Top U.S. diplomat launches f-bomb on EU in leaked recorded conversation
By Elise Labott
A leaked audio recording of a phone call allegedly catches the top U.S. diplomat to Europe working on a behind-the-scenes deal to end the Ukrainian political turmoil, and using profanity to express strong frustrations with inaction and indecision by the European Union in resolving the crisis.
In the conversation, voices closely resembling those of Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Victoria Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt discuss a plan to broker a deal between the Ukrainian government and the opposition.
At one point the woman, who sounds like Nuland, can be heard saying "f**k the EU."
The recording was uploaded on YouTube on February 4 by an anonymous user named "Maidan Puppets," and had been viewed more than 11,000 times as of Thursday. The name of the user appears to be a reference to Maidan Square in Kiev, where protestors have fought the government and Russian accusations that the protestors are puppets of the West. The call also was posted on the Kyiv Post, a leading Ukrainian newspaper.
The call cannot be independently verified and it is unclear when or where it was recorded.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to speak about the details of a private conversation, but did not say the call was inauthentic.
The U.S. is pointing a finger at Russian involvement in the matter of the leaked call. Russia has accused the U.S. in meddling in Ukraininan affairs, and U.S officials suggested Moscow likely tapped Nuland and Pyatt's phone conversation and leaked it out of concern about a potential deal between the government and the opposition
Although she said she didn't have independent detail about the origin of the YouTube video, Psaki said the fact the recording was first tweeted out by an employee in Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin's office was an "indication" they played a role.
"Certainly we think this is a new low in Russian trade-craft," Psaki said, using a term that refers to a nation state's espionage activities. "This is something they've been actively promoting, posting on."
The conversation appears to address Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych's January 25 offer of a power-sharing deal with opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk as prime minister and Vitaly Klitschko as deputy prime minister in a new national unity government. Both men refused Yanukovych's offer.
The woman sounding like Nuland says, "I don't think it's necessary, I don't think it's a good idea," for Klitschko to have a role in the government, adding that she favors Yatseniuk to be the new prime minister.
"I think Yats (Yatseniuk) is the guy who's got the economic experience, the governing experience," Nuland says, according to the recording.
The man sounding like Pratt refers to Vitali Klitschko as the "top dog" among opposition leaders, but suggests Klitschko is too inexperienced to hold a top government post.
"Yeah ... I guess ... in terms of him not going into the government, just let him sort of stay out and do his political homework and stuff," he says. "I'm just thinking in terms of sort of the process moving ahead, we want to keep the moderate democrats together."
Referring to a perceived lack of pressure by the European Union in putting pressure on President Yanukovych, Nuland tells Pratt she has spoken to the United Nations, and that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon agreed to send someone to broker the discussions.
"That would be great to help glue this thing and to have the U.N. help glue it," Nuland said. "And you know, f**k the EU."
"Exactly," Pyatt replies. "And I think we got to do something to make it stick together, because you can be sure that if it does start to gain altitude the Russians will be working behind the scenes to torpedo it. Let me work on Klitschko, and I think we should get a Western personality to come out here (to Ukraine) and midwife this thing."
"I think we are in play," Pyatt adds.
The recording ends with Nuland saying she can get likely get Vice President Joseph Biden to make a phone call, presumably to Yanukovych "for an atta-boy and to get the deeds to stick." Biden has talked to Yanukovych by telephone at least four times in the last month.
The State Department's Psaki said, "It is no secret that Ambassador Pyatt and Assistant Secretary Nuland have been working with the government of Ukraine, with the opposition, with business and civil society leaders to support their efforts, and it shouldn't be a surprise that at any point there have been discussions about recent events and offers and what is happening on the ground."
She added that Nuland had apologized to her EU counterparts.
Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Cathy Ashton, told CNN, "The EU is engaged in helping the people of Ukraine through the current political crisis. We don't comment on alleged leaked telephone conversations."
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
Any deal that does not have God behind it will non succeed. And all that is in darkness will come to light one day. Think of your worst sin – it will be known one day. In fact God knows about it already and sees each one of us. So does he see those in politics.
I love sinning. I especially love f-king. If your God doesn't like it, He can s-k me. Another sin.
If I ever met you – I'd sin again. In fact, you might hear really bad sinful words like 'drat' and 'gosh' and 'darn'.
Really makes your Creator tremble now doesn't it?
Shucks, these days you can't tell naïve ignorance from trolling. Which of the two do you represent?
What worries me a whole lot more than the f-word is that the U.S. ambassador speaks like a stoned teenager: "sort of..", "..homework and stuff...", "Yeah... I guess ... in terms of..." Can we please get somebody with a faster functioning brain who can put his thoughts in intelligent statements?
Here, Here!
Hear! Hear!
I'm pretty sure the phrase is, "Hear, hear!"
And how much disrespect we show to them by using what sounds more like dog names for the names of their possible future leaders, the Yatz, the Klich. And the fact they we are trying to tell them who should be the leader of their country.
these ares around the black sea, aleppo, homs, egypt have always had strife since 1000AD, add istanbul/constantinople and cyprus to the mix, its obvious regardless of the wealth or change in philosophies its in the DNA in those areas to be trouble makers and they always suck the powers that be at the time into the stupidity, how bout no free food no free energy and they can die themselves off
Ukrainians are Europeans. They are not the same ethnically as Arabs, who you seem to be referring too.
