Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12433 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 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 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 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 Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana 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 Belmopan 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 Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva 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 St Petersburg 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 Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
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
AORC AF AR ASEC AEMR AMGT AE ABLD AL AJ AU AO AFIN ASUP AUC APECO AM AG APER AGMT AMED ADCO AS AID AND AMBASSADOR ARM ABUD AODE AMG ASCH ARF ASEAN ADPM ACABQ AFFAIRS ATRN ASIG AA AC ACOA ANET APEC AQ AY ASEX ATFN AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AN AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS AINF AGAO AIT AORL ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA AX AECL AADP AMEX ACAO AORG ADM AGR AROC
BL BR BO BE BK BY BA BILAT BU BM BEXP BF BTIO BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BG BD BWC BH BIDEN BB BT BRUSSELS BP BX BN
CD CH CM CU CBW CS CVIS CF CIA CLINTON CASC CE CR CG CO CJAN CY CMGT CA CI CN CPAS CAN CDG CW CONDOLEEZZA CT CIC CIDA CSW CACM CB CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CTR COUNTER CWC CONS CITEL CV CFED CBSA CITT CDC COM COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CDB CKGR CACS CARSON CROS CAPC CHR CL CICTE CIS CNARC CJUS CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CBC CBE CARICOM CTM CVR
DR DPRK DEPT DA DJ DEA DTRA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DO DE DEAX DOE DK DS DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEFENSE
EAGR EAIR ECON ECPS ETRD EUN ENRG EINV EMIN EU EFIN EREL EG EPET ENGY ETTC EIND ECIN EAID ELAB EC EZ ENVR ELTN ELECTIONS ER EINT ES EWWT ENIV EAP EFIS ERD ENERG EAIDS ECUN EI EINVEFIN EN EUC EINVETC ENGR ET ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECONOMY EUMEM ESA EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EINN EEPET ENVI EFTA ESENV ECINECONCS EPA ECONOMIC ETRA EIAR EUREM ETRC EXBS ELN ECA EK ECONEFIN ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECIP EINDETRD EUR ENNP EXIM ERNG EFINECONCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EAIG EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS
FR FREEDOM FTA FI FOR FJ FTAA FARC FINANCE FDA FAC FBI FAO FM FMLN FO FISO FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR
GM GE GG GZ GOV GT GR GAERC GV GH GA GY GOI GTIP GCC GERARD GAZA GTMO GL GLOBAL GANGS GF
HO HA HILLARY HUMAN HR HURI HEBRON HU HK HUMOR HSTC HI HYMPSK
IS ICRC IN IR IZ IT INRB IAEA ICAO ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IC IL ID IV IMO INMARSAT IQ IRAJ IO ICTY IPR IWC ILC INTELSAT IBRD IMF IRC IRS ILO ITU IDA IAHRC ICJ ITRA ISRAELI ITF IACI IDP ICTR IIP IA IF IZPREL IGAD INTERPOL INTERNAL ISRAEL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV IBET IEFIN INR INRA INRO IEA
JA JAMES JO JM JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JOHN JUS
KSCA KUNR KHLS KAWK KISL KPAO KSPR KGHG KPKO KDEM KNNP KN KS KPAL KACT KCRM KDRG KJUS KGIC KRAD KU KTFN KV KMDR KWBG KSUM KSEP KCOR KHIV KG KGCC KTIP KIRF KE KIPR KMCA KCIP KTIA KAWC KBCT KVPR KPLS KREL KCFE KOMC KFRD KWMN KTDB KPRP KMFO KZ KVIR KOCI KMPI KFLU KSTH KCRS KTBT KIRC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLO KSTC KFSC KFTFN KIDE KOLY KMRS KICA KCGC KSAF KRVC KVRP KCOM KAID KTEX KICC KNSD KBIO KOMS KGIT KHDP KNEI KTRD KWNM KRIM KSEO KR KWAC KMIG KIFR KBTR KTER KDDG KPRV KPAK KO KRFD KHUM KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KREC KCFC KLIG KWMNCS KSEC KPIN KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KSCI KNAR KFIN KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KNPP KDEMAF KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KCRCM KWMM KPAI KHSA KTLA KRCM KCSY KSAC KID KOM KMOC KESS KDEV KJUST
LE LY LI LH LAB LU LG LOG LTTE LA LO LABOR LT
MARR MOPS MX MASS MNUC MCAP MO MU ML MA MTCRE MY MOPPS MASC MIL MR MTS MLS MILI MK MEPP MD MAR MP MTRE MCC MZ MDC MRCRE MV MI MEPN MAPP MEETINGS MAS MTCR MG MEPI MT MEDIA MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MPOS MAPS MARAD MC MIK MUCN MILITARY MERCOSUR MW
NZ NL NATO NO NI NU NATIONAL NG NP NPT NPG NS NA NSG NAFTA NC NH NE NSF NSSP NDP NORAD NK NEW NR NASA NT NIPP NAR NGO NW NV NATOPREL NPA NRR NSC NSFO NZUS
OTRA OVIP OEXC OIIP OSAC OPRC OVP OFFICIALS OAS OREP OPIC OSCE OECD OSCI OFDP OPDC OIC OFDA ODIP OBSP ON OCII OES OPCW OPAD OIE OHUM OCS OMIG OTR
PGOV PREL PARM PHUM PREF PTER PINS PK PINR PROP PBTS PKFK PL PE PSOE PEPR PM PAK POLITICS POL PHSA PPA PA PBIO PINT PF PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT POLINT PRAM PMAR PG PAO PROG PRELP PCUL PSEPC PGIV PO PREFA PALESTINIAN PGOVLO PGOVE PLN PINF PAS PDEM PHUMPGOV PNG PHUH PMIL POGOV PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON POV PSA PREO PAHO PP PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PTBS PORG PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PS PY PTERE PGOF
QA
RS RO RU RW REGION RIGHTS RSP ROBERT RP RICE REACTION RCMP RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL RF ROOD RUPREL RSO RELATIONS REPORT
SENV SZ SOCI SNAR SP SCUL SU SY SA SO SF SMIG SW STEINBERG SG SIPRS SR SI SPCE SN SYRIA SL SC SHI SNARIZ SIPDIS SPCVIS SH SOFA SK ST SEVN SYR SHUM SAN SNARCS SAARC SARS SEN SANC SCRS SENVKGHG SNARN SWE SSA
TPHY TW TS TU TX TRGY TIP TSPA TSPL TBIO TNGD TI TFIN TC TRSY TZ TINT TT TF TN TERRORISM TP TURKEY TD TH TBID TL TV TAGS TK TR THPY TO
UNGA UNSC UNCHR UK US UP UNEP UNMIK UN UAE UZ UG UNESCO UNHRC USTR UNHCR UY USOAS UNDC UNCHC UNO UNFICYP USEU UNDP UNODC UNCND UNAUS UNCHS UV USUN USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF UE UNC USPS UNDESCO UNPUOS USAID UNVIE
VE VT VZ VTPREL VM VN VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WMO WTRQ WB WI WWARD WA WBG WITH WHA WTO WMD WTRO WIPO WHO WS WHTI WEU WZ WFP
XB XG XT XH XA XM XF XE XR XK XL XW XY XS XX XV XD XTAG XQ XU XZ XC XI
YM YE YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZO ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZU ZL ZEALAND ZN ZB ZA 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 09SANTIAGO331, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MARCH 28 MEETING WITH PRIME

