WikiLeaks: U.S. Manipulating The Political Dwarves Of Europe

Der Spiegel:

European Union politicians like to see themselves as having global reach. But the US would beg to differ, according to American diplomatic cables from European capitals. Competition between Merkel, Sarkozy and others means it is easy for Washington to play EU leaders off against each other.

Read the whole story: Der Spiegel

Comments

[Oakland]

06:10 AM on 12/15/2010

Everybody has to do as Mitch McConnell says and that includes Obama and the rest of the dwarfs.

[duxguts]

04:07 AM on 12/15/2010

Those Europeans don't like the fact that if it weren't for us they would all be speaking Japanese now.

[JessCostello]

09:46 PM on 12/14/2010

The Spiegel is a center-left magazine with a declared support of a Federal EU. 

I'd like to see where in the article the term "political dwarf" is used. My German is pretty good and I can't seem to find that phrase.

[Ngonyama]

11:25 PM on 12/14/2010

It is in the English language title. Tolkien spelling included.

[Ngonyama]

11:31 PM on 12/14/2010

And in the title of the German original as "Zwergenmacht"

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,728613,00.html

[JessCostello]

09:33 PM on 12/14/2010

Assange hates America and wants to see it's ability to act abroad diminished significantly. For those who believe in global governance, America is the biggest threat. What they don't seem to realize is that emerging powers like China, India and perhaps the resurgent "ummah" might not want to join the club.

[Last chance]

07:52 PM on 12/14/2010

Did they really call them dwarves ?....for real ?...how unbelievably rude.

[Siebenstein]

03:59 AM on 12/15/2010

Out of self-impotence.
It alwqays happens when one tries to elevate him-/herself over others; a superiority complex.
Nothing new here. The US did this since its existence.
Problem: US power is diminishing, therefore she's big on the marketing front with "We are the greatest."
I bet you 've heard that phrase before?!

[Last chance]

11:10 AM on 12/15/2010

makes me ashamed of my country.

[Mr Do RIght]

02:20 PM on 12/14/2010

Obama you are not fooling anyone anymore, you are a corporatist shill, along with being a servile puppet for the defense/security industry. You probably are a hack for some pro CIA think tank as well. You fooled us once in 2008, but tell your handlers, you won't do it again in 2012, and that they will have to get some other stooge.

[JessCostello]

09:34 PM on 12/14/2010

What's your take on George Soros?

[jacksforge]

11:04 AM on 12/14/2010

http://www.techeye.net/internet/did-wikileaks-cut-a-deal-with-israel

and yet no one seems to be suspicious of juians angle. How come he doesn't mention Israel. why have all comments on other boards that mention Israeli connections been removed.
did Israel leak the info to get the world on the "attack iran angle" and to embarrass the USa when the USA was trying to get a peace deal?
Why is this angle ,one where it is suggested that Israel funded and provided the material (read the words "MORE leaks") so unimportant that not one news organisation has thought to consider it.

[streetmagik]

06:49 PM on 12/13/2010

just irresponsible spreading of gossip that makes diplomacy harder and spreads mistrust.

Every government plays these diplomatic games and there is nothing wrong with it - I would respect wikileaks much more if they showed a little maturity and discretion, and only leaked that which actually showed foul play rather then this 3rd grade tripe.

Wikileaks really cheapens itself with this nonsense.

[CologneCitizen]

12:58 AM on 12/14/2010

Totally agree,

things are hugely blown out of proportion here. Angela Merkel has called Obama recently and told him she doesn't take these "leaks" seriously. I mean there is much more important stuff on the agenda of our leaders but he wikileaks stuff, at least on the issue mentioned here.

[Mikeeee]

01:37 AM on 12/14/2010

You meant America really cheapens itself with this nonsense, right?
I mean America does like to set itself up as having a higher standard than everyone else and everyone else is looking for evidence of it.

[JessCostello]

09:36 PM on 12/14/2010

It's obvious that you are part of the target audience for Wikileaks--people with anti-American feelings who want something else to confirm their views.

[xdiesp]

05:16 PM on 12/13/2010

Not only US diplomats are to be considered spies from now on, but seditioners too.

[JessCostello]

09:37 PM on 12/14/2010

Is the U.S. any different from other countries? Diplomats have been acting as spies before the U.S. was founded.

[Manchurian]

05:04 PM on 12/13/2010

It's nice to see "dwarves" spelled correctly - instead of "dwarfs."

[Ngonyama]

08:17 AM on 12/14/2010

Tolkien would agree..

[Ngonyama]

03:11 PM on 12/13/2010

All this wishful thinking about European disunity and uncoordinated behavior and the attacks on the euro may very well backfire.

It may make Europeans understand that European federalism is really not such a ridiculous idea after all:

One currency
One treasury
One army

Would the US still consider a 500 million people entity a dwarf after that?

[JessCostello]

09:40 PM on 12/14/2010

You really do have a fixation on it. I remember how mad the EU rep got when asked about Switzerland and Norway not wanting to be a part of their club.

I think the U.S. should be flattered that corporatists such as yourself are so focused on being a match for America that it would figure into your sales pitch for federalism in the EU. The funny thing is that it wouldn't be p.c. for you dolts to bring up the Middle East countries at your backdoor.

[Ngonyama]

11:19 PM on 12/14/2010

Norway and Switzerland are pretty unessential for the EU's development now. They could have played a role but refused to. So now they will have to watch and eventually adapt to what others have created. Even Norway realizes that. That is why they put up money to support the euro...

My point was that America was holding a much more powerful sales pitch for European federalism than I could possibly make. By its 'diplomacy' of treating nations willing to be their friends and allies as dwarves [sic] to be manipulated.

[fumes]

03:03 PM on 12/13/2010

so far..

no surprises..

just cards getting turned face up so everyone can see them!

[fruity]

03:02 PM on 12/13/2010

Wow, the State D is so interesting what they. Who needs spanish telenovelas when ya got this. I wish there was a query system. I'd like to find out about that thingy with Blackwater from years ago. News is sexy! Thanks WIKILEAKS, I'll pay for a subscription

[alterego55]

05:14 PM on 12/13/2010

What do you want to know about Blackwater?

[JessCostello]

09:41 PM on 12/14/2010

You didn't know that the State Department was using Blackwater for years because they can't be bothered to stand up their own security forces capable of protecting their personnel even though it's part of their federal mandate?

[Whinger]

02:51 PM on 12/13/2010

I wonder if there is a WikiLeaks assessment of American leaders, that would make interesting, if somewhat predictable, reading!

[waldopepper]

02:11 PM on 12/13/2010

All Governments makes such assessments. There is nothing of much interest in this document. As for pushing around weaker governments? Please, the US cannot even get Afghanistan to do its bidding these days.

[dresdengirl]

12:25 PM on 12/14/2010

Good point.