I tihink it is Americans who are troublemakers, just don't seem to be able to leave the world alone.
Always meddle and make it worse because they have no understanding of history and other cultures.
ES: I agree. The American meddling in Europe in 1917-1918, and 1941-1945, as well as the American meddling in Korea 1950-1953 were particularly offensive. Were it not for the Americans the thousand-year Reich might still exist. And my friends in Pyongyang are still upset by the running-dog American imperiatlists frustrating the plans of Great Leader Kim Il-Sung in Korea, back in 1950-53.
All decent people are justifiably angry about the American meddlers stopping Saddam in 1991 and liberating Kuwait.
The American meddling in Afghanistan is also reprehensible. Just because forces based in Afghanistan attacked the U.S. and killed thousands of Americans in New York and Washington, D.C. doesn't give the Americans the right to strike back. How dare those Yanks?
Alan,
Actually a lot of people believe that the world would be better off had Central Powers won WW I. Versaille treaty was a disaster. It spawned Hitler, destroyed Ottoman Empire which kept ME under control, destroyed Austria-Hungary which kept Balkans under control. Only good of Versaille was creation of Poland and Czech Republic. A lot of the problems we face in the world today can be traced back to that treaty.
So how do you like having your meta data and phone calls collected? #irony
Yeah, because the US is the only country that spies on other governments......LMAO! Most of you people are way too funny and extremely too dumb to open your eyes and realize the way things work in the Intelligence community. Maybe most of you should start to learn about History and the way gpvernment spy agencies have always operated, then you might realize that this has been going on for centuries and is not nothing new like that jack nut snowden want's you all to believe.
This isn't meta data, this is an actual phone call. This is the Russian government tapping into an official diplomatic phone call of another sovereign nation, and then posting it publicly to attempt to undermine ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine. There's no real irony here...this is what countries have done to each other for centuries. People like Snowden and Manning are traitors to their country because they have exposed US intelligence gathering techniques aiding our adversaries and enemies.
With the top credit cart hacker being an Ukrainian boy, according to what CNN has reported this week, Maidan Puppets could be only Putin himself, no Ukrainian, nobody else could do that!
That prone call only shows the role the US Department of State and its USAID facade play in destabilizing political situation in a sovereign country and instigating regime change! But that is of course not that CNN would want you to be concerned with, keep thinking the F*-word!
Who cares! That was not why this phone conversation was posted there in the first place, dummies!
Destabilize? You might try reading again. This is exactly what a foreign diplomatic corp does. They're attempting to broker a peace/power sharing deal in an attempt to stave off civil war.
Yeah right,: they are trying to pick their puppets to rule Ukraine: check out BBC transcript of the conversation That was what that phone conversation was about, not some f* word!!
It's amusing and ridiculous that these sorts of conversations take place over non-secure lines. It would have been very simple for these two pathetic amateurs to simply insert their fortesa cards, go secure, and have a classified conversation.
They are secure, but when the people securing the lines are the ones tapping it, what can you do.
Would having a sat-phone help? Maybe not if there isn't end-to-end encryption.
More of this administrations ineptness. This president embarrasses me as an Ameircan
You are not an American – you are another Confederate TeaBillie from Germany.
Take your little bigoted butt out of our nice nation. We have it all going these days – no wars, stock market success, deficit cut in half.
So - America. Love it or leave it. We don't need no red neck pansies like you who are afraid to curse.
Unacceptable, whats going on with US, that stupid diplomat, unprofessional, she must be kicked off her job at once. should not go anywhere, stay in USA please help us from this cracked actors that USA send over the world.
Everyone here is clearly in the dark by simply focusing on the call itself. The Cold War has started up again if you haven't noticed. Russia is back and they are back to their old tactics and also have threatened military action in Ukraine just recently.
Russia will never attack Ukraine, end of story.
There is a saying – everyone judeges people by what they are like themselves.
Americans are the only ones who invade soverign countries .
Professionalism is what people display in front of others to maintain respect and dignity. This was a conversation from the heart. As for the F-Bomb. How many diplomats around the world use the same language when talking about the US in-activity in Syria?
It's about time someone called the EU for what it is. Nothing but a bunch of tree hugging, bass, ackward countries.
I don't care who you are. Sometimes when you deal with that kind of bureaucratic nonsense, the F-bomb is the word to use. I can't tell you how many times a day I use it to describe some idiot that has been promoted via the "Peter Principle". I can't tell you how many times I used it when I had to deal with military bureaucracy and I can't tell you how many times I use it to describe the inadequacy of the Illinois State Board of Education, Legislature, and Governor.
It is not about f-bomb, nobody cares about that. it is about US meddling and destibilizing a foreign country, again.
So, after 12 hours this is all CNN has on this stor? One lousy blog?
