Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12779 / 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 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 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 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 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 2002/12
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 Consulate Fukuoka
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 Niamey 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 Sapporo 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
AMED ASEC AF AORC AMGT AFIN AJ AR AS AE ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AU AID AG ASCH AA AL AM AORL AEMR APECO APER ASEAN APEC ADM AFSI AFSN ABLD ADCO ABUD ASUP AN AIT AGR ACOA ANET ASIG AGMT AINF AECL AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF AGAO ACS AMCHAMS ADPM ATRN ALOW AND APCS ACAO AORG AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AFU AMG ATPDEA
BL BR BTIO BA BG BEXP BTIU BO BK BBSR BU BRUSSELS BD BM BIDEN BE BH BILAT BF BY BC BB BT BX BP BMGT BWC BN
CO CA CASC CJAN CI CH CNARC CS CU CVIS CACM CG CMGT CPAS CB CD CM CV CDG CIDA CWC CLINTON CHR CBW COE CR CE CIS CDC CONS CY CW CF CODEL CIA CROS CAPC CT CBSA CEUDA COM CFED CACS CAC CIC COPUOS CL CARSON CN CTR CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC
DR DEA DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE
ECON EAID EC EUN EAIR EFIN EINV EG EXTERNAL ENRG EPET ETRD EAGR ETTC ECIN ELAB EUREM ET EU ELN ECPS ER EIND EMIN ELTN EWWT EFIS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPA EINT ES EUC ENGR ENERG EN EZ ERD EFTA EK ETRC EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR EXIM ENIV ESA EUR ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EUMEM ERNG ECONOMY ECA EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG
FR FI FAC FARC FTA FJ FAO FDA FMLN FBI FO FAS FTAA FOREIGN FOR FM FREEDOM FISO FINANCE FINR FOI
GE GOI GM GG GR GT GCC GV GH GOV GA GTIP GY GERARD GZ GAERC GANGS GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HO HA HILLARY HYMPSK HR HU HSTC HK HEBRON HUMOR HI HURI HUMAN
IT IR IS IC IAEA IN IZ ICTY ICAO IO IMO INMARSAT INDO IL ID IRS IQ IA ICRC IDA ICJ IV IAHRC IBRD IMF IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IRC ITRA IDP ICTR IEFIN IRAQI IPR IIP ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI
JO JA JM JOSEPH JP JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KJUS KPAO KIRF KDEM KCOR KPAL KNNP KCRM KWMN KIRC KMDR KIPR KWBG KTFN KGHG KE KUNR KMPI KOMC KPKO KSCA KFLU KFIN KSUM KTDB KAWC KRVC KGIC KFRD KISL KTIP KVPR KICC KHDP KCFE KTIA KSEO KCIP KZ KG KWAC KSPR KRAD KPRP KN KS KHLS KTEX KNAR KPLS KGCC KPAK KSTC KFLO KSEP KV KSTH KU KSCI KOLY KIDE KOMS KMCA KACT KHIV KBCT KDRG KBTR KAWK KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KTBT KSAF KMOC KBIO KREC KCGC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KO KVIR KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KGIT KWMM KHSA KX KPOA KNEI KCRS KR KVRP KENV KCRCM KBTS KNSD KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KCOM KLIG KDEMAF KAID KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS
LO LE LY LI LA LG LH LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MASS MX MNUC MAPP MARR MCAP MZ MR MO MT ML MA MY MTCRE MIL MD MASSMNUC MU MK MTCR MUCN MEPP MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTRE MASC MG MRCRE MPS MW MARAD MC MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC
NZ NATO NSF NL NE NU NK NSSP NI NA NS NPT NO NDP NSC NAFTA NH NV NP NPA NSFO NG NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NR NIPP NZUS NC NEW NRR NAR NATOPREL
OTRA OIIP OPRC OMIG OREP OVIP OVP OSCE OPIC OSCI OEXC OECD OIE OPDC OAS ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OIC OCS OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PREL PE PGOV PHUM PINS PTER PINR PL PARM PK PM PREF PBTS PNAT PA POL PLN POLITICAL PARTIES PO PHSA PCUL PAK PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBIO PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PMIL PALESTINIAN PDOV PRAM PSEPC PROG POV PROV POLITICS POLICY PCI POSTS PREO PAHO PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PGOC PY PHUH PF PHUS PU
QA
RU RS RW RP RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RO RCMP ROOD RSO RM ROBERT RICE RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SOCI SENV SY SMIG SA SNAR SW SU SO SP SCUL SZ SR SHUM SARS SF SN SC SIPRS SI SEVN STEINBERG SG SYR SWE SK SH SNARCS SAARC SPCE SNARN SNARIZ SEN SCRS SYRIA SL SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI
TBIO TU TRGY TW TIP TPHY TS TT TNGD TSPL TH TSPA TD TI TX TZ TC TINT TN TP TBID TF TL THPY TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK US UNSC UNCHR UN USTR UNHRC UNGA UG UNEP UZ UP UNESCO UNPUOS USEU UNMIK UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR USUN UNCND USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VE VT VM VZ VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WMO WWARD WHTI WTRO WHO WHA WS WTO WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WITH WEU WA
XL XW XS XR XA XM XD XV XK XX XG XY XF XU XI XT XH XB XQ XE XTAG XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZF ZI ZK ZR ZP ZU ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### 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 09LONDON2449, LAUNCH OF UK TOP LEVEL GROUP OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

