Cables offer dim view of Russia, Putin
Leaked diplomatic correspondence points to growing American qualms over Kremlin motives, attitudes
-
-
x
Jump to video Russians dogged in latest WikiLeaks docs
-
- video
-
x
-
-
x
Jump to interactive WikiLeaks timeline
-
- interactive
-
x
-
-
x
Jump to discuss comments below
- discuss
-
x
-
-
x
Next story in The New York Times
- related
-
x
Below:
Video: Russians dogged in latest WikiLeaks docs
-
Closed captioning of: Russians dogged in latest WikiLeaks docs
>>> batch of wikileaks documents, leaks of u.s. state department cables which have revealed what a lot of dip tats really think about the world. in this new batch, splashed across the web and in great britain and here in the u.s., there are allegations the russians are running a mob state. someone has compared russian leaders putin and medvedev to batman and robin and putin comes under sharp attack as a macho character, oddly disen gauged and at times working from home. the reach of these wikileaks documents circles the globe and it's not open. let's go to our chief affairs foreign correspondent andrea mitchell . good evening.
>> reporter: good evening, brian. these newly released cables expose deep fault lines in the u.s.-russian relationship. and uncertainly about the power sharing between prime minister putin and medvedev , who became president of russia in 2008 , when putin was barped from speaking a third term. some u.s. diplomats describe medvedev continues to play robin to put b's batman. surrounded by putin loyalists and subserve yant to putin 's political dominance. there's a cable from 2009 titled "questioning putin 's work ethic ," which describes his isolation. the cable, which was approved by the u.s. ambassador to russia says, there are consistent reports that putin resents the workload he carries, even describing him as a no-show, working from home. when state department cable quotes a senior spanish prosecutor investigating organized crime saying "russia has become a virtual mafia state, with the kremlin using mafia bosses to carry out its wishes, doing dirty work such as gun running ." robert gates was quoted as saying russian democracy has disappeared, calling the government an oligarchy run by the security services . what does putin think about all this? he called gates deeply misled and advises meamericans don't interfere. brian?
>> andrea mitchell starting us off with this new information tonight
Photos: Wikileaks
- jump to photo #0
- jump to photo #1
- jump to photo #2
- jump to photo #3
- jump to photo #4
- jump to photo #5
- jump to photo #6
- jump to photo #7
-
-
-
(John Darkow / The Columbia Daily Tribune, Politicalcartoons.com) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
-
-
-
-
Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
-
Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
-
Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
-
Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
Discuss:
More from
-
World headlines from
- Blast Apparently Aimed at an Afghan Politician Kills 3 in Kabul
- The Lede: Protests Expand in Brazil, Fueled by Video of Police Brutality
- Baikonur Journal: Russian Space Center in Kazakhstan Counts Down Its Days of Glory
- Obama and Putin Signal a More Businesslike Path
- World Brief | Africa : Six Men Sentenced for Attacking Sufi Shrine in Tunisia
- Rebels in North Mali Sign Peace Deal Allowing In Government Troops
- Taliban Step Toward Afghan Peace Talks Is Hailed by U.S.
-
Top stories from
- A Health Maven’s Sweet Secret
- In Partisan Vote, House Acts to Limit Abortions
- House Passes Far-Reaching Anti-Abortion Bill
- Venus Williams Will Skip Wimbledon
- A.M.A. Recognizes Obesity as a Disease
- McCaskill Lends Support to Group Urging 2016 Clinton Run
- Immigration Bill Would Slash Deficit, Budget Office Finds
“ ”