Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 6063 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AR AJ ASEC AE AEMR AF AMGT APER AG AM AORC AGMT AU AS ACOA AX AC AFIN AL AFFAIRS AA AMED ABLD ASUP AROC ATFN ASEAN AFGHANISTAN ADCO AO ASIG AFU APCS AER APECO AODE ABUD ATRN AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AID
BU BM BEXP BR BA BRUSSELS BL BK BO BILAT BTIO BH BE BX BIDEN BG BY BB BF BC BBSR BTIU BMGT
CH CU CJAN CMGT CVIS CO CA CE COUNTER CASC CBW CG CI CS CDG CIA CACM CDB CAN CN CY COE CD CM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CKGR CB CACS CWC CF CLINTON CONDOLEEZZA COM CR CT CTM CARSON CL CJUS CV CIS CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM
DJ DEAX DA DOE DISENGAGEMENT DS DEA DK DR DHS DTRA DOD
EINV ECON ENRG EPET ETRD EAGR ELAB EUN EFIN EAID EU EIND ETTC EG ECPS EWWT ES EXTERNAL EMIN ECIP EINDETRD EN EAIR EZ ER ET EUC EI ELTN EREL ECIN EFIS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EC ENVR ECA ENERG EINT ENGY ELN ETRO ETRDEINVTINTCS ELECTIONS ENIV ENNP EK ENVI EFTA ECONCS EUR ENGR EINVETC EINN ESA ETRDECONWTOCS ECONEFIN ESENV ETC ECUN EINVEFIN
FR FAO FTAA FARC FI FREEDOM FJ FBI FINR FMLN
GM GZ GTMO GOI GG GV GH GA GT GR GE GAZA GCC GTIP GY GANGS
HO HURI HA HU HR HUMAN HSTC HILLARY HYMPSK HK
IR IS IZ IN IT IAEA ID IO IV ICTY IQ ICAO INTERPOL IPR INRB ITPHUM IC IWC IIP ICRC ISRAELI INTELSAT IMO IL IA INR ITALIAN ITALY ITPGOV IZPREL IRAQI ICJ ILC IRC ITRA IF IBRD IMF INRA INRO IEFIN IRAJ IACI
JAMES JA JO JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JM JUS
KCRM KCOR KDEM KPAO KG KTIP KICC KNNP KV KBCT KPAL KTFN KU KSPR KJUS KHLS KTIA KWBG KMDR KGHG KN KUNR KS KIRF KISL KFRD KIPR KAWC KPWR KCIP KSUM KWAC KMIG KOLY KZ KAWK KSEC KIFR KDRG KDEMAF KFIN KGIC KOMC KGCC KPIN KBIO KHIV KSCA KE KPKO KNUC KPLS KIRC KRAD KMCA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KWMN KACT KCFE KGIT KPRP KSTC KFLU KTDB KBTR KLIG KBTS KPRV KVPR KERG KWMM KTBT KRVC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSTH KNSD KSEP KNEI KFLO KMPI KVIR KNUP KTER KDDG KDEV KOCI KPAK KPOA KNNPMNUC KHUM KRFD KNAR KNPP KREL KPAI KHSA KTEX KOMS KHDP KMRS KWWMN KSAF KCFC KTLA KCOM KO KCRS KR
LY LG LE LH LI LO LOG LT LU LTTE LAB
MCAP MO MNUC MARR MASS MPOS MOPS MAR MD MX MZ MEPP MA MR ML MIL MTCRE MOPPS MAPP MU MY MASC MP MRCRE MT MERCOSUR MK MDC MI MAPS MV MG MCC MTCR MEPI MC MASSMNUC MTRE MQADHAFI MUCN
NATO NI NG NU NO NL NIPP NPT NS NSG NA NZ NATIONAL NP NRR NAR NPG NE NK NT NASA NSF NGO
OVIP OTRA OPRC OSCI OTR OVP OREP ODIP OPDC OFFICIALS OSAC OAS OEXC OIIP OFDP OSCE OECD OPIC OPCW OIE OIC
PINR PGOV PBTS PREL PTER PE PO PHUM PROP PBIO PARM PECON PINS PM PK PHSA PREF PL PAK PINT POGOV PINL POL PSOE PKFK PMIL PY PFOR PALESTINIAN PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PRAM PAO PA PMAR PGOVLO POLITICS PUNE PORG PHUMPREL PF PINF POLINT PHUS PGOC PGOF PTERE PGGV PNR PRL PHUMBA PLN PARMS PEL PROV PGOVE POV PG PEPR PSI PU POLITICAL PARTIES
QA
RS RU RO RW REGION RIGHTS RF RICE RP ROBERT RFE
SP SOCI STEINBERG SN SA SY SNAR SMIG SO SENV SCUL SR SF SG SW SU SL SZ SAN SIPRS SH SI SANC SC SNARCS SEVN SOFA SHUM SK SYR ST
TI TX TU TW TC TERRORISM TPHY TRGY TS TIP TBIO TSPA TH TO TZ TK TSPL TNGD TINT TRSY TP TR TD TT TFIN TURKEY
UK UZ UNMIK UN US UG UNSC UP USEU UY UNGA UNO UV USUN UNESCO UE UNEP UNDP UNCHS USTR UNHRC UNAUS UNVIE UNDESCO UNHCR USAID UNCHC UNDC UAE
VE VZ VT VTPREL VN VM
WI WTRO WTO WTRQ WWARD WB WHO WBG WHA WMO WEU WZ WA
XF XA XG XT XM XR XS XL XH XZ XC XW XY XE XK XD
YI YM YE YMCS
ZP ZR ZI ZU ZB ZF ZO ZANU ZA ZOELLICK ZK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05ROME902, IRAQ/ITALY - TRANSCRIPT AND COMMENT ON