*story
Just imagine how indignant we are that the Russians would intercept our diplomat's phone calls. I guess fair is fair after all and I'm glad the Russians posted it.
Anyone who doesn't believe that the British, French, German and Chinese diplomats aren't having the exact same conversations with equally colorful language is delusional.
forgive the double negative...the point is that every capable government with skins in the game is doing the same thing.
It isn't a double negative. You're negating separate verbs.
I'm sure they do, but one thing about being a good diplomat is to not let yourself be caught when you're less than diplomatic 😉
Define "caught". You mean a private conversation leaked to the public?
Oooops...you have to love when the govertnment who spies on all is spied on and doesn't like it. I think there is a saying "what's good for the goose ...."
So, the US feels like they can decide who should be the next president of Ukraine. Really.
They just destroyed whatever credibility Ukrainian opposition had, for everyone now sees that they are nothing more than the US puppets. Just like Russians were saying all along.
Of course we're involved in influencing a transition of this government to one friendlier to US interests. Would you rather our State Dept sit on their hands and allow Putin to reconfigure the old USSR? Whenever and wherever there is government instability, I expect the State Dept to be in the midst of it trying to influence the best possible outcome for the USA. That's what I hope my tax dollars are paying for. To do anything less would be hurting our interests.
US State Department instiages instability, not the other way around. And if they are at the point of deciding who should be a president of a country on the other side of the globe, it is more than just using the situation to their advantage. It means they are controlling the situation. And should I mention that Urkraine is Russia's neighbour, not the USA's.
But my real problem is – hypocrisy. they are accusing Russia of rebuilding USSR or whatever while themselves doing something many times worse. Distabilizing and destroying countries for their own advantage.
Russia or China don't hide their intentions, USA dominates the world but keeps acting like it si doing it for "freedom and democracy" while it is doing it just like the other – for the global power and dominance.
You just nailed it. Succinct and perfect explanation of what the State Dept should be doing. Too bad there isn't a like button here.
Where are you from? You have a very interesting take on things. You sound like a crybaby Russian living in America (possibly 2nd gen). Family ran from home, but still nostalgic of a great USSR. Don't you think every government has a preferred leader of every country? The US will ALWAYS support one side or the other. It doesn't mean they are in control of everything. Or are they.....
Maybe it's our NSA getting back at "State" or maybe the U.S doesn't like other countries doing what we do to them. At this point "what difference does it make".
good job fsb, with german technology is this very easy.
not only the nsa can listen.
That's the first sign of intelligence I've seen from our State Dept in over a decade.
irgentwann steht amerika alleine da und dann wird es fallen.
lasst denn deutschen riesen schlafen denn mit unserer wirtschaftskraft sind wir mächtiger als ihr hirnlosen amis glaubt.
die aufnahme ist dank deutscher technik hervorragend. gute arbeit fsb
Gesundheit!
zwei stein, danke
Bratwurst glockenspiel!!!!!!
If the country is to be divided, Russia would want Western Ukraine to go to EU and eastern Ukraine to Russia. EU will not like to have the racist Western Ukraine without the East. Western Ukraine products cannot compete in EU while Eastern Ukraine will have a lot of business with Russia including cheap gas and a market for their products
diplomacy defined: : skill in dealing with others without causing bad feelings. (merriam-webster).
This has failed her job and should be fired. Is this NOW the level of service we can expect from
all US diplomats ?
(This diplomat as failed her job……)
BS
Oh the hypocrisy. Did our govt really say that this reveals problems with Russia? At least Russia is honest about listening in and informing on US gov't corruption.
Very naive.
So are we worried about the language she used or the fact that she is trying to facilitate the take over of a sovereign government.
We are not missing the point, the US is planning a coup in Ukraine and wanted to use the UN to rubber stamp it. They are already deciding who should and should not be in the new govt.
The question was rhetorical, it seems to me that most of the serious posters on this article know how serious the implications of that conversation was. I am a vet that has been fighting American foreign involvement for over 40 years. It is time to get the CIA out of the Diplomatic Corp and hire real diplomats.
The NSA must be very cheesed off.... Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
They are right about it being no surprise. The complete and total lack of respect for democracy...there is no thought given to the idea of the people are sovereign....hahahaha lol obey your masters, dogs
Why is Bradley Manning in jail. Isn't this exactly the type of info that he wanted American's to know was occurring. And the Snowden issue hits this on the head. Does not matter which country put out the tape, we all know it happens daily.
Because Manning is a THIEF, TRAITOR, and should be hung by the neck until dead! Stealing government secrets and disclosing them in wartime put our forces at risk. People died because of Manning.
Because our Government always calls those that tell us the truth traitors. Daniel Ellsberg was a hero of my time and he was called a traitor too.
Are you kidding me? What Manning revealed is NOTHING comparable to what Snowden revealed. Manning is a little punk who deserves to rot in prison until he dies. Snowden had an opportunity to be a whistleblower until he began revealing TOO MUCH to foreign nations thus becoming a traitor and not just a whistleblower. He lost my respect after he crossed that line to save his own skin. May they both die.
f.......k the usa and f.....k the island monkeys
the usa have not many friends in the world
the american diplomats sucks
Wow, how rude.
f......k the eu is not rude?
i mean the german bnd has done a good job
with his new friends from the fsb
Your point?
