The embassy cable questioning the mental health of Cristina Kirchner has been leaked at a sensitive time in US-Argentinian relations. Photograph: Leo La Valle/EPA
Hillary Clinton has questioned the mental health of Cristina Kirchner and asked US diplomats to investigate whether the Argentinian president is taking medication to help her “calm down”.
The US secretary of state painted Kirchner as a volatile and emotional leader who suffered from “nerves and anxiety”, according to a secret cable sent to the US embassy in Buenos Aires.
Clinton asked diplomats a series of questions in December last year which could infuriate Kirchner and sabotage a recent rapprochement between Argentina and America.
In a section headed “mental state and health” she asked how the first lady-turned president was managing “her nerves and anxiety” in a blunt tone which suggested US concerns.
“How does stress affect her behaviour toward advisers and/or her decision-making? What steps does Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner or her advisers/handlers take in helping her deal with stress? Is she taking any medications?
“Under what circumstances is she best able to handle stresses? How do Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s emotions affect her decision-making and how does she calm down when distressed?”
The cable appeared to have been prompted by diplomatic spats which, according to the US embassy, showed Kirchner’s government “to be extremely thin-skinned and intolerant of perceived criticism”.
Clinton’s queries are likely to upset the president and prompt jokes about tranquilisers in the Casa Rosada. The leaked memo comes at a sensitive time, after a thaw in relations between the two countries and the death of Kirchner’s husband, Néstor.
The 57-year-old leader is known for glamour, a combative style and leftist populism which has prompted bitter clashes with foes at home and, on occasion, with the US. Her critics will seize on the memo as evidence that she is unstable. Supporters will brand it proof she has stood up to a superpower which once considered Latin America its backyard.
Clinton’s preoccupation may stem partly from the fact that Kirchner’s career has mirrored her own: both are lawyers and tough political operators whose husbands became president and campaigned for their wives to inherit the sash after they left office. Before being elected in 2007 Kirchner welcomed the comparisons and called the then New York senator an inspiration.
Clinton also expressed curiosity about the relationship of Argentina’s power couple. “We are currently preparing a written product examining the interpersonal dynamics between the governing tandem. We have a much more solid understanding of Néstor Kirchner’s style and personality than we do of Cristina … and would like to develop a more well-rounded view of (her) personality.”
Keep us a strong and independent voice for global justice: contribute today!
Cooperate with FBI, Raila tells Kenya police
From Wikileaks
(Redirected from Cooperate with FBI, Raila tells Kenya police
March 9, 2009
By John Ngirachup (The Daily Nation (Kenya))[1]
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) speaks to civil society organisations representatives in his office March 09, 2009. He directed Kenya police investigating last week’s killing of two human rights activists to cooperate with officers from the United States in finding those responsible. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO (Nairobi)In Summary
Mr Odinga says there is political commitment to find out the people behind the deaths that have caused fear among human rights activists
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has directed Kenya police investigating last week’s killing of two human rights activists to cooperate with officers from the United States in finding those responsible.
The Prime Minister said on Monday that he had written to Internal Security minister George Saitoti to instruct police to work with two officers from the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigations to investigate the fatal shooting of Oscar Kamau King’ara and John Paul Oulu on Thursday evening.
US envoy Michael Ranneberger had on Friday formally requested Kenya to allow FBI to investigate the killings on State House Road in Nairobi. Two officers from the embassy will work with the police.
Police say they have already arrested six people in connection with the killings while three officers’ guns were confiscated to get the one who fired the bullet that killed the student.
“It does not matter the number of people the police arrest or arraign in court, the investigation will not stand the credibility test because in the perception of the people, the police themselves are an accomplice,” he added.
Speaking after meeting human rights activists and NGO Council officials at his office, the PM said police have also been instructed not to interfere with a protest set for Tuesday by students from the University of Nairobi.
Vice chancellors have been asked not to harass or expel students who take part in these demonstrations as some of them have already been threatened with expulsion for being vocal about the killings.
The two activists were shot near the University of Nairobi and one student died after he was shot as irate students protested and prevented police from towing away the vehicle Mr King’ara and Mr Oulu were in.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy head Njeri Kabeberi repeated the demand for the removal of Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, saying that human rights abuses have been most prevalent during his five-year tenure.
Mr Odinga however avoided speaking about the matter, saying instead that police reforms agreed on in the coalition pact would deal with the matter.
Mr Odinga said there is political commitment to find out the people behind the deaths that have caused fear among human rights activists.
The PM however assured them that their lives are not at risk. He said that given the role of civil society organisations in what has come to be known as the second liberation, it is important not to interfere with their activities.
