Wikileaks: Viewing cable 09STATE132349, C/NF) ARGENTINA: KIRCHNER INTERPERSONAL

Reference ID	Date	Classification	Origin
09STATE132349	2009-12-31 14:02	SECRET//NOFORN	Secretary of State

VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #2349 3651459 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 2349 3651459 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 2349 3651459 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 311455Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0374



Thursday, 31 December 2009, 14:55
S E C R E T STATE 132349
NOFORN
SIPDIS
EO 12958 DECL: 12/31/2034
TAGS PINR, PGOV, AR
SUBJECT: (C/NF) ARGENTINA: KIRCHNER INTERPERSONAL
DYNAMICS (C-AL9-02612)
Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS.
REASON: 1.4(C).

1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE INTERESTED IN ARGENTINE
LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARDS TO CRISTINA
FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER AND NESTOR KIRCHNER.

DRAWING ON PREVIOUS REPORTING, AND BUILDING UPON OUR OWN
ANALYTIC ASSESSMENTS, WE ARE CURRENTLY PREPARING A WRITTEN PRODUCT EXAMINING THE INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE GOVERNING TANDEM.

WE HAVE A MUCH MORE SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF NESTOR KIRCHNER’S STYLE AND PERSONALITY THAN WE DO OF CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER AND WE WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP A MORE WELL-ROUNDED VIEW OF CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER’S PERSONALITY.

AS POST,S TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW AND TO THE EXTENT POST HAS ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION, WE WOULD WELCOME ANY INSIGHT INTO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.

A. (U) MENTAL STATE AND HEALTH:
(S/NF) HOW IS CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER MANAGING HER NERVES AND ANXIETY?

HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT HER BEHAVIOR TOWARD ADVISORS AND/OR HER DECISIONMAKING?

WHAT STEPS DOES CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER OR HER
ADVISERS/HANDLERS, TAKE IN HELPING HER DEAL WITH STRESS?

IS SHE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS?

UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IS SHE BEST ABLE TO HANDLE STRESSES?

HOW DO CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER,S EMOTIONS AFFECT HER DECISIONMAKING AND HOW DOES SHE CALM DOWN WHEN DISTRESSED?

(S/NF) WHAT IS THE STATUS OF NESTOR KIRCHNER’S GASTROINTESTINAL
ILLNESS?

DOES IT CONTINUE TO BOTHER HIM?

IS HE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS?

LONG KNOWN FOR HIS TEMPER, HAS NESTOR KIRCHNER DEMONSTRATED
A GREATER TENDENCY TO SHIFT BETWEEN EMOTIONAL EXTREMES?

WHAT ARE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS TO NESTOR KIRCHNER’S ANGER?

B. (U) POLITICAL VIEWS:

1) (S/NF) WHEN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS, DOES CRISTINA FERNANDEZ
DE KIRCHNER TAKE A STRATEGIC, BIG PICTURE OUTLOOK, OR
DOES SHE PREFER TO TAKE A TACTICAL VIEW?

DOES SHE VIEW CIRCUMSTANCES IN BLACK AND WHITE OR
IN NUANCED TERMS?

DOES SHE SHARE NESTOR KIRCHNER’S ADVERSARIAL VIEW OF POLITICS
OR DOES SHE ATTEMPT TO MODERATE HIS HEAVY-HANDED POLITICAL STYLE?

C. (U) ON THE JOB:
(S/NF) HOW DO CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER AND NESTOR KIRCHNER
DIVIDE UP THEIR DAY?

ON WHICH ISSUES DOES CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER TAKE THE LEAD
AND WHICH ISSUES DOES SHE LEAVE TO NESTOR KIRCHNER?

2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-02612 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE
TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON


source: Wikileaks

Hillary Clinton Condems WikiLeaks Cables (video)

Wikileak: Thousands of Classified US Documents Leaked on the Internet

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (AP Photo)

More than a quarter of a million classified cables sent from U.S. embassies around the world to Washington have been leaked on the Internet. Despite warnings from the U.S. government that the leaks could put lives at risk, the website WikiLeaks published the files in conjunction with several major international newspapers.