Luckily, your nation is too weak to matter.
Now take your bag of peanuts and get back in the cheap seats.
sleep let the german giant
Your comment is worse than the "f..k the EU" that the article is about.
yeh ! f...k miss nuland, and the hypocrite us.the Obama administration what a joke !
Deutschland, Deutschland unter alles!!!!
deutschland deutschland über alles über alles in der welt
Ah, a German I presume? Besides pushing Mercedes, BMW and Porsche to the world, maybe if your little country and the rest of the pathetic EU actually DID something in this world instead of standing by waiting to make a decision, (Darfur, Rwonda, the Balkans, etc....) maybe the US along with as you say "Island monkeys" will not need to stick our necks out for every world crisis!
if you want a war you wil get it the only thing is the eu is not a 3 world nation with outdated equipment
just trie it europe is at peace way to long just make your move.
...and vanilla the plane of paper stencil apples with many shoelaces of friends.
If this career woman is not more careful she just might be out of a job.
Naw!
This is the Obama administration. No one is responsible for anything.
ESPECIALLY himself.
Sadly, our standard of mediocrity is diminishing further and further.
We once had a nation to be proud of. Now we are mediocre at best.
No one cares for the country any more. It's all me first, then my party, then THE country.
Like all the folks running to take responsibility for all the disasters under Bush?
The Snowden and Putin groupies must be so proud right now. They've been kissing those two guys' feet for most of the past year, talking about how principled they are...the champions of liberty, and meanwhile the olympic athletes have hidden cameras in their bathrooms. I watched a news segment yesterday where some computer hackers demonstrated how Russian hackers are swarming on any computer logged-on, and how they are already deep in and downloading data in about 40 seconds.
Perhaps they are holding the Hacking Olympics as well.
Must we babysit every country and every triviality?
Awesome, She just made my Christmas card list.
This may set an interesting precedent. If you are upset with a nation, start releasing their private conversations that you got via wiretap. Heh.....America can play that game too.
i wonder what ed snowrat thinks about his pal mother russia now.
Why would he give a fat rat's? There he's a principled hero.
Here he will live a live of death threats no matter what Holder decides.
Read the whole conversation as it is on BBC or RT news. They were trying to place a Government in Ukraine, they are trying to pick a new president in Ukraine.
How the tape was accrued is irrelevant, it's the real dedication and faith in democracy and sovereignty of nations that is concerning.
This tape shows American Government trying to pick the next president of Ukraine. Do you understand that ?
its because they can seem do it themselves....CLEARLY. If they had their crap together this conversation would never have had. If there was political turmoil and uncertainty in the US that could threaten this region you can bet your sweet rear end that other countries would be having the same "private" conversations about the US. Go cry me a river you whining panzies.
I love how people are saying she should be fired. Hilarious. If we secretly recorded one of your PRIVATE conversations they would sound FAR worse...even if you didn't curse. I say give her a promotion for ACTUALLY TRYING to get something done over there that serves the people!
"American can play that game too"????? Got news for you: American does play that game all the time.
nsa, idiot
the nsa play the game and the fsb play the game too.
sorry, as a german, good job, FSB
People from former East Germany often have these sorts of feelings of impotence in their loins and in their lack of intelligence.
genold, man bist du blöd.
das kommt wahrscheinlich daher, das du zu lange in den staaten lebst.
und bitte kein leitungswasser in den staaten trinken, denn durch das fracking ist das grundwasser vergiftet.
deutsche umweltschützer haben proben genommen, man was da alles drin ist, kein wunder wenn bei den amis das hirn schrumpft.
Reblogged this on luvsiesous and commented:
Friends,
The more I live in Ukraine, and the more I write about the freedom movement, the more western 'diplomats' scare me. Why are 'diplomats' working against the will of the people? What do they expect to gain? Why aren't they working for a peace deal?
What do you think?
Wayne
Luvsiesous
that is what they were talking about getting some kind of deal done
The US is rarely working for freedom and democracy. They are working for business and the status quo
Your great comment asks another question or two: What kind of deal?
If the Russians had leaked the call, wouldn't hey have exposed the deal?
Wayne
Do you think other countries should solve your problems?
The other countries should at least not make it harder.
Tim,
Great question. Depends upon which country you are referring to, doesn't it?
I do not think America can solve any other country's problems, and that is why our diplomats keep making mistakes.
Do we almost agree?
Wayne
Is it the Obama State Department's mission to alienate every single friendly country? Germany, Brazil, Israel, India and now the EU? I guess you can always be friends with Pakistan....
John Kerrorist – Bad secretary of state or worst secretary of state?
No, the United States has always been like they are today, than goodness for the spies finally revealing the truth.
Kerry, and Clinton before, were 2 of the most successful Secretaries of State in 60 years.
Thank God for our Administration that ended 2 Bush Oil Wars that squandered $5 TRILLION taxpayer dollars.