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. #09SANTIAGO331.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09SANTIAGO331 | 2009-04-07 20:08 | 2010-12-13 12:12 | SECRET | Embassy Santiago

`

    VZCZCXYZ0003
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSG #0331/01 0972057
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    O 072057Z APR 09
    FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4766
    INFO RUEHXQ/ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T SANTIAGO 000331

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
    TAGS: OVIP BIDEN JOSEPH PREL ECON PGOV SOCI EU
    SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MARCH 28 MEETING WITH PRIME
    MINISTER JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO

    Classified By: Ambassador Paul Simons for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

    ¶1. (U) March 28, 2009; 9:20 am; Vina del Mar, Chile.

    ¶2. (U) Participants:

    U.S.
    Joseph Biden, Vice President
    Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor to the
    Vice President
    Brian McKeon, Deputy National Security Advisor to
    the Vice President
    Dan Restrepo, Senior Director, Western Hemisphere
    Affairs, National Security Council
    Craig Kelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
    of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S.
    Dept. of State
    Brian Harris (notetaker), Political/Economic
    Chief, U.S. Embassy Guatemala City

    SPAIN
    Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister
    Bernadino Leon, Secretary General of the Presidency
    Nieves Goicoechea, Deputy Secretary of State for
    Communications
    Trinidad Jimenez, Deputy Secretary of State for
    Latin America
    Maria Solanes, Presidential Counselor for
    International Affairs

    ¶3. (C) Summary: During a bilateral meeting on the margins
    of the Progressive Governance Leaders Summit in Chile, Vice
    President Joseph Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis
    Rodriguez Zapatero discussed the need for a strengthened
    relationship and greater collaboration between Europe and the
    United States. Vice President Biden pledged increased
    consultation with Europe and called on Spain and other
    European nations to follow through on commitments with
    action. He also criticized the lack of consultation prior to
    Spain's withdrawal from Kosovo and requested Spain consult
    the United States earlier and in a more transparent fashion
    in the future. Zapatero defended the decision to withdraw
    but allowed that Spain could have consulted earlier with the
    United States. End Summary.

