US DIPLOMATS INSTRUCTED TO SPY
US diplomats in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America and at the US mission to the UN were asked to collect personal data on foreign officials, including biometrics, credit card and frequent flyer numbers.
IRAN HAS MISSILES CAPABLE OF REACHING WESTERN EUROPE
A cable dated February 24th, 2010, reported that Iran received 19 advanced BM-25 missiles from North Korea. The missiles have a range of up to 2,000 miles – 800 miles further than the Islamic Republic’s previously known reach.
RELUCTANT ALLIES
Pakistan resisted US attempts to remove highly enriched uranium from a research reactor. The Yemeni government preferred to say that it, not the US, was behind attacks on al-Qaeda militants. And Qatar hesitated to act against terrorists for fear of appearing to be aligned with the US.
CHINESE PERFIDY
Chinese firms supplied North Korea with precursors for chemical weapons and allowed North Korea to ship weapons to Tehran via Beijing. A Chinese informant said the politburo ordered hackers to break into Google’s computer system in 2009.
DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO RELOCATE GUANTÁNAMO DETAINEES
The US offered Slovenia a meeting with President Obama in exchange for taking a prisoner. The Pacific atoll of Kiribati was promised millions of dollars for accepting Chinese Muslims. Belgium was told it could “attain prominence in Europe” by receiving prisoners.
DEALS TO AVOID CHINESE OR RUSSIAN VETOES
The US arranged for Saudi oil to replace Iranian supplies to Beijing, in exchange for China’s support for tougher sanctions against Iran. Russia was swayed by plans for the missile shield in Europe.
