WikiLeaks cables: 'Rude' Prince Andrew shocks US ambassador

[cali]

Prince Andrew launched a scathing attack on British anti-corruption investigators, journalists and the French during an "astonishingly candid" performance at an official engagement that shocked a US diplomat.

Tatiana Gfoeller, Washington's ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, recorded in a secret cable that Andrew spoke "cockily" at the brunch with British and Canadian business people, leading a discussion that "verged on the rude".

During the two-hour engagement in 2008 at a hotel in the capital, Bishkek, Andrew, who travels the globe as a special UK trade representative, attacked Britain's corruption investigators in the Serious Fraud Office for what he called "idiocy".

He went on to denounce Guardian reporters investigating bribery as "those journalists … who poke their noses everywhere".

In the cable from the US embassy to Washington in October 2008, Gfoeller wrote: "Rude language a la British … turned to the general issue of promoting British economic interests abroad. He railed at British anti-corruption investigators, who had had the 'idiocy' of almost scuttling the Al-Yamama deal with Saudi Arabia."

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/29/wikileaks-cables-rude-prince-andrew

[LostInAnomie]

1. Geez! Thank god we know this. I can sleep easier now knowing this "secret" was exposed.

Wikileaks is gossip.

[Arctic Dave]

4. If was gossip why did the State Department even write about it.

What if they guy has a history of mental dysfunctions.

[LostInAnomie]

5. People have to report on all kinds of crap.

Who is at a meeting, what is said, topics discussed, appraisals of other diplomats and dignitaries, etc... It's information that comes in handy when dealing further with those people.

It's not some kind of "government secret or crime" that needs exposed. It only makes working with those people harder if they know that you've been briefed that they are a cocky asshole, or rely on a big boobed nurse to get things done.

[Arctic Dave]

8. So it was nothing more then mundane intel. What is the problem with releasing it then?

Would this not help the government appeal to the population when dealing with certain individual.

[LostInAnomie]

9. The problem with releasing it is that now these diplomats and dignitaries...

... that you HAVE TO WORK WITH, know that you know embarrassing information about them or have been briefed on how much of an asshole or how corrupt they are. It's hard to enter into negotiations and further your national interests when these dignitaries THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH refuse to work with you.

[Arctic Dave]

11. That logic works both ways, they know that you know they are an asshole

or corrupt. Sounds like it would make it easier to deal with and it might teach them some manners.

[LostInAnomie]

12. More than likely they won't work with you...

... because it's apparent you can't keep their secrets.

Who is going to discuss in an open manner or develop unguarded relationships if they know down the road the general public is going to be reading direct quotes from unguarded conversations or about their exploits?

[wtmusic]

13. +1. Education is a good thing. nt

[jeff47]

7. Because you need to know who you're talking to.

If a future diplomat has to deal with the good prince here, they need to know what kind of guy he is in order to get whatever it is they want from him.

[SpiralHawk]

2. I am shocked

Shocked I tell you. Sputter.

Why this is more scandalous than Republicon Family Values wide-stance diaper sex with luggage-handling faux lesbian B & D rentboy hookers in an airport loo.

Wait. Um, no. I suppose not THAT shocking. Still. I am shocked, shocked I tell you.

[joeybee12]

3. Centuries of inbreeding will do that to you...nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Was this before the Sarah Ferguson pay to play deal?

[WolverineDG]

10. Sounds like during nt

[UTUSN]

14. So the royal parasites should live off of their kick-backs intead of their serfs, & this dude should

financially support his ex-wife. And apparently Elton-the-Whore's price is standard, one million per performance, like with LIMBOsevic.

[mmonk]

15. Royalty acting like royalty.

It's as old as royalty itself.