    --------------------------------------------- -------
    Expectations and New U.S. Approach to Foreign Policy
    --------------------------------------------- -------

    ¶4. (C) PM Zapatero opened the meeting by congratulating Vice
    President Biden on the election victory and saying it had
    raised expectations in Spain and throughout Europe for a new
    relationship with the United States. Vice President Biden
    thanked Zapatero and added that expectations may be too high,
    and President Obama knows that high expectations have more to
    do with the failures of the previous administration than with
    his new administration.

    ¶5. (C) Vice President Biden added that we want to change our
    foreign policy paradigm. We know that most of our challenges
    lie beyond the scope of the United States to confront alone
    and that President Obama genuinely wants engage in dialogue
    with partners around the world to develop consensus around
    solutions. We know what the pillars of our policy are, but
    unless we listen and work with our partners, it will not
    matter much.

    ¶6. (C) Vice President Biden went on to say that Spain and
    the United States have worked as great partners in Iraq and
    we need to enhance the cooperation between our two countries.
    The relationship has not been all positive in recent years
    but there was no reason why it could not change instantly.

    ¶7. (C) Zapatero responded that managing the relationship
    between the United States and Spain under the Bush
    administration was easy for him. Whatever position the Bush
    Administration took, he would take the opposite and see his
    domestic poll numbers increase. Sarcastically, Zapatero said
    "for that I will always be grateful to the Bush
    Administration." Now, however, Spain, and Europe in general,
    want a change in the relationship with the United States.
    Europe is a group of countries that the United States can
    trust. We share the same general outlook and, to a great
    extent, the same strategic interests. Europe wants to see a
    United States that shares decision making on global issues
    and listens to everyone, rather than pushing a single
    dogmatic view as with the Bush administration. Europe is the
    world's greatest debating club which--despite numerous
    cultures, 27 countries, and 20 languages--can still reach
    consensus. Were Europeans to be a little bolder, they would
    have a great impact on world affairs. Now Europeans want to

    contribute to reinvigorated U.S. leadership by helping to
    contribute the best ideas and principles to help solve global
    challenges.

    ¶8. (C) Vice President Biden said that for eight years the
    doctrine of "my way or the high way" had been ascendant in
    American foreign policy and that he had long spoken against
    this in the Senate. In his recent speeches at the Munich
    Security Conference and at the North Atlantic Council he had
    been a consistent proponent of collaboration and consensus
    building. However, consensus building can have the drawback
    of leading to the lowest common denominator. Working
    together, Europe and the United States must reach agreement,
    then implement plans and enforce the rules of the road.
    Despite being an ardent Atlanticist, Vice President Biden
    noted that Europe has been reluctant to act to enforce the
    rules to which Europeans have ascribed. The Obama
    administration brings good news and bad news for Europeans.
    Unlike the Bush administration, the Obama administration will
    genuinely consult and listen to its European partners.
    However, once a decision is reached, the Obama administration
    will be more aggressive in asking Europeans to follow through
    on its commitments.

    ¶9. (C) Vice President Biden said regular Americans in places
    like Peoria and Albuquerque do not like being a superpower,
    they want others, such as Europe to help lead. When the idea
    of a European military force separate from the NATO command
    structure emerged, many in the Bush administration railed
    against it. However, Vice President Biden said he had been
    supportive of the idea and did not view it as a threat. In a
    light moment, when Zapatero said that the European Defense
    Force would happen, Vice President Biden extended his hand
    and said "I bet it won't." Vice President Biden said we
    view the U.S.-European relationship as an axis of world
    stability and we need to work together to strengthen it.

    ------
    Kosovo
    ------

    ¶10. (C) Vice President Biden said that we want to genuinely
    collaborate with Spain, but changing a relationship was
    difficult, and required reciprocal changes. For example,
    when Spain unilaterally withdrew its mission to Kosovo, we
    would have appreciated advanced warning and collaboration.
    The decision is a sovereign one for Spain to make and one
    that the United States respects, but we should discuss it in
    advance.

    ¶11. (C) Zapatero responded that there must have been a
    misunderstanding. Spain made the decision to withdraw a year
    ago and could not maintain participation in the mission once
    Kosovo declared its independence and was recognized by
    numerous nations. Spain is a fractious country with Basque
    (ETA) terrorist organization that has killed over 900
    Spaniards in an effort to split from Spain. Any hint that
    the Spanish government would support the dissolution of a
    country into regional components would be sensitive
    politically and could embolden separatists. Therefore, Spain
    could not continue to support a mission to Kosovo. However,
    Zapatero allowed, Spain could have conducted more
    comprehensive consultations with the United States ahead of
    its withdrawal.

    ¶12. (U) The Office of the Vice President has cleared this
    message.
    SIMONS

`