Yesterday the whistle blower website Wiki-Leaks, known for disclosing hundreds of thousands of classified government documents, released over a quarter million “diplomatic cables”. These cables are communications between the U.S and their foreign embassies and foreign leaders. They shed a ton of light on what the U.S. and other countries think of political leaders and foreign affairs. Still not sure what the fuck I’m talking about?
Let me put it this way…
You and your girlfriend talk on the phone. As gossiping is a certainty, you two begin to talk shit about that bratty, overhyped Susie Shoemacher who isn’t even pretty and wears too much eyeshadow. You discuss how she manipulates boys, but how you’re jealous she has the newest edition of UGGZ.
Ok, now pretend that bitch is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, and those UGG Boots are nuclear weapons (yes I compared UGGZ to weapons of mass destruction). The problem arises when the consequences of spreading such talk carry more than a possible bitch-slap or admittance into the Burn Book; yup 
that’s a ‘Mean Girl’ reference. These leaks can, and most likely will, ignite an already tense global political climate.
While the leaks uncover a whole spectrum of correspondence- from calling Vladimir Putin “Batman” to offering Slovenia a meeting with Obama if they accept a Guantanamo Bay prisoner- I’m more concerned with the correspondences dealing with Iran and North Korea, as these nations are the center-point of volatility.
Here are some excerpts from today’s NY Times articles discussing the cables…
-In a secret cable sent back to Washington, the American ambassador to Israel, James B. Cunningham, reported that Mr. Barak had argued that the world had 6 to 18 months “in which stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons might still be viable.” After that, Mr. Barak said, “any military solution would result in unacceptable collateral damage.”-
-His plea was shared by many of America’s Arab allies, including the powerful King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who according to another cable repeatedly implored Washington to “cut off the head of the snake (Iran)” while there was still time.-
-The cables also contain a fresh American intelligence assessment of Iran’s missile program. They reveal for the first time that the United States believes that Iran has obtained advanced missiles from North Korea that could let it strike at Western European capitals and Moscow and help it develop more formidable long-range ballistic missiles.-
The cables also indicated Israel may soon take matters into their own hands and strike against an increasingly shady Iran.
Now on to North Korea…
– Thinking about an eventual collapse of North Korea: American and South Korean officials have discussed the prospects for a unified Korea, should the North’s economic troubles and political transition lead the state to implode. The South Koreans even considered commercial inducements to China, according to the American ambassador to Seoul.-
-Iran obtained 19 of the missiles from North Korea, according to a cable dated Feb. 24 of this year-
– The missile intelligence also suggests far deeper military — and perhaps nuclear — cooperation between North Korea and Iran than was previously known. At the request of the Obama administration, The New York Times has agreed not to publish the text of the cable.-
-Because they are State Department documents, not intelligence reports, they do not include the most secret American assessments, or the American military’s plans in case North Korea disintegrates or lashes out-
Alright, now here is why I believe we will see a rise in foreign tension and perhaps even war.
These documents in no way have the power to drive countries or regimes into war. But what they do have is the ability to antagonize already tense affairs and further common cynicism and unease among nations.
In recent days North Korea has blatantly used military action against an offshore island in South Korean territory, killing several Koreans. Now as U.S.-S. Korean military drills are set to take place, North Korea has insisted these illustrations will be seen as a direct and viable military threat. *ADD WIKILEAK*. Now North Korea is aware that the U.S and South Korea, as well as China, believe the North will collapse and dissolve into a unified Korea.
North Korea, already agitated and aggressive may look to prove otherwise and unleash a blitz of military attacks on the South.
Iran already ignores U.N sanctions and refuses to talk about unloading nuclear weaponry. As the U.S. intelligence indicates, Iran has received military arms from Russia and nuclear weapons from North Korea. *ADD WIKILEAK*. Now Iran is aware that many of their “brothers” in the region (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Israel) believe Iran must be stopped and drastic action should take place. They now know, if they didn’t already, that Israel is prepared and willing to launch attacks on them.
Iran, with this information, may look to strike first against Israel or Saudi Arabia, unearthing a war in the Middle East of nuclear proportions.
Iran and North Korea, already participating in a sketchy partnership, may fortify their relationship and ally during war.
My point, after 840 words (thanks for sticking through it), is that many of these international relations are already strained. Due to recent events in Korea I believed even before these leaks that war was imminent in that region. Now that these diplomatic cables have been disseminated, I believe that these tense regions have just been pushed one step closer to war. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
Or maybe all we need is Tim Meadows to come arbitrate the conflict and the U.S can tear off a piece of tiara for everyone! (second ‘Mean Girl’ reference).
What a Day! 