“If the government cannot provide protection to its citizens against an attack or killings, then it has no business being in control. We are not about to compromise on the gains we have made in Kenya,” he said
The embassy cable questioning the mental health of Cristina Kirchner has been leaked at a sensitive time in US-Argentinian relations. Photograph: Leo La Valle/EPA
Hillary Clinton has questioned the mental health of Cristina Kirchner and asked US diplomats to investigate whether the Argentinian president is taking medication to help her “calm down”.
The US secretary of state painted Kirchner as a volatile and emotional leader who suffered from “nerves and anxiety”, according to a secret cable sent to the US embassy in Buenos Aires.
Clinton asked diplomats a series of questions in December last year which could infuriate Kirchner and sabotage a recent rapprochement between Argentina and America.
In a section headed “mental state and health” she asked how the first lady-turned president was managing “her nerves and anxiety” in a blunt tone which suggested US concerns.
“How does stress affect her behaviour toward advisers and/or her decision-making? What steps does Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner or her advisers/handlers take in helping her deal with stress? Is she taking any medications?
“Under what circumstances is she best able to handle stresses? How do Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s emotions affect her decision-making and how does she calm down when distressed?”
The cable appeared to have been prompted by diplomatic spats which, according to the US embassy, showed Kirchner’s government “to be extremely thin-skinned and intolerant of perceived criticism”.
Clinton’s queries are likely to upset the president and prompt jokes about tranquilisers in the Casa Rosada. The leaked memo comes at a sensitive time, after a thaw in relations between the two countries and the death of Kirchner’s husband, Néstor.
The 57-year-old leader is known for glamour, a combative style and leftist populism which has prompted bitter clashes with foes at home and, on occasion, with the US. Her critics will seize on the memo as evidence that she is unstable. Supporters will brand it proof she has stood up to a superpower which once considered Latin America its backyard.
Clinton’s preoccupation may stem partly from the fact that Kirchner’s career has mirrored her own: both are lawyers and tough political operators whose husbands became president and campaigned for their wives to inherit the sash after they left office. Before being elected in 2007 Kirchner welcomed the comparisons and called the then New York senator an inspiration.
Clinton also expressed curiosity about the relationship of Argentina’s power couple. “We are currently preparing a written product examining the interpersonal dynamics between the governing tandem. We have a much more solid understanding of Néstor Kirchner’s style and personality than we do of Cristina … and would like to develop a more well-rounded view of (her) personality.”
Keep us a strong and independent voice for global justice: contribute today!
Cooperate with FBI, Raila tells Kenya police
From Wikileaks
(Redirected from Cooperate with FBI, Raila tells Kenya police
March 9, 2009
By John Ngirachup (The Daily Nation (Kenya))[1]
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) speaks to civil society organisations representatives in his office March 09, 2009. He directed Kenya police investigating last week’s killing of two human rights activists to cooperate with officers from the United States in finding those responsible. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO (Nairobi)In Summary
Mr Odinga says there is political commitment to find out the people behind the deaths that have caused fear among human rights activists
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has directed Kenya police investigating last week’s killing of two human rights activists to cooperate with officers from the United States in finding those responsible.
The Prime Minister said on Monday that he had written to Internal Security minister George Saitoti to instruct police to work with two officers from the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigations to investigate the fatal shooting of Oscar Kamau King’ara and John Paul Oulu on Thursday evening.
US envoy Michael Ranneberger had on Friday formally requested Kenya to allow FBI to investigate the killings on State House Road in Nairobi. Two officers from the embassy will work with the police.
Police say they have already arrested six people in connection with the killings while three officers’ guns were confiscated to get the one who fired the bullet that killed the student.
“It does not matter the number of people the police arrest or arraign in court, the investigation will not stand the credibility test because in the perception of the people, the police themselves are an accomplice,” he added.
Speaking after meeting human rights activists and NGO Council officials at his office, the PM said police have also been instructed not to interfere with a protest set for Tuesday by students from the University of Nairobi.
Vice chancellors have been asked not to harass or expel students who take part in these demonstrations as some of them have already been threatened with expulsion for being vocal about the killings.
The two activists were shot near the University of Nairobi and one student died after he was shot as irate students protested and prevented police from towing away the vehicle Mr King’ara and Mr Oulu were in.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy head Njeri Kabeberi repeated the demand for the removal of Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, saying that human rights abuses have been most prevalent during his five-year tenure.
Mr Odinga however avoided speaking about the matter, saying instead that police reforms agreed on in the coalition pact would deal with the matter.
Mr Odinga said there is political commitment to find out the people behind the deaths that have caused fear among human rights activists.
The PM however assured them that their lives are not at risk. He said that given the role of civil society organisations in what has come to be known as the second liberation, it is important not to interfere with their activities.
“If the government cannot provide protection to its citizens against an attack or killings, then it has no business being in control. We are not about to compromise on the gains we have made in Kenya,” he said