WikiLeaks CableGate: December 19, Day 22
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
(Credit: Martial Trezzini/AFP/Getty)Check and update this page often for the latest news and views on the WikiLeaks saga, as well as our special report.
DECEMBER 19, DAY 22
[Guardian] WikiLeaks cables: Egypt "turned down" black market nuclear weapons deal
Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak turned down an offer of nuclear weapons, material and expertise on the black market when the Soviet Union collapsed, according to a cable released by WikiLeaks.
Mubarak passed on the offer but the incident has some questioning what kinds of nuclear deals took place in the early 1990s in Russia and former Soviet republics.
The WikiLeaks news site of record, the Guardian, outlines the efforts of U.S. diplomats to deal with the challenge of keeping nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists intent on adding "dirty" bombs to their arsenals.
"The leaked cables tell hair-raising tales of casks of uranium found in wicker baskets in Burundi, a retired Russian general offering to sell 'uranium plates' in Portugal, and a radioactive Armenian car on the Georgian border," wrote Julian Borger and Karen McVeigh of the Guardian.
The authors note that Congo is a rich source of uranium, and "Washington and inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been concerned that such a black market source of high quality ore, outside IAEA controls, could be used in a covert weapons programme in Iran." The collapse of the Soviet Union has also contributed to the black market for nuclear materials.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's Illicit Trafficking Database has documented 1700 incidents involving theft, loss or unauthorized possession of nuclear material in the last two decades, with more than 15 incidents involving plutonium or highly enriched uranium used in nuclear warheads.
In February 2006, Oleg Khinsagov, a Russian national, was arrested in Georgia in the possession of 79.5 grams of weapons-grade uranium. His intent was to sell the bomb material to Muslim buyer fronting for a "serious organization" for $1 million.
In November 2007, the South African Nuclear Energy Corp. Facility at Pelindaba was breached by intruders who appeared intent on accessing weapons-grade nuclear material. ( Watch the 60 Minutes episode on this security breach. )
DECEMBER 18, Day 21
[Guardian] UN offered Robert Mugabe a lucrative retirement overseas
Kofi Annan, former head of the United Nations, allegedly offered Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe a lucrative retirement package in 2000, according to a leaked diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks. Mugabe allegedly rejected the offer.
[David E. Coombs] A day in the life of Pfc. Bradley Manning
Army court martial defense attorney David Coombs details the daily routine in solitary confinement of the alleged source for the documents WikiLeaks is releasing to the world. Following are some of the details:
"He is only allowed to have one book or one magazine at any given time to read in his cell. The book or magazine is taken away from him at the end of the day before he goes to sleep."
"He is prevented from exercising in his cell. If he attempts to do push-ups, sit-ups, or any other form of exercise he will be forced to stop."
"He does receive one hour of "exercise" outside of his cell daily. He is taken to an empty room and only allowed to walk. PFC Manning normally just walks figure eights in the room for the entire hour. If he indicates that he no long feels like walking, he is immediately returned to his cell."
"When PFC Manning goes to sleep, he is required to strip down to his boxer shorts and surrender his clothing to the guards. His clothing is returned to him the next morning."
[Guardian] Julian Assange furor deepens as new details emerge of sex crime allegations
Bitter divisions open up between supporters and critics of WikiLeaks leader in wake of fresh claims by Swedish women.
[CBSNews.com] Biden: Post-WikiLeaks Diplomacy "Cumbersome"
In an interview recorded for broadcast Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Vice President Joe Biden said that WikiLeaks' release of classified or secret U.S. government documents has "done damage" and put the lives and jobs of people around the world in jeopardy.
He also said that diplomacy has been made more "cumbersome."
[AP] Bank of America to Block Donations to WikiLeaks
Bank of America has joined several other financial institutions in refusing to handle payments for WikiLeaks.
The Charlotte-based bank released a statement saying it will no longer process any transactions that it believes are intended for the site, which has released thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables.
"This decision is based upon our reasonable belief that WikiLeaks may be engaged in activities that are, among other things, inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments," the bank said.
WikiLeaks responded by asking Bank of America customers to boycott the firm and close their accounts.
[The Guardian] Sex Crime Allegations Against Assange Detailed
U.K.'s The Guardian has published detailed statements by Swedish prosecutors who are trying to extradite Julian Assange from England for questioning on sexual assault cases, and accounts by some of the main players involved in the unfolding saga.
Assange (who has not been charged with any offenses) and his legal team has vigorously denied the sexual assault and rape allegations of two Sweden women, claiming charges are politically motivated and a "stitch up."