No wonder our airports are 3rd world – all our money got spent padding the Military Industrial complex in Iraq.
She wasn't talking to a group of schoolkids, she was having a conversation with top diplomats trying to solve a very real issue. So what if she said F*&ck?
So what if she couldn't maintain her composure and control over what she was saying ... it's not like that's one of a Diplomats' PRIMARY JOB SKILLS.
Please it was a private conversation that was tapped, much different than speaking to a group or in public......the haters are out in full force today
it's not just the word, but the whole subject...
USA should start to think to threat its allies like allies...
A nice short easy to understand phrase. Right to the point. I'd like to see more of such from U.S. elected officials, but they seem to be helpless sold-out milk toast that's so common in politics- as is corruption.
alex:: "USA should start to think to threat its allies "
I guess, you wanted to say "USA should start to think to THREATEN its allies "
Probably too many people have never visited the hood if they are upset about the language.
Are you suggesting that this lady was recruited in the hood?
Just the word "union" is a tip off that it is screwed up.
Stay classy! So diplomatic!! Obama picks his people so carefully.
Truly scary isn't it?
Alrighty then, you've done a fine job of messing up our credibility at home, let's see how you do over seas.
OUTSTANDING!
Definitely White House material!
shocking – a politician/ political appointee who uses the F bomb ! One government spying and meddling in the affairs of another ! ( there is no precedent for such actions ) Recorded phone calls that violate the privacy of the people on the call only to be found later on You tube, in the media, and probably in NSA files. A public servant frustrated with the beaurocracy and inaction of the EU. Say this "aint so Joe" ?
No, the shocking thing is that the US is discussing whom will be part of the political class in a country that's not the US. Constant interference by the US around the world is a major reason for the terrorism problem you have.
I agree we have stuck our noses in many places and have gotten burned for it, but back channel work by not just the US but other countries is part of the process to get some kind of deal to end unrest....
Use of the language (profanities) is not unusual between dips when they believe no one else is listening and if only something so tame as a FU it is not shocking. Points of concern here are that the two involved were using unsecure comm links to have the conversation knowing there is no longer an expectation of privacy. Why didn't they have the conversation on the secure phone in the glass room? It represents an extreme lack of situational awareness which deserves the same response the government gives to citizens, "you should have no expectation of privacy to your phone calls or emails if you do not take measures to encrypt them."
Hey, and we didn't even need Wikileaks for this one. But the diplomat of course gets to get his/her job.
get=keep
shoot, I say that all the time. This is not a big deal.
When I read through the comment e.g. here, I notice that the American public opinion isn't as – let's say – "offensive" as the official policy would suggest. I think that most Americans are simply tired of their government forever interfering in the matters of other countries.
As seen from Europe: in reality, most EU-Europeans don't want Ukraine to become an EU-member. It's a big country of 45 millions with even bigger problems, like corruption and racism (especially in western Ukraine in the provinces around Lvov).
Smoke and mirrors. Concentrate on hurt feelings, and ignore the fact that this is just another 'revolution' orchestrated by government agencies while presenting to the public as a fight for freedom and democracy.
For the dense: nobody cares about the language she used, at least no body with a brain. The concern here is that we have two non-elected american 'officials' talking about who should make up a foreign countries government. Talking about being able to have Biden give an 'atta boy' call on demand. You understand that directly, DIRECTLY, involves the White House.
They also talk about a contact, Ferry, being able to get Ban Ki Moon and the UN as a go around. This is movie script stuff.
This is pretty big stuff. Having the media try to get ahead of the issue with the fluffy and intentionally misleading soft headline tells you how big an issue it is. From the comments already posted you can see that a large percentage have already fallen for the propaganda and believe the issue to be solely about a single crude word.
You have absolutely no idea how diplomats work, do you?
Everything they said is right in line with a diplomat's mission. No part of this conversation indicates any "big screen" worthy conspiracy like you'd have us believe. I think your tinfoil hat is a bit too tight.
your right, and the haters bashing here are wrong, I could care less foul word one US dip said in a private conversation to another US dip , the issue is Russia spy wiretapping then releasing said tap , will this become the new norm in the world, Tap bombing each other? ... dangerous can of worms Russia has opened in my opinion......
stan, definitely! And also highlights private conversations are not ever private.
Surprised? That has been Obama's and his administrations'response to anyone opposing their views
Yeah the POTUS eats babies for breakfast, causes all cancers and most extensive thing he does is cause massive brain damage in the bigoted republicans. So how does it feel for you to be personally afflicted so strongly by your's and every American's BLACK DEMOCRATIC President, hater?
Oh boy, now you've done it – reminded the TeaBillies that their boss, our leader, is part black.
I can just hear all the Republican's getting their panties all in a bun. Get out the hankerchiefs, here comes the TeaKlans tears ... "where is his Birth Certificate? Huh? Wheres his Birth Certificate. I'm gonna Shut Down American til I personnally touch his Birth Certificate! And why do we always lose lose lose ...?"
Well it would seem to me that if the US is saying Russian recorded and leaked the call after bugging the phones of these diplomats that the US has in fact confirmed that the call in authentic.
