2011-03-07 100 Revelations to Mark 100 Days Since Cablegate Began
*Special thanks to C-Cyte for recording my tweets and posting them online in a post for people to view if they do not normally use Twitter.
One hundred days ago, WikiLeaks began to release the US State Embassy cables. The release event, which continues, became known as Cablegate.
A future post will include a look at Cablegate and what its impact on journalism, international diplomacy, and human rights has been and what its role has been in world events like the uprisings and revolutions the world that are currently unfolding. For now, it is worth recounting what has actually been revealed because of the release.
One common denominator can be found in a majority of the cables: corruption. For all the talk of this country and that country being corrupt and that country being so corrupt it's gone, the plain fact is that between all the countries of the world, perhaps as a result of American coercion and/or threat of force, the world is one corrupt planet.
WikiLeaks has managed to partner with 50 media outlets over the course of the past months. 5,287 of 251,287 cables have been released so far. This not only means there will likely be a 200th, 300th and 400th Day of Cablegate but also means there will be many more revelations to come in the next year.
The following are 100 revelations, which this author tweeted this morning consecutively to mark the 100th Day. The one hundred tweeted revelations are dedicated to alleged whistleblower and hero Bradley Manning, who is currently being abused and humiliated in a military brig in Quantico, Virginia. He has been denied a right to a speedy trial. He has been issued charges but yet the military and government has taken its time with his case. And so, he has been detained and imprisoned since June and, most recently, the military started to force him to sleep naked at night.
If Manning released the material (and he is charged by the military with releasing the cables), it is he who has given us the privilege of reading about what the US government and foreign leaders have been up to for the past years. Manning, if he is the whistleblower, has helped usher in an era of openness and transparency that has shaken the world of diplomacy, international relations and journalism.
Here are the one hundred, which were tweeted this morning:
100. Murdered Ugandan gay rights activist was mocked by Uganda politicians at UN-backed debate http://bit.ly/fEiSh8 #cablegate
99. US' secret list of Allied countries it thinks should contribute more to Afghan war http://bit.ly/fLqsHI #cablegate
98. Panama president wanted US to wiretap his political rivals http://bit.ly/hS2M23 #cablegate http://bit.ly/fLqsHI
97. New Zealand did about-face on troops to Iraq, feared missing out on lucrative Oil for Food contracts http://bit.ly/i4rZES #cablegate
96. Obama pushed Spain to implement law to crack down on illegal Internet downloads http://bit.ly/iflhWB #cablegate
95. US pressured Spain to investigate Islamic centers http://bit.ly/fgzLZz #cablegate
94. Libya bought infected blood then accused Bulgarian nurses of infecting AIDS patients http://bit.ly/fVbB7i #cablegate
93. US thinks Sweden will play critical role in cyber warfare in future http://bit.ly/f4vhFm #cablegate
92. Sec. of Defense Robert Gates thinks Russia is oligarchy run by security services http://bit.ly/fEyqaJ #cablegate
91. US lobbied Russia to amend draft law so it would not disadvantage Visa, Mastercard http://bit.ly/gAtUbf #cablegate
90. Russian Orthdox Church pervades all aspects of Russian society and politics http://bit.ly/ighsI7 #cablegate
89. Saudi Arabia asked US to halt lawsuit against state company being sued for oil price fixing http://reut.rs/f6cCxq #cablegate
88. Libya placed billions of dollars in US banks http://reut.rs/i3rR1Y #cablegate
87. Revelation on Ivory Coast election that divided the country and has created civil war http://bit.ly/g0aE3M #cablegate
86. Deposed president of Madagascar "recruited mercenaries' http://bit.ly/hzpDNC #cablegate
85. Egypt military had a 'Plan B' in the event of regime change http://bit.ly/dU4iWc #cablegate
84. Chamber of Commerce head in Nicaragua used his position to undermine President Daniel Ortega http://bit.ly/gNSHoU #cablegate
83. Rice wanted US diplomats to gather intelligence on Israeli communications tech & Palestinian leaders http://reut.rs/fSV4R1 #cablegate
82. Japan launching first post-war foreign spy agency http://yhoo.it/fJHISP #cablegate
81. China used US debt to pressure US on Taiwan http://bit.ly/gorONi #cablegate
80. Uribe authorized clandestine ops against leftist FARC in Venezuela http://bit.ly/dSWI6L #cablegate
