World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

The Guardian has published a cache of diplomatic cables that were leaked to Al Jazeera after verifying that the cables were authentic.  The cables cover a number of different issues, but perhaps the most explosive was a cable to South Africa from the Israeli intelligence unit, the Mossad.  The cable indicates that Iran was “not performing the activity necessary to produce weapons”.  The significance of this cable was that it was written a few weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a speech to the UN General Assembly asserting that Iran was less than a year away from producing a nuclear bomb.  It is unlikely that Netanyahu was unaware of the conclusions of his own intelligence unit.

Russia recently celebrated “Defense of the Fatherland” day.  In the parade was this mock-up of a missile, inscribed with the message “To be personally delivered to Obama.”  Those Russians–what a bunch of cards!  It’s interesting that the hammer and sickle survives.

The Greeks did not finish their proposal to the troika so there’s no news to report.  On the other hand, there is parody of the negotiations.  Check “Settings” to get English subtitles if you don’t speak German.