But wait. Isn't this the Russia Obama said he could work with better after the election?
You are gong t make this into an Obama thing.... really?
Er, the White House is DIRECTLY involved. If you listen to the entire conversation you'll hear that Biden had already made 3 previous calls. This IS an Obama issue. Yet another potentially HUGE obama foreign relations failure.
Yeah, stan likes to make things up.
Yes because Obama is the worse President that has been in this country in my lifetime. Only people he cares about are poor blacks and gays. No one else is a part of his country or his people. It is clear from his speaches.
Do we not have any bugged stuff on the Russians to accidently release on youtube?, fight fire with fire...get some of Putin's numbered accounts and post them to a place we know hackers frequent...let him spend some time running after the money he has stolen from Russia, or facts proving he's having money stolen from Russia moved out with the help of the oligarch
If we had an asset in that deep, compromising that asset for so little gain would be very,very dumb!
...or this could be the Russians subtle way of letting the Americans know they have recorded those conversations. What if that wasn't the worst of the conversations taped? Understand?
Could have been the NSA itself, or some other three lettered agency that is mad at the Obama administration for all we know.
What else is new? Obama and his minions have nothing but contempt for others – if you're not with him, then this diplomat's comment pretty much tells you where you stand. And we wonder why he can't accomplish anything meaningful...
And how would this have differed under Bush's mandate ?
Wow the Russians who are run by former KGB officers are recording diplomatic phone conversations???? Who would of thought such a thing, but at least Snowden has his privacy there............and hope he stays there for life.
as if the US does not such thing.
Thank goodness Snowden is safe there. I remember when folks ran to the United States instead of away from it.
Another display of typical american arrogance that does not surprise anymore...Can someone please tell Ms Nuland that without the EU the F bomb she dropped would end up into her american...dignity?
How DARE the Russians listen in on our calls?! Only WE have the RIGHT to do that sort of thing.
Sadly, her foul mouth...coupled with her inability to forsee the negative impact of her comments in the digital age are indicators that she is a simpleton and should be fired. Of course, true "accountability" doesn't exist in this administration.
Ummmm, people in that line of work talk like that all the time. Joe Biden dropped an Fbomb on TV, who cares?
The last time accountability existed in any administration was when Reagan fired Ollie North. Guess what. He became the darling of the right-wing extremists. It makes no difference wether you are a right-wing extremist or a left-wing extremist, you are still an extremist!
If there is a lesson to be lerned in watching the US government ofver the past 50 years it is this; Balance good (extremist not in control)...government good, balance bad (extremist in control), government bad.
Here we go again getting involved with something that really doesn't concern us.
There are no secrets in the digital age. So when you speak and you telephone is around the Big Brother listen.
Clear subestime of the Russian mathematicians. By the way it seems that the 4096 bits RSA and AES512 is no longer secure.... If any RSA is secure at all.
I think that's the big story, but nothing is ever secure
This is a big ____ing deal!
US has turned the UN into a Rubber Stamp for their foreign policy. She said they will use the UN to 'glue it'
F- the EU?
Hey, absolutely no problem with that.
Most of us Europeans who made the huge mistake by joining the EU certainly feel the same way by now.
"F- The EU". That's perfect. Well said!
Well said. Most of us in the United Kingdom feel the same way adout the EU.
Most Europeans feel the same way, period. It has done very, very little good for the average person and has done a lot of harm at great expense. We are almost all on the way to becoming 3rd world nations.
Well said. Most of us in the United Kingdom feel the same way about the EU.
Yes, I'll second that. Ms Nuland's estimation of the EU's abilities match mine and many people I know
You are wrong, the EU rocks! I can travel borderless 28 countries and settle down anywhere I want in Europe as an EU member! I absolutely love the EU!!
If that's all it takes for you to be happy you simply have your head in the sand. For every one person like you there are many many thousands who think otherwise.
Here Here! Me and everyone I know love the EU and are completely fine with it, in fact at least where I live EU sceptics are a minority.
You see you typically find that all the EU-Sceptics are the same, they all spout off a bunch of EU "facts" which they haven't bothered researching or looking into and instead just parrot them as they read the Mail or listen to UKIP.
In fact every debate I have had with some anti EU lobbyist has always devolved into me supplying evidence with backed up sources while they just come out with "Yeah well the EU wants to ban [insert made up story here]" or the classic "We spend X amount a month in membership and for WHAT??".
It's so laughably easy to dismantle their arguments that it's almost tiring, I mean seriously guys how hard is it to spend the 2 minutes researching your facts from the other side to get a balancing opinion! The EU needs reforming that's for sure, but 99% of rhetoric you all come out with is complete rubbish.
you a island monkey?
the eu is the best was european countrys making
but the island monkeys-england are so stupid
the usa have no many friends in the world. why?
Wait a minute... All this mess in Ukraine started after refusal of Yanukovich to sign a EU agreement. And now you are telling F... the EU? Are you telling that Yanukovich was correct on November 27.