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. #09LONDON2449.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09LONDON2449 | 2009-10-29 18:04 | 2011-02-04 21:00 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy London

`

    VZCZCXRO3864
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
    DE RUEHLO #2449/01 3021804
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 291804Z OCT 09
    FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3846
    INFO RUCNDSC/DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE
    RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 002449

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
    TAGS: KNNP PARM PGOV PREL MARR MOPS UK
    SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF UK TOP LEVEL GROUP OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
    MULTILATERAL NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND NONPROLIFERATION  REF: LONDON 2222

    Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (C/NF)  Summary. Fifteen senior UK parliamentarians launched in London October 29 the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation. The group represents a cross party effort to promote British leadership of multilateral disarmament. One of the Group's top goals, as stated in its press release, is to "provide an authoritative European voice to back up the position of U.S. President Barack Obama."  Among its core aims is "ensuring that politicians in the U.S. ...are in no doubt of their allies' positions on extended deterrence, tactical nuclear weapons, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty."  Labour MP and former Defence Secretary Des Browne underscored in a meeting with Poloff that the Group's members would welcome opportunities to engage with key senators and congressmen on issues related to multilateral nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. Browne affirmed during the launch that the Prime Minister had said he would be prepared to reduce the UK's independent Trident nuclear deterrent -- but only in the context of multilateral discussions.  (Ref) The Group's multilateral, incremental approach to disarmament represents a broad, cross party consensus of some of Britain's most influential parliamentarians in the areas of foreign and defense policy. End Summary.

    ¶2. (SBU)  Fifteen senior UK parliamentarians, composed of most of the senior Ministers of foreign affairs and defense over the last two decades, launched in London October 29 the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation.  Labour MP and former Defence Secretary Des Browne chaired the launch as the group's "convenor."  In his opening remarks to MPs, HMG officials, academics, NGOs, diplomats and journalists, Browne cited President Obama's "consistent commitment" to multilateral nuclear disarmament.  Browne and other members of the group affirmed that the group represents a cross party effort to promote British leadership of multilateral disarmament.  According to the Top Level Group's press release, its "members share the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and have come together at this critical time in international diplomacy to help achieve that end."  The press release also notes that one of the group's goals is "ensuring that politicians in the U.S. ...are in no doubt of their allies' positions on extended deterrence, tactical nuclear weapons, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty."  In the Group's view, success of the 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is a prerequisite for "for the multilateral nuclear disarmament agenda to be credible and achievable." (Note: The Group's website is www.toplevelgroup.org.)

