the German leak has been found. It was Helmut Metzler, chief of Westerwelle's (German
foreign minister) office. He had given confidential infos to US-ambassador Murphy.
He had been fired, but (probably ?) no legal consequences, no prison.
http://translate.google.com/transla...Aw&prev=/search?q=FDP-Maulwurf+enttarnt&hl=en
Westerwelle had said some days ago about the reports of a FDP-mole :
> I do not believe that
ridiculing about the cables as "gossip".
He had had the most negative appearance in the leaked cables.
He was described by US as aggressive,arrogant.
Will he be the first victim of cablegates ? Will he withdraw ?
You also have to wonder, if Murphy is a good choice as US-ambassador,
now that trust was damaged. But I haven't researched yet, how much
he was involved.
Some days ago the headlines had him with :
> I won't apologize
http://twitter.com/usbotschaft
http://www.facebook.com/BotschafterMurphy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_D._Murphy
no actual comment from him about Metzler yet.
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Westerwelle is not popular in Germany currently anyway,
so this could be the KO for him
popularity of German politicians 2010/12/02 (+- to previous month)
75(+-0) Guttenberg
57(new) Geissler
56(-5) Steinmeier
53(+9) de Maiziere
49(-2) von der Leyen
44(-5) Künast
44 (+3) Merkel
41(-11) Schäuble
23(-3) Westerwelle
this questioning was presumably done before cablegates
BTW. do we have a similar list for US-politicians ?
We have monthly polls from a (several ?) polling institute (s?)
to meaure politician popularity
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German headlines:
FDP-Politiker USA must withdraw ambassador WELT ONLINE - ‎Vor 2 Stunden‎
can you still do your job here, Mr. ambassador ? BILD - ‎01.12.2010‎
US-ambassador Murphy: " I take the whole responsibility" Frankfurter Neue Presse (Pressemitteilung)
Beck: no breaking of US-German friendship , Rhein
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writes our local newspaper :
Metzler was known for his humour, always joking.
His motto of life was : "who cackles must also lay eggs"
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nothing is known so far about possible return service of the USA (payment ?)
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