79. US, UK & France considered delaying Internat'l Criminal Court investigation into Bashir http://bit.ly/gIjJbJ #cablegate
78. Karzai warned it would be near impossible to hold credible elections in Afghanistan http://bit.ly/e0PVwp #cablegate
77. A Baghdad zoo with booze-swilling bears and laser-enhanced fish http://bit.ly/ePGi3G #cablegate
76. Mubarak warned Cheney not to go to war in Iraq http://bit.ly/gwb4LI #cablegate
75. How Coca-Cola got embroiled in a feud between Gaddafi sons http://reut.rs/gsenWH #cablegate
74. Fighters in Eastern Libya willing to 'die hard' in Iraq War, fueled by Gaddafi-US link http://wlcentral.org/node/1369 #cablegate
73. Paraguayan president is a US agent http://bit.ly/fwz3It #cablegate h/t @MatrixWikiLeak
72. US concerned with Berlusconi-Putin tie http://reut.rs/id24oy #cablegate
71. Berlusconi entertains escorts at 'Bunga Bunga' parties http://bit.ly/hpHelx #cablegate
70. Russia a mafia state http://bit.ly/dJBhNP #cablegate
69. Impossible to prevent cartels from financing candidates in Mexico elections http://bit.ly/gAbjrl #cablegate
68. US cheered on Operation Cast Lead in Gaza http://bit.ly/dFwv1C #cablegate
67. Obama tried to persuade Saudi Arabia to sign Copenhagen accord http://bit.ly/ewaPHt #cablegate
66. Canadian officials were afraid Obama was too gung-ho on renewable energy http://bit.ly/dMQAr7 #cablegate
65. U.S. and China conspired to block reform on climate change at Copenhagen talks http://bit.ly/eu6l9o #cablegate
64. Dalai Lama thinks climate change should take priority over politics in Tibet http://bit.ly/fTuINF #cablegate
63. Late president of Gabon Omar Bongo embezzled funds, channeled $ to French political parties http://bit.ly/he008Y #cablegate
62. US played a role in a coup in Honduras that was illegal http://lat.ms/gnFJV5 #cablegate
61. US resentment toward unions uncovered in Mexico cable http://wlcentral.org/node/1351 #cablegate
60. Tunisia cables uncovered rampant corruption on Ben Ali or 'The Family' http://to.pbs.org/er6pSn #cablegate
59. US lied in cable about Michael Moore's film 'Sicko' being banned in Cuba http://bit.ly/hSrdgZ #cablegate
58. Revelations on 9/11 gang that fled to London http://bit.ly/e50Om4 #cablegate
57. European feudalism in Azerbaijan no problem for US, oil makes risk of embarrassment worth it http://bit.ly/gQUscn #cablegate
56. UK secretly advised Libya on how to secure release of Lockerbie bomber http://bit.ly/iccGIa #cablegate
55. The Libyan frogman that couldn't swim (truly, a cautionary tale) http://bit.ly/eHpFoK #cablegate
54. Bangladeshi death squad trained by UK officers http://bit.ly/gDlCUO #cablegate
53. Baby Doc Duvalier's return to Haiti was a 'concern' for US http://bit.ly/eRj4hF
52. Saudi Arabia can't pump enough oil to keep prices down, reserves 40% overstated http://bit.ly/e9774n #cablegate
51. US maneuvered to ensure Spanish High Court wouldn't investigate Couso, Guantanamo & CIA flights http://bit.ly/igUQZ0 #cablegate
50. Gordon Brown was concerned about use of bases for US spy planes http://bit.ly/dSOdtQ #cablegate
49. BP had a blast similar to the Deepwater Horizon disaster in Azerbaijan http://bit.ly/fabXL8 #cablegate
48. Pfizer used "dirty tricks' to force Nigeria gov't to drop legal action against controversial drug trial http://bit.ly/hDWjeI #cablegate
47. US, Nato & Red Cross colluded, downplayed number of Afghani civilian deaths in Bala Baluk massacre http://bit.ly/fM1TD2 #cablegate
46. US threatened military action against China during secret "star wars" arms race http://bit.ly/fRIzOT #cablegate
45. Libya pressed oil firms to reimburse terror costs http://reut.rs/gOVobd #cablegate
44. US wanted derogatory information on Bahraini royals http://bit.ly/i0VWVD #cablegate
43. Coca Cola revealed corrupt Israeli tax collectors http://bit.ly/iiDEfu #cablegate
42. Egyptian torturers trained by the FBI http://bit.ly/fY8eHO #cablegate
41. David Letterman does more to dissuade Saudi youth from militancy than US propaganda http://bit.ly/dLzfqJ #cablegate
40. US suggested India send Bollywood stars to Afghanistan to help stabilize country http://bit.ly/gvq3bg #cablegate
39. McDonald's tried to delay US legislation to aid lawsuit in El Salvador http://bit.ly/eNr0tQ #cablegate
38. Shell Oil in main ministries in Nigerian gov't, knows everything http://bit.ly/fJlnpq #cablegate
37. Foreign contractors hired to train Afghan police paid for young "dancing boys" http://bit.ly/gu4b32 #cablegate
36. US, UK conspired to get around British cluster bomb ban http://bit.ly/hJb9sj #cablegate
35. US maneuvered to ensure Spanish High Court wouldn't investigate Couso, Guantanamo & CIA flights http://bit.ly/igUQZ0 #cablegate
34. Millions in US military aid for fighting Pakistani insurgents diverted to gov't coffers instead http://bit.ly/gZe2HB #cablegate