According to The New York Times and several European newspapers, the leaked messages are described as varying between embarrassing and highly damaging, with the potential to adversely affect U.S. relations with several countries.

Among the most striking, according to the papers, are leaked cables suggesting that Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have been pressing the U.S. government to launch a military attack on Iran to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon. An apparent message from April 2008 suggests that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for the United States to "Cut the head off the snake."

Other documents reportedly suggest that the United States believes that Saudi Arabian donors are the chief financiers of terror groups like al-Qaida. Qatar, a U.S. ally, is accused of not doing enough to thwart terrorist groups.

It is also alleged that Iran has received sophisticated missiles from North Korea that are capable of hitting Western Europe and that it is using them to construct even bigger weapons.

According to newspaper reports, more than 4,000 files are marked "No Foreigner." These include cables alleging that the U.S. military has been conducting air strikes against al-Qaida targets in Yemen. The Yemeni government has said that its military alone has been conducting the raids.

Chinese government operatives reportedly are accused of launching cyber attacks on the United States.

The messages are also said show that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged American diplomats to spy on other countries at the United Nations - blurring the traditional boundaries between diplomacy and espionage.

Among the more embarrassing leaks, say the newspapers, are personal analyses of world leaders. Former Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly was called an "alpha-dog" and Afghan President Hamid Karzai is said to have been described as "driven by paranoia." The reports also say the cables noted that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is permanently accompanied by a "voluptuous Ukrainian nurse." One message apparently accused an unnamed member of the British royal family of "inappropriate behavior."

The Pentagon has declined to comment on the contents of the leaked documents. But it has condemned the leaks as reckless, warning that their publication would place at risk "the lives of countless innocent individuals," "ongoing military operations" and "cooperation between countries."

Speaking on the "Fox News Sunday" television program, Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill called for WikiLeaks to be prosecuted. "The people who are leaking these documents need to do a gut check about their patriotism. And I think they're enjoying the attention that they're getting. But frankly, it's coming at a very high price. I hope we can figure out where this is coming from and go after them with the force of law," she said.

Republican Representative Peter King, who is a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, has called for WikiLeaks to be classified as a terrorist organization.

No one has been charged with disclosing information to WikiLeaks, but news reports say a key suspect is U.S. Army private Bradley Manning, who is in custody for an earlier leak of classified documents.

The Pentagon says it is in the process of increasing security measures for its data and communications.

adapted from CNN, NYT, VOA

China's packed roads

photo: David Gray/Reuters

China's rapid economic growth is causing some strains - and they are increasingly evident on the roads of the country's big cities. Traffic jams fill news headlines and create headaches for a growing number of people.

Last August thousands of trucks and cars were packed nose to tail for more than 60 miles in a 10-day traffic jam northwest of Beijing. In fact, the mega blockage was the second in two months on the same stretch of road.

China and Beijing have seen double-digit economic growth, which has taken them to a national GNP per capita of $4,000 dollars, with Beijing being maybe two and a half times that. This per capital income and this kind of double-digit growth has brought about an absolute boom in motorization.

World environmental experts say China's capital has one of the world's worst air pollution, which contributes to numerous health problems. Beijing is right behind New Delhi at No. 2. And there are five Chinese cities in the top twenty.

Chinese leaders are aware of this issue. The government stresses rail as an environmentally cleaner, safer and more efficient urban transportation method.

Two years ago, China responded to the global financial crisis with a stimulus plan that helped fast-track projects for new roads, bridges and railways. It funded high-speed railway lines, including a new one between Shanghai and Hangzhou, which reduces the journey from two hours to about 40 minutes since the train can reach a speed of 356 kilometers an hour.

Chinese media reports say that in the country's next five-year development plan, the proportion of spending on railways will increase by a large margin, while the amount spent on roads will fall. Until 2015 the Chinese government will invest $600 billion (four trillion yuan) to develop high speed and long-distance railroads.


adapted from Reuters, CNN, VOANews, Bloomberg