another “Statement”…And all the arrows are pointing to an INTENTIONAL Government controlled Leak at this point… Let’s see what tommorrow brings.

    Report Post »  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 2:59pm

    WALKWITHME66……I read your blog on Sarah after seeing your post above that said do not be pass judgement………………….your on your own.

    Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • wbalzley
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 2:11pm

    Hello Everyone
    Just thought I would add my two-sense to the conversation. Ever since this information was “leaked” I have had a strong feeling that something is up–a couple of things did not make sense, until today:

    (1). How (why) did a low-level private get access to classified information?
    (2) Why was that information (allowed to be) leaked?
    (3) Why make such a big media fuss over it instead of quietly “handling” the situation?

    I think that this article makes it all clear–the DOD “leaked” the information in order to prepare the way for a war with Iran. The goal was to reveal to the world that EVERYONE is concerned about the Iran nuclear question, and create a solid coalition against them. Dividing lines are being drawn–either you are with them (Iran) or you are with US(A).

    If the democrats ever wanted an excuse to hold on to power–how about a global war? China + N.Korea + Russia + Iran (aka Axis of Evil) vs USA + EU + India? (aka. New Allied Powers). Coupled with a global economic meltdown, It would be the perfect crisis! And you know how progressives LOVE a crisis…

    Report Post »  
  • mzmaj7
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 1:24pm

    What a misleading headline by the AP

    Report Post »  
  • felina g
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 1:17pm

    Puppet show. Keep your eye on the ball.

    Report Post »  
  • shorthanded12
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:05pm

    I would like to know how and whom LEAKED ALL AND I MEAN ALL documents? Some dayum PFC in the US Army surely was not responsible for this whole dayum mess. Wouldnt surprise me if this Administration is behind it one way shape or another. PBO enjoys undermining the United States, I say leak everydayum thing they have and be donne with it. Would be nice to see corrupt world leaders corrupt Spookey DUDE, corrupt world bankers take a complete fall and go directley to jail do not pass go PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:41pm

      Spooky Dude To Barry Hussein Obama To Rham Emmanuel to Colin Powell to Manning.

      Here take these disks and send them to Wiki. This will cause major chaos not only in Amerika but all around the world.

      Nah GS, BHO,RE,CP, M would never betray the country, would they?

      Sailor

      Report Post » M31Sailor  
  • sjohn70037
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:44am

    @ WALKWITHME1966 – Manning, the Army guy that actually stole the classified information is being defended pro bono by an atty of the OSI, Soro’s Open Society Foundation.

    So yes, this is just another underhanded, sneaky move by the piece-of-crap Soros.

    Some people are alive simply because it is illegal to kill them.

    Report Post » sjohn70037  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:23am

    Wiki distraction while Bilderberg destroys our monetary system to roll US into
    a world bank
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=MAR20090526&articleId=13738

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
    Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:15am

    Guess Dark master Soros “Spooky Dude” finally got the message out to the world by his leading apprentice. This whole series of leaks still smells like a pile of dead fish.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • geminisailor
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:20am

      I‘d like to see what other country’s secrets say about us! Bet our secrets would pale in comparison to their venom…

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:22am

      Snow:”This whole series of leaks still smells like a pile of dead fish.”

      Indeed, and it is not like we did not already know our Government was corrupt to its core.
      We can vote, either with our ballots, (and when that fails yet again) or, I wonder how long it will take us to vote with our feet?
      With all this hub-bub, is it no small miracle that Soros and many of his cadre haven’t been the recipients of a “stern talking too”, or something more to a point.

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:32am

      You have no proof that George Soros had anything to do with these leaks – you should tread very carefully when making statements such as this. http://maboulette.wordpress.com

      walkwithme1966  
    • TNT1
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:40am

      If the government didn‘t want things like this out they wouldn’t be and if they were there wouldn’t be this much attention by the gov.WATCH THE OTHER HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like the fcc and net neutrality

      Report Post »  
    • BetterDays
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 10:54am

      walkwithme1966
      “You have no proof that George Soros had anything to do with these leaks – you should tread very carefully when making statements such as this.”

      Just for the record, I don’t care one iota what Soros, or any socialist , progressive (Fabian), or Marxist happens to think anymore. I’m only giving back what your ilk have handed out, if you don’t like it lump it. And perhaps you should go try to intimidate someone who is susceptible to such tactics.
      I’m willing to forgive your “type”, but I will never trust you. That translates into the following: no positions within government at any level ( local, state, federal), no administrative governmental positions, and no advisory positions for anyone with ties to progressive, socialist, anti-colonial, Fabian socialism, Marxism, or communism. You can live here and garner the fruits of your hands labor, profit if you desire by your OWN hard work, but you shall have no role in the government of this Republic.

      Will the last socialist out of America, leave the incandescent lights ON!

      Report Post »  
    • Outland9
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:30am

      Agree Snow –
      This is nothing more than kabuki theater – from the gay PFC, Obama administration refusing to do anything to Assange (and the rape charges),
      “All the world’s a stage,
      And all the men and women merely players;
      They have their exits and their entrances;
      And one man in his time plays many parts,”

      Report Post » Outland9  
    • Deutscher
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:40am

      @TN I am curious. Where do you come down on net neutrality? It is a xim

      Report Post »  
    • Deutscher
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:44am

      @TN. I would be interested to know where you come down on net neutrality. It is a complicated issue.

      Report Post »  
    • Marcobob69
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 11:54am

      Re: WALKWITHME – spooky dood has got his fingers into EVERYTHING concerning this government and it’s power grab on the American people. I don’t believe WE are the ones that should be careful of what they say and do! The people are watching what goes down, they are finally starting to GET IT!

      Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:37pm

      @betterdays

      I believe that if you watched any of Glen Becks shows on the subject you would already Know the linkage between soros’ money and wikileaks dude….

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 12:39pm

      also @ betterdays… Walkwithadipwad is a soros plant… It trolls around threatening and whineing all the time…

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • Max jones
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 3:26pm

      Wikileaks may turn out to have a positive effect for the patriots cadre called shtf. I know I am getting radicalized, and I am a bit edgy, also. We are amazed every day that most of the people are not aware, of what we see as organized crime in our government. The blatant nonchalance, of activist judges, injecting “political correctness”, forcing socisl acceptance of public depravity on our culture, is pure evil. How long do can the illusion hold in the face of revelation? Who knows, it could bring evagelical opportunity, as more of our more liberal brothers ans sisters come to realize what a bunch of self serving, lying cowards our leaders have become and how they have enriched themselves at our expense.

      Report Post » Max jones  
    • betterthantv
      Posted on December 4, 2010 at 9:39pm

      Hey WALWITHME Here’s your Soros connection http://www.alien-earth.org/forum/message.php?message=74219&mpage=1&showdate=11/29/10 sorry to rain on your parade!

      Report Post » betterthantv  
    • jmparrish
      Posted on December 7, 2010 at 1:53am

      If i had money i would try to start networking some of you more military minded folks together so solutions to the problems we face could be discussed in person…

      Privacy is invaluble if anything is ever going to happen…from there solutions could be planned and executed for the greater good…

      Its too bad there are no real leaders here…i would step up but alas, it has to be someone with a larger ‘war’ chest, so to speak.

      Report Post »  

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