33. US diplomats ordered to spy on UN, obtain iris scans, fingerprints & DNA http://bit.ly/dE1mTt #cablegate
32. US pressured Germany to not pursue 13 CIA agents that abducted Khaled el-Masri http://bit.ly/i9qAmC #cablegate
31. Somali pirates blew cover off weapons deal between Kenya and Sudan http://bit.ly/i7LRsJ #cablegate
30. Iraq War provided few advantages for US oil but plenty advantage for Halliburton http://bit.ly/fbfxiB #cablegate
29. Chinese leaders ordered cyber attack on Google http://bit.ly/g1uBb0 #cablegate
28. Yemen President Saleh fights proxy war for US against Houthi rebels http://bit.ly/eD8Zvz #cablegate
27. Yemen covered up US drone strikes, claimed bombs against al Qaeda were own http://bit.ly/ifjG17 #cablegate
26. Blackwater flouted German arms export laws, transported aircraft to Afghanistan http://bit.ly/guBdwJ #cablegate
25. Omar Suleiman considered halting elections in Gaza to prevent Hamas victory http://bit.ly/gHrtCv #cablegate
24. US mole in NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's office uncovered http://bit.ly/gXNoVh #cablegate
23. Germany and US cover up Siemens shipment to Iran, 111 containers left at Dubai port http://bit.ly/ekzD8T #cablegate
22. Turkey's role in CIA rendition flights to Guantanamo http://bit.ly/dL6oSO #cablegate
21. German communities fear loss of millions as US reduces troop presence http://bit.ly/ifHOZF #cablegate
20. President Kibaki of Kenya probably didn't brazenly steal election http://bit.ly/gbyo9j #cablegate
19. Francis Mathaura described as being "shadow president' of Kenya http://bit.ly/ea9mst #cablegate
18. US officials surprised at how easy it was to get Russia-Germany gas pipeline grant from Finland http://bit.ly/eDBZ8r #cablegate
17. Finland traded votes with Israel to get spot on UN Security Council http://bit.ly/hjlueQ #cablegate
16. GPS & detailed map feature made Nokia smartphones favorite for Iraqi rebels http://bit.ly/eQWsPf #cablegate
15. Sudan president Omar al-Bashir stashed $9 billion from Sudan in British banks http://bit.ly/hsYaCK #cablegate
14. Qatar adapts Al Jazeera coverage to suit foreign leaders http://bit.ly/hy96Sw #cablegate
13. Gaza wall, valued at $40 million USD, was to be completed December 2010 http://bit.ly/gL2hEu #cablegate
12. Egypt considered nuclear arms if Iran managed to acquire atomic weapons http://bit.ly/ifwKvq #cablegate
11. Uruguay linked to trafficking of arms to Venezuela to former guerrillas for possible coup http://bit.ly/dZlFco #cablegate
10. Danish gov't played double game when pressured to investigate CIA rendition flights http://bit.ly/eomwJg #cablegate
9. US forced Denmark to have armed guards on airplanes http://bit.ly/dHGoMb #cablegate
8. Secret collusion between Swedish and US military and civilian intelligence http://bit.ly/dVFxX2 #cablegate
7. US Embassy in Costa Rica trained, funded security forces used at anti-FTA protests http://bit.ly/fGcN9Z #cablegate
6. Vertical Aviation disqualified from supporting Colombia forces in Afghanistan by State Dept http://bit.ly/hgIvj9 #cablegate
5. US suspected Brazil pres. Dilma Rousseff would "outlaw' antiterrorism bill for "ideological' reasons http://t.co/39bEb9E #cablegate
4. Peruvian Armed Forces still greatly influenced by drugs http://bit.ly/dLWHEo #cablegate
3. US pushed foreign govts to buy aircrafts from Boeing rather than European rival Airbus http://bit.ly/h6rmZi #cablegate
2. Israel's plans for a big war in Middle East against Hamas or Hezbollah exposed http://bit.ly/eZN0Bu #cablegate
1. Monsanto fought off environmentalists/farmers in Argentina, got USG to represent interests http://bit.ly/hqKYrS #cablegate
If you would like to continue to mark the day, see Greg Mitchell's blog on The Nation . He has been live blogging WikiLeaks and covering Cablegate revelations for the past 100 days. So, today, he marks his 100th day live blogging WikiLeaks (and writes about the day that Cablegate swung open).
The Nation has put together this slide show to also mark the day.
And, if that's not enough, there's WL Central, where you can get more of the latest news and updates on Cablegate, protests/uprisings, and more.
x7o put together this fine compilation of Cablegate resources for anyone wanting to stay completely up-to-date on the latest released cables.
Follow me on Twitter @kgosztola to stay up to date on Cablegate revelations and WikiLeaks. And, don't forget to tune in to the weekly podcast I host, "This Week in WikiLeaks" (here's a link to last week's episode). If you'd like to be a guest and come on the podcast and talk WikiLeaks, Cablegate, freedom/secrecy/openness/transparency, etc, email kgosztola@hotmail.com