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05ROME902.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05ROME902 | 2005-03-17 05:05 | 2011-02-21 11:11 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Rome

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 000902

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR S, D, P, NEA AND EUR;
    OSD FOR SECDEF, DEPSECDEF WOLFOWITZ AND USDP FEITH;
    NSC FOR DAN FRIED;
    CENTCOM FOR GEN. ABIZAID;
    BAGHDAD FOR AMB. NEGROPONTE AND GEN. CASEY

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015
    TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM AFGHANISTAN
    SUBJECT: IRAQ/ITALY - TRANSCRIPT AND COMMENT ON
    BERLUSCONI'S TROOP REDUCTION COMMENTS

    REF: ROME 886

    Classified By: A/DCM SCOTT KILNER, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

    ¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  PM Berlusconi's comments on the March 15
    edition of ""Porta a Porta,"" a popular television
    news/interview program, suggesting the withdrawal of Italian
    troops from Iraq beginning in September of this year, have
    made an impact in both the Italian popular press and in
    international media.  As is often the case, his comments were
    taken out of context in some cases and in others spun
    according to the political leanings of editors.  In fact, the
    Prime Minister's comments were not much different from what
    the Italian Government has been saying for some months --
    Italy would like to get its troops out of Iraq sooner rather
    than later, but not at the expense of Iraqi security and
    democracy-building efforts.  Berlusconi's immediate
    reassurance to us (reftel) that there is no real change in
    Italy,s policy underlines the extent to which his surprise
    announcement is driven by imminent regional elections.  END
    SUMMARY.

    ¶2.  (U)  Given the sensitivity of this issue and in the
    interests of maximum clarity, Embassy is providing at end of
    this cable a transcript of our unofficial translation of the
    PM's comments.  (See Para 6.)

    ¶3.  (SBU)  In the March 16 edition of centrist La Stampa,
    Berlusconi spokesperson Paolo Bonaiuti elaborated on the
    Prime Minister's remarks.  ""First, the Iraqi Government must
    be in agreement (with an Italian withdrawal).  Then our
    Allies must agree.  Finally the highest military authorities
    must find an understanding over procedures.  In sum, we will
    try to begin the withdrawal in September and we will seek to
    bring it to conclusion by the end of the year.""  (Embassy
    note:  The phrasing could mean either the end of 2005 or
    within a one-year time period.)  ""These are our intentions,
    but then we must take into account reality,"" Bonaiuti
    concluded.

