Hillary Clinton: Leaks an 'Attack' on America

But she refuses to comment on 'stolen' cables
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 29, 2010 1:26 PM CST
Hillary Clinton: Leaks an 'Attack' on America
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is seen during a bilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, at the State Department.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The US “strongly condemns” WikiLeaks’ disclosure of confidential State Department cables, Hillary Clinton said today, calling it an “attack on America’s foreign policy interests” and on the international community. Though she refused to comment specifically on “what are alleged to be stolen State Department cables,” she said the cables revealed no wrongdoing. “What is being put on display … is the fact that American diplomats are doing the work we expect them to do.”

Clinton also defended the need for the secret communiqués. “In almost every profession … people rely on confidential communications to do their jobs,” she said. She insisted that the leaks wouldn’t harm the US’ relations with other governments. "At least one of my counterparts said, 'Well, don't worry, you should hear what we say about you,'" she offered. Asked specifically about Iran, Clinton said the disclosures proved that other countries also viewed the regime as a threat, and hence went along with US sanction proposals. “It did not happen because the United States went out and said, ‘please do this for us.’” (More Hillary Clinton stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X