Putin has always being one step ahead
I don't blame her for swearing the F-word, (some complained here), who don't swear in America nowadays? The only problem with her is careless. When she is in an unfriendly country, she should have expected her every move, every word would be watched, even a private telephone conversation (Americans have the NSA, sounds familiar?). If she didn't expect that, it is just plain stupid.
If the diplomat are so unsmart so that she not understanding Russian´s security staff bug her, then mr Obama need to kick her out from that job. If mr President himself insist this diplomat are clever enough, then Putin is the man that have the real power, he knows what he do and his staff arer smarter than this american diplomat.
How is the f-bomb the shocking bit of news lol?
What about the other 5 minutes of US officials OPENLY DISCUSSING WHO OUGHT AND OUGHT NOT GOVERN UKRAINE lol? What' is this, 60s all over again? US can't do it in Latin America any more so they're gonna do it in Eastern Europe?
Completely agree. The f-word is not an issue here. Only the Ukranian people can decide who can govern them (not the US – not Russia).
I think you are forgetting one thing, the Russians are already involved in getting their man in, someone you should be against, assuming you believe in freedom and democracy, as are most Ukrainians. Without the US to balance things the Russians might well get their way.
Ukraine has always been a part of Russia, let Russia have them back. Kiev, Sevastapool, Rostov, Odessa, they are Russian cities.
Crap, it would be like Confederacy declaring independence again and then Russia coming over here and trying to pick the leader of CSA.
I heard nothing wrong in this conversation, The use of the "f" word is not ascertained and if it was, no one in diplomatic circles around the world would be surprised as they all speak in that manner, one way or another, when they feel frustration.
the issue isn't the word. the issue is that the us is deciding who the next president of ukraine should be.
I don't see why the U.S. would be upset by someone else capturing their private conversations. It's just in an effort to prevent terrorism so, if they have nothing to hide . . .
It is an irony isn't it.
Dick Cheney: "Old Europe", Victoria Nuland : "F the EU". We shouldn't blame amazing German cars for terrible cars manufactured in Detroit.
This is really worrying when government officials start talking about reorganizing the government of another country.
I wonder if all those so called "Arab spring" revolts where not in part financed by the USA governments in order to control the middle east with their own puppets.
If so, we can only come to the conclusion that, probably, even our own elections are fake. we just have the illusion of electing the peoples we vote for.
Obama, seems to prove me right on that, he look more like a comedian who is doing is show than a real President who actually find and solve problems.
You realize that Al Qaeda was created by the Reagan administration, right? They financed and trained Bin Laden and his troops in Afghanistan, so that they would hinder Soviet operations in that region.
Ever since WW2, America sticks its nose in other nations' business, and quite often, the faction we end up helping turns out to be worse than what was there to begin with.
You don't have to wonder, the answer to your question is "yes" we are in the middle of everything and most of the time we choose the wrong side. None of our enemies hated us before we gave them a reason to hate us.
You go Girl!!...
This could make a great techno song with her voice over. hehe.
Better an f-bomb than an A-bomb.
Oh really?What makes you say that,Europe has enough nuclear missiles to deter any nuclear attack on its soil.Your comment makes no sense once so ever and is totally out of place for this argument.
It's called a #joke. Google it.
what a shame you can not recognise a joke that is as obvious as nails...... relax
I'm sure Ukrainians are glad to know that the US is working diligently on deciding who their next democratically elected leader will be.
exactly, and as Canadian, I wonder now, how much involvement the US government have in our own elections.
Canada has a government?
Oh no, you won't–you are not blaming the Toronto mayor, Rob Ford, on the USA. You did that all yourselves.
""Certainly we think this is a new low in Russian trade-craft," Psaki said, using a term that refers to a nation state's espionage activities."
With the recent NSA scandals, you think that she'd call it "Poetic Justice."
Either she is a simple arrogant politician or ignorant of all US spy activity, I am going to go with the former.
Huh. Someone in government with reasonable views. The European Union is a spectacular failure propelled forward by blind ignorance and the momentum of foolish leaders. F*** the E.U. indeed. Good job, madam.
A disgusting country with rotten government full of mobs – that is what US is.
Democracy died there lonf ago, now it is just fascists country.
Yet how ever bad it is in the USA it is 10 times worse in Europe.
She was only expressing what the normal indigenous natives of Europe feel about the 'euro-communist' EU dictatorship. As a European I entirely agree with the US viewpoint on the EU.
The fact that you call the EU, "EU communist" makes me seriously doubt that you are from the EU. If you are then you really have no idea what you're talking about. The EU on the contrary is deemed very liberal, at the take of powerfull lobbies signing new trade treaties etc... So bit of homework is required (and it's ok to say you're from the US btw).
What these Americans forget is that the EU positions like for foreign affairs are brand new and still hold very little power. This is a long project with more integration and especially more time needed to build experience for EU level decision making for foreign affairs.
But it does happen already although slowly. Like with the EU united navy mission called EUNafvor. It was the largest Navy force operating to fight piracy the last couple of years. They have caught, arrested more pirates then any other navy. Together with cooperation projects like Airbus, Eurocoper, ESA, CERN, etc. Europe is building the experience and seeing that united cooperation properly set up can make Europe incredible influential even the world leader in every field they like. It will only expand on this but it took the US 200+ years as well to become what it is today.