    ----------------------------------
    COMMENT:  IT'S ALL ABOUT ELECTIONS
    ----------------------------------

    ¶4.  (C)  Like other national leaders, Berlusconi is finding
    discussion of an exit strategy to be an asset when facing
    elections.  What surprised us is his decision to play this
    card now, before regional elections in which Iraq will be a
    minor issue.  A growing majority of the Italian public
    opposes the continued Italian deployment in Iraq.  In the
    wake of the liberation of hostage Giuliana Sgrena and the
    shooting of Italian intelligence official Nicola Calipari, a
    La Stampa poll published this week shows 47% favoring
    withdrawal (up from 35% in February) and only 14% favoring
    remaining under current conditions.

    ¶5.  (C)  Berlusconi's and Bonaiuti's caveats will leave the
    Prime Minister lots of wiggle room to avoid withdrawal if the
    situation in Iraq does not improve by September, and/or if
    Iraq/U.S./UK push him hard to maintain Italy's presence.
    However, Berlusconi's reassurances to us of ""no change in
    policy"" (reftel) could still run up against electoral
    reality.  In national elections next year, voters will be
    more likely to remember the ""promise"" in the headlines than
    the caveats underneath.  Watching the polls as astutely as he
    does, Berlusconi could find himself pushed into a symbolic
    withdrawal -- or more -- by the end of the year.  END COMMENT.

    ¶6.  (U)  Begin transcript of segment of March 15 edition of
    ""Porta a Porta.""  Names other than Berlusconi's refer to
    journalists who appeared with him on the program:

    Mario Orfeo, (managing editor of Naples daily Il Mattino):
    Both you and FM Fini talked about exit strategy. When?  What
    does it depend on? Does it depend on us, on the Americans or
    an Iraqi request?

    Berlusconi:  It depends on the capacity the Iraqi government
    will have to set up adequate security and police forces

    because the birth and the growth of democracy in Iraq can
    take place only if the minimally acceptable conditions of
    security are in place in the country. Therefore, we, I
    personally and deeply, talked about this with Tony Blair,
    saying we must create a precise &exit strategy8 (said in
    English), also because our public opinions are waiting for
    this communication. And we agreed that we will talk about
    this in the near future as we link this to the will and the
    organizational ability of the next Iraqi government to
    increase their capability of self defense so that we can in
    parallel and in a complementary way reduce our presence in
    Iraq.

    Bruno Vespa (host):  Is it realistic to imagine that we would
    withdraw after the national elections at the end of the year?

    Berlusconi:  I think we will certainly begin reducing the
    number of our military even before, in accordance(

    Paolo Gambescia (Il Messagero managing editor):
    (Interrupting)  Even before the end of the year?

    Berlusconi:  Even before the end of the year.

    Vespa:  This is news.

    Berlusconi:  It is our will to aim for a possible reduction
    even before the end of the year, in agreement with our
    allies, and with the Iraqi government.

    Orfeo:  You gave us very good news.

    Berlusconi: We are working on this direction because we are
    self-aware. Let's remember with pride that we are the 6th
    largest economy in the world and therefore we have to take
    responsibility for democracy and freedom in the world.
    Without democracy there is no real freedom, and without real
    freedom there cannot be growth in countries. Therefore I
    believe the commitment - as suggested to President Bush and
    the Republican majority, the American majority, out of their
    Constitution ) to assume the role of world leader, that he
    has wanted to do this, is something very positive. Only when
    we will no longer have those 30 or 40 countries where human
    dignity is not respected will it be possible to have
    countries that grow in well being. I'm absolutely convinced
    that the western countries will bear some blame if the
    sub-Saharan African countries have no conditions of well
    being. They have not been able to give themselves conditions
    of democracy, hence freedom, hence they have not known growth
    and well being.

    Vespa:  So, in your opinion, how many months until the first
    leave?

    Berlusconi:  I think that beginning in September, in the
    talks I have had with my colleagues, beginning in September
    we would like to begin a progressive reduction of our
    soldiers in Iraq. We are proud to be the third country in
    terms of number of soldiers in peacekeeping operations. We
    are the third after the US, after the UK, we are third. And
    also in Iraq our contingent of 3,300 men is the third, after
    the US and UK.

    End transcript segment.

    SEMBLER

`