Leaks cause red faces
SOUTH African liberation hero Nelson Mandela was not spared in the swathe of revelations emerging from thousands of leaked US diplomatic cables, reports said yesterday.
Cables yet to be released would reveal the depth of Mandela's opposition to the war in Iraq.
Mandela considered then US president George W Bush was incapable of thinking correctly and believed Bush ignored calls by the United Nations for restraint in Iraq because the UN's then secretary general, Kofi Annan, was black, cables are expected to show.
Other cables, meanwhile, would also show Mandela as being on the receiving end of criticism.
The US embassy in Pretoria admitted it had approached the South African government to warn it in advance about the messages, which reportedly includes embarrassing criticism by the US of SA's first black president, Independent Newspapers reported.
The first batch of leaked cables showed how Mandela was shot down by his ANC party when he expressed a desire to meet ex-British prime minister Margaret Thatcher shortly after his release from prison in 1990.
Mandela had wanted to explain why the ANC had opposed her policy of "constructive engagement" with the racist apartheid regime but the ANC opposed the meeting, leaving Mandela "furious".
The cables also contained embarrassing revelations about how both South Africa and the US view Zimbabwe's leaders.
"The crazy old man," is how International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane Mashabane is said to refer to President Robert Mugabe - a remark likely to cause a stir in Harare given that SA is overseeing the implementation of Zimbabwe's power-sharing agreement.
The cables also expose US doubts about the leadership of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. He risked becoming "possibly an albatross around their necks once in power," the then US ambassador wrote in 2007.
CheeseBoy
I don't get it, with all due respect why should Mandela be beyond criticism , he ain't a god or am I missing something?besides, we all know countries like the US do not make friends with anybody if they got nothing to gain. they all snakes.
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Wu-Tang-Clan
I think US Govt. was having proragetive to stop this sensitive information from being leaked on media, the question is why they didnt? because thier embassys were custordians of this infor.Report Abuse
Sinudeity
Eh, nothing of relevance with regards to wikileaks and South Africa. This story regarding Mandela has been blown out of proportion by the national press. The no-story is being promoted purely because its a piece of South Africa information leak.With that said though, wikileaks is da bomb. This is the future of MAT and POI. The citizens spying on its politicians instead.
Be warned government, be warned. We have a new weapon in our arsenal against you.
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MEHLO
This is the true revelation about the US and we are glad to know what they think about the world. If it's not for them then there should be nothing. This what they call the American dream ---destroying the worldReport Abuse
McKena
U Baba Mandela walks on water. American are just a toss of piss conpared to this men. I dont worry about this. They just have a bitter after taste in their mouths.Report Abuse
dreadloxxx
Even if mandela said it so what? he is also human and just like everyone else, he is entitled to his opinion. he never professed to be faultless mos. Aow, leave the old man alone man, nxa.Report Abuse
Limpopoist
I happy that all information related to ILLUMINATI is been expose.USA is making alot of money on war and diseases.,to make sure the USA economy remain high ,there must always be war(look afganistan,Iraq war,and there Korean war when done ,then another war in lebanon is looming.
All these tactic is part of project called ILLUMINATI,where they are aiming to reduce the world population to less than 500 million,using Aids,war ,hard labor,high taxes to keep people below poverty level.etc
Google Alex Jone (radio host) you will see much documentary about world mafia,proof that september 11 world trade center attacked was planned by USA.just to frame bin laden,so that they can win support to create war in middle east and arab world as whole.
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