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United Nations

US State Department's Wishlist of Information on UN Leaders and Foreign Diplomats Revealed

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A series of leaked US diplomatic cables obtained by the whistleblowers' website WikiLeaks have exposed the US state department's wishlist of information on UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and other senior members of his organization, as well as foreign diplomats from countries such as China, Iran, and Latin American socialist states. The cables, which date back to 2005, reveal that the CIA drew up the wishlist of information, which was then written into diplomatic cables by the state department. The intelligence gathering directives make clear that the operation was not just a useful addition to the work of a secret service, but that the intelligence community relies on state-reporting officers for much of the biographical information collected worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US state department's wishlist of information on UN leaders and foreign diplomats was drawn up by the CIA, and written into diplomatic cables by the state department.
  • The wishlist includes biographic information such as credit card account numbers, frequent flyer account numbers, and compendia of contact information.
  • US diplomats were ordered to obtain dates, times, and telephone numbers of calls received and placed by foreign diplomats from China, Iran, and Latin American socialist states.
  • The US called for diplomats in Romania, Hungary, and Slovenia to provide "biometric" information on "current and emerging leaders and advisers" as well as information about "corruption" and information about leaders' health and "vulnerability".
  • A 2009 intelligence directive signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for the collection of "biometric" data on permanent security council representatives, and passwords and personal encryption keys used by top UN officials.
  • The proposed activity in the directive breaches two international treaties and could lead to the US being censured by the UN general assembly or even prosecution at the international criminal court.

Statistics:

  • 1947 nations are signatories to the 1947 headquarters agreement between the US and UN.
  • 1963 nations are signatories to the general convention on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
  • 11 international treaties are breached by the proposed activity in the 2009 intelligence directive.
  • 1,000 documents were leaked by WikiLeaks, including the 2009 intelligence directive.
  • 2005 the US state department's wishlist of information on UN leaders and foreign diplomats was first drawn up by the CIA.
  • 2008 the US called for diplomats in Paraguay to provide "biometric" information on "current and emerging leaders and advisers" as well as information about "corruption" and information about leaders' health and "vulnerability".

Sources:

  • "WikiLeaks reveals diplomats' desire for secrets" by Craig Smith, The New York Times, November 30, 2010.
  • "US diplomats told to gather information on UN officials" by Ian Traynor, The Guardian, November 29, 2010.
  • "Wikileaks: US spied on foreign diplomats at UN" by Don Van Natta Jr. and Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, November 28, 2010.
  • "US State Department's Wish List for UN Diplomats Includes Details of Finances and Personal Habits" by Charlie Savage and Mark Mazzetti, The New York Times, November 28, 2010.

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