Wikileaks: The Ireland Cables

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All this week the Irish Independent has been printing leaked correspondence from the US embassy in Dublin provided by Wikileaks.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/wikileaks/

Whilst alot of this stuff is run of the mill chatter there is also stuff that is embarrasing for some of the individuals singled out.


On former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern the cables say that "his frugal lifestyle was apparent to all" (presumably "all" being the Dáil). In January 2008 the embassy predicted accurately that Ahern was mortally wounded by tribunal findings against him.

On former Taoiseach Brian Cowen he is described as a "sociable loner"

Mr Cowen liked "to socialise with his constituents in local pubs" and had "a good sense of humour", but did "not suffer fools gladly". He added Mr Cowen was "known as having a good singing voice." *lol*

Other leaked cables reveal US diplomats were talking about Mr Cowen as a potential Taoiseach as far back as 2004

Some cables suggest Mr Cowen failed to heed warning signs about the economy.

In June 2008, Mr Cowen told Ambassador Foley media reports on the faltering economy were "exaggerated" and he was "not too worried" about it

On anti Irish sentiment in Germany in 2008:

"She noted that some people see the Irish as being unappreciative of the great benefit realised from membership of the EU over the years," the cable, written by US deputy chief of mission Robert Faucher, stated

Id say they absolutely love us now!


Curiously it was not only Europe that was unware of where Libertas was getting it's funding.

America was unaware of the source of Libertas funding



Wednesday June 01 2011
THE American government appeared to be unaware of the source of funding for Declan Ganley's Libertas movement -- despite widespread speculation it was being secretly backed by the US.

A confidential US embassy cable indicates American diplomats were as curious as Libertas' political opponents to know the source of the party's funding.

The cable, written by the US deputy chief of mission in Dublin, Robert Faucher, was circulated to the office of then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and American embassies across the EU in March 2009.

Mr Faucher wrote that Mr Ganley "refuses to come clean" on how Libertas funded its anti-Lisbon campaign.

He said this had "fuelled conspiracy theories" about who was backing Mr Ganley, who is still the chairman and chief executive of Rivada Networks, a US defence contractor specialising in military telecom systems.

These "conspiracy theories" included claims, denied by Libertas, that the organisation had been backed by the CIA or US government neoconservatives who were opposed to the emergence of a united Europe that could challenge US power.

According to Mr Faucher's cable, Rivada provided communications technology to the US military's northern command, as well as the National Guard in 16 states and three US federal bureaus.

He said the contracts were "alleged" to be worth over US$200m (€138m) and noted five of the founding seven members of Libertas were Rivada employees

Mr Faucher told diplomat colleagues Libertas claimed to generate 10pc of its funding from internet donations, while the remaining 90pc came from unnamed wealthy individuals.

He said the party insisted it was unwilling to publish the identities of its donors because it had concerns they would be harassed or would face undue pressure from the political establishment.

A separate cable, also from March 2009, reinforces the impression that US officials were keen to know the source of Libertas' funding.

In it, Mr Faucher noted that while Mr Ganley had informed the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) that he gave a personal loan of €200,000 to the anti-treaty campaign, he failed to provide further information sought by SIPO as to the nature of the loan.

The diplomat also stated SIPO had received no reply to questions about other loans Libertas may have received.

Declan Ganley himself tried to get Ahern's address to the US congess delayed in 2008 pending the Lisbon Treaty referendum.


There is more on the link. The question is does any of this damage any person in Government? Mostly no but it could be argued this is particularly embarrasing for the Labour party.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...e-2662663.html

Other then that there is not much else in todays leaks. There are a few things about certain politicians in the North but mostly it is just chatter.