WikiLeaks Disclosures Are Leading to Diplomatic Cracks for U.S.

Gates' Allegations of Russian Oligarchy Anger Putin

by Jason Ditz, December 02, 2010

Though a number of officials across the world have tried to downplay the embarrassing content in the WikiLeaks documents released so far (still only about a quarter of a percent of the cables WikiLeaks is planning to release), already some cracks are showing in the international ambivalence, with the truth about US views toward Turkey and Russia looking to do serious damage to those relationships.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed anger during a CNN interview regarding claims by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates that “Russian democracy has disappeared,” and said he was shocked by the “haughtiness” and “coarseness” of the US comments.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks to take things a step further, planning to launch a lawsuit against the US government for allegations of criminal behavior and claims he is a religious zealot. Other documents involved US diplomats overtly warning other Turkish officials to “rein in” Erdogan’s public comments.

And while the reaction to unseemly US foreign policy started with Turkey and Russia, it is unlkely to end there. From condemning German FM Westerwelle’s interest in personal freedom to expressing anger at the content of Canadian television programmes, the US appears to have its fingers in almost everything on the planet.

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