    Disarmament "Has to Be Multilateral" ------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU)  Several of the Group's members underscored that nuclear disarmament should be a multilateral process. Malcolm Rifkind, Conservative MP and former Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, stated that "disarmament has to be multilateral."  However, he continued, "even if you have doubts about getting to zero in our lifetime, the effort is worthwhile."  Labour Peer Lord Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and former Secretary of State for Defence, underscored that the Group is "talking about multilateral disarmament."  He stressed that 95 percent of the world's nuclear weapons are held by the U.S. and Russia and that a new START treaty is crucial.  Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Williams of Crosby highlighted the "promising outlook" of U.S.-Russia START negotiations, but noted "serious concerns" regarding proliferation in other areas, including the Middle East, India and Pakistan.  Williams noted that HMG's contributions to international verification efforts are "widely respected."  Williams affirmed that the establishment of the cross party Group represented a change in global conditions and attitudes.  "You would not have gotten this (Group) together ten years ago," she said.  Labour MP and former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and other Group members stressed the importance of increased public dialogue on non-proliferation and disarmament.  Beckett asserted that public dialogue needs to "answer the question of how a world without nuclear weapons can be achieved.  That's what the public will ask."   LONDON 00002449  002 OF 002

    What About Trident? -------------------

    ¶4.  (SBU/NF) Responding to a question from a journalist about the steps that HMG could take in the NPT Review Conference context, Browne noted that the Prime Minister had said he would be prepared to reduce the UK's independent Trident nuclear deterrent -- but only in the context of multilateral discussions. (Ref)  Some Group members expressed concern that the UK elections debate on defense issues would focus to a large extent on the role of the Trident deterrent. (Note: Britain's next general election must occur by June 3, 2010, with sometime in May the likely date, according to many analysts.  End Note.)  Following the launch, a Cabinet Office officer who handles nonproliferation issues predicted to Poloff that the role of Trident would be a prominent theme in the election campaign.

    Browne's Perspective --------------------

    ¶5.  (C/NF) In an October 27 meeting with Poloff, Des Browne stressed the Group's "core belief" that nuclear disarmament should be both incremental and multilateral.  He said that the Group seeks to launch a public and policy maker debate, to "refresh and revive" the discussion and "to make it accessible to people."  In regard to Trident, Browne said that the key question for UK policy makers is "how can we maintain a minimum defense from the system we have presently?"  The Group also seeks to work closely with European partners, since "we won't get France to buy-in (to multilateral nuclear disarmament) without a European context" and France might be "wary of UK leadership."

    ¶6. (C/NF) Browne underscored to Poloff the willingness of the Group's members to engage with key senators and congressmen on issues related to multilateral nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.  "We can bring high-level visitors to the U.S. and we can contribute to your debate -- as invited."  He affirmed that all the Group's members, regardless of party affiliation, strongly support President Obama's vision of a nuclear free world.  President Obama "has used the phraseology for a world that most people want to live in," a world without nuclear weapons, and the Group would like to help achieve that goal, he said.

    Comment -------

    ¶7. (C)  Baroness Williams is correct in asserting that the Group's creation reflects a shift in thinking about multilateral nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation -- and that a cross party group with such a broad consensus could not have been established a decade ago.  The Group's pragmatic, multilateral, incremental approach to disarmament cuts across partisan lines and represents, in Browne's words, "almost the whole of the foreign and defense ministerial cohort of the last 20 years."  The Group recognizes that U.S. global leadership is crucial; one of its top goals, as stated in its press release, is to "provide an authoritative European voice to back up the position of U.S. President Barack Obama."  The prominence of the Group's members is an important first step.  Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
    SUSMAN

`