Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

WikiLeaks cables: 'Rude' Prince Andrew shocks US ambassador

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 03:33 PM
Original message
WikiLeaks cables: 'Rude' Prince Andrew shocks US ambassador


Prince Andrew launched a scathing attack on British anti-corruption investigators, journalists and the French during an "astonishingly candid" performance at an official engagement that shocked a US diplomat.

Tatiana Gfoeller, Washington's ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, recorded in a secret cable that Andrew spoke "cockily" at the brunch with British and Canadian business people, leading a discussion that "verged on the rude".

During the two-hour engagement in 2008 at a hotel in the capital, Bishkek, Andrew, who travels the globe as a special UK trade representative, attacked Britain's corruption investigators in the Serious Fraud Office for what he called "idiocy".

He went on to denounce Guardian reporters investigating bribery as "those journalists … who poke their noses everywhere".

In the cable from the US embassy to Washington in October 2008, Gfoeller wrote: "Rude language a la British … turned to the general issue of promoting British economic interests abroad. He railed at British anti-corruption investigators, who had had the 'idiocy' of almost scuttling the Al-Yamama deal with Saudi Arabia."

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/29/wikileaks-cables-rude-prince-andrew
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 03:36 PM
Response to Original message
1. Geez! Thank god we know this. I can sleep easier now knowing this "secret" was exposed.
Wikileaks is gossip.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Arctic Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 03:51 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. If was gossip why did the State Department even write about it.
What if they guy has a history of mental dysfunctions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:00 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. People have to report on all kinds of crap.
Who is at a meeting, what is said, topics discussed, appraisals of other diplomats and dignitaries, etc... It's information that comes in handy when dealing further with those people.

It's not some kind of "government secret or crime" that needs exposed. It only makes working with those people harder if they know that you've been briefed that they are a cocky asshole, or rely on a big boobed nurse to get things done.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Arctic Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:03 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. So it was nothing more then mundane intel. What is the problem with releasing it then?
Would this not help the government appeal to the population when dealing with certain individual.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:10 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. The problem with releasing it is that now these diplomats and dignitaries...
Edited on Mon Nov-29-10 04:10 PM by LostInAnomie
... that you HAVE TO WORK WITH, know that you know embarrassing information about them or have been briefed on how much of an asshole or how corrupt they are. It's hard to enter into negotiations and further your national interests when these dignitaries THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH refuse to work with you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Arctic Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 05:33 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. That logic works both ways, they know that you know they are an asshole
or corrupt. Sounds like it would make it easier to deal with and it might teach them some manners.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 05:56 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. More than likely they won't work with you...
... because it's apparent you can't keep their secrets.

Who is going to discuss in an open manner or develop unguarded relationships if they know down the road the general public is going to be reading direct quotes from unguarded conversations or about their exploits?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
wtmusic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-10 11:01 AM
Response to Reply #11
13. +1. Education is a good thing. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jeff47 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:01 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. Because you need to know who you're talking to.
If a future diplomat has to deal with the good prince here, they need to know what kind of guy he is in order to get whatever it is they want from him.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SpiralHawk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
2. I am shocked
Edited on Mon Nov-29-10 03:44 PM by SpiralHawk
Shocked I tell you. Sputter.

Why this is more scandalous than Republicon Family Values wide-stance diaper sex with luggage-handling faux lesbian B & D rentboy hookers in an airport loo.

Wait. Um, no. I suppose not THAT shocking. Still. I am shocked, shocked I tell you.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
joeybee12 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
3. Centuries of inbreeding will do that to you...nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:00 PM
Response to Original message
6. Was this before the Sarah Ferguson pay to play deal?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WolverineDG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-10 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #6
10. Sounds like during nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
UTUSN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-10 11:30 AM
Response to Original message
14. So the royal parasites should live off of their kick-backs intead of their serfs, & this dude should
financially support his ex-wife. And apparently Elton-the-Whore's price is standard, one million per performance, like with LIMBOsevic.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-10 11:44 AM
Response to Original message
15. Royalty acting like royalty.
It's as old as royalty itself.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Mon Apr 29th 2024, 03:54 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC