Wikileaks cables describe US pressure on Germany in context of data sharing agreements

A number of cables from the Berlin embassy reveal the US concern on Germany’s position in the SWIFT, TFTP and the bilateral US-Germany data sharing agreements. A revealing cable from December 2009 (09BERLIN1528) on the SWIFT agreement describes how  German Minister of Interior de  Maiziere overruled Justice Minister Sabine  Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and abstained from voting at [...]

US ordered surveillance of UN officials, including through obtaining biometric information

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered clandestine surveillance of United Nations leadership, including obtaining “security measures, passwords, personal encryption keys, and types of VPN versions used” and biometric information, according to cable 09STATE80163 made public today by WikiLeaks.org. The National HUMINT Collection Directive (NHCD) on the United Nations asks for details about “information systems, [...]

Yemen deputy Prime Minister admits lying to Parliament on US involvement of bombings

In a meeting (see cable 10SANAA4) between David Petraeus and President Saleh of Yemen the US involvement in Yemen’s fight against terrorism was discussed: President Obama has approved providing U.S.  intelligence in support of ROYG ground operations against AQAP targets, General Petraeus informed Saleh.  Saleh reacted  coolly, however, to the General’s proposal to place USG  [...]

Saudi Arabia expresses frustration on non-refoulement policies of Europe

Cable 09JEDDAH343 describes a meeting between Saudi Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of  Interior Prince Nayif bin Abdulaziz (reftel), John Brennan,  Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and  Counterterrorism in which Nayif expressed frustration with the limited  cooperation of friendly European nations with whom the  Kingdom has security agreements. The governments, he  complained, [...]

Turkey wants to acquire own drones as soon as possible

In cable 09ANKARA1472 from October 2009, the US embassy in Ankara reports that Turkey seeks to aquire, on an urgent basis, its own UAV capability. “The administration has made clear at high  levels that we support this goal, and Turkey has pending  request to acquire armed Reaper UAVs.  Ultimate approval for  armed Reapers is complicated [...]