Folks, please don't forget the EU does not particularly wishes to welcome Ukraine.
Neither did it with Turkey. Both were 'suggested' by US administrations for the sake of their own influence over world affairs.
Imagine the EU pushing for US-integration of Mexico and Cuba, both with their existing regimes and/or problems intact.
The US administrations don't consider their allies as 'friends' but as means to an end – period.
As for the f.... word: who really cares?
wow, you must be a top level international diplomat to have access to such secret information! either that, or some conspiracy addled biased nobody who sees the hand of american conspiracies in the arrangement of his breakfast. hmm, i wonder which it is?
No inside intel required steve, just follow the news and study the facts. I'm sure you can do the math too.
@ Steve: neither; or, at worst, maybe, just a 'nobody' – just 'anyone'. Certainly not a conspiracy believer, on the contrary. An almost unconditional friend of the US really, sharing a lot – not all – of it's values (and interests).
I was jsut referring to the cynical way some top diplomats and officials see the world.
Let's keep our sense of humour and our sense of critical assessment. Kind regards.
Steve, you haven't been paying attention. I realize that many people do not want to know the truth, but some of us do.
Incredibly unprofessional. Why does she have a job, and why is it okay to keep on lowering the bar for performance in everything from literacy to diplomacy. This woman does not know the meaning of the word *diplomat*, and needs to leave before she embarasses the US again, or starts a war.
over-exaggerate much?
I agree, that was my first reaction too. The implications of the conversation are much more serious than that but we need to get the spies out of the Diplomatic service and actually try some diplomacy.
Let's flip the coin, just imagine if China or Russia were caught talking about rearranging government leadership positions in Canada, and during the conversation one of them says, "F the US!"
For those idiots who say this is not news, wake up.
you do realize that this call was an internal one between two americans who thought they were in private conversation, right? the private conversation was caught by a pro-russian or at least pro-yanukovich hacker. news flash: people sometimes use saucy language in private conversations.
At least she now knows how it feels when there is no space for privacy left. Just ask Angela Merkel or, even better, the NSA directly...
Americans that have trivialize the NSA affair, where the USA was spying on top officials in the EU are now outraged about a private phone conversation of an US diplomat recorded by forgein spys...
A strange position to take: we are allowed to do it, but no one else is...
Yes, I always use saucy language!
Especially when I'm plotting the demise of a sovereign government and I'm juggling around potential leaders of my new puppet government!
And especially when I'm plotting to coerce the United Nations into backing my scheme!
Because I'm not doing this for the sake of that particular sovereign country and their people who are tearing each other apart- F them!
And I'm certainly not doing it for my old gang of European allies who look up to me- F them!
God Bless America! And F everyone else!
yup, agred f** the EU
Thank you, Phunnie boy. Your Tea Party profanity just gave you away!!!
"Certainly we think this is a new low in Russian trade-craft," Psaki said, using a term that refers to a nation state's espionage activities. "This is something they've been actively promoting, posting on." Hmmm. wonder the other national leaders who were listened in in their private phone conversation felt the same about some other agency's snooping? Well, seems we don't like it any better at least.
You apparently missed the point behind the new-low trade-craft statements; the new low is in publicly releasing the conversation, not in recording it.
Where did this "lady" get her diplomatic education? Obviously either the education was poor or madame was absent from some important basic lessons in diplomacy?
I am sure you are acquainted with the definition of a diplomat:
"Some one who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip."
Hes a hero
huh, so there actually IS someone with some backbone in the obama administration.
I feel exactly the same way Victoria Nuland does about the cursed EU except that I wouldn't use those Tea Party words to express it. The EU wants to take over Ukraine with the use of both C.I.A. and the notorious British MI-6 agents in that country stirring up violent protests to discredit the current government there.
Ukranian's should be happy, than US politician decide who will or will not make it to ukranian government. 🙂
Exactly. That is the real bomb – Americans deciding who will rule Ukraine, not the f* word.
Good job Obama team. You suck.
Now she knows how the German Chancellor felt violated when the NSA spied on her personal/business phone calls. Only difference here is,that the Russians leaked the call for political reasons.
What goes around,comes around. Nethertheless, she just voiced what most of the northern Europeans think about the EU.
You mean the UK... Why don't you do the EU a favour and just leave already instead of indulging in your national sport of winging. Maybe finally you all can satisfy your hangup that you're not welcome and complete the self fulfilling prophecy.
So what's the F'ing problem? 🙂 From: CNN Security ClearanceSent: Thursday, February 6, 2014 5:21 PMTo: xmatman@gmail.comReply To: CNN Security ClearanceSubject: [New post] Top U.S. diplomat launches f-bomb on EU in leaked recorded conversation
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A.Killough posted: "By Elise Labott
A leaked audio recording of a phone call allegedly catches the top U.S. diplomat to Europe working on a behind-the-scenes deal to end the Ukrainian political turmoil, and using profanity to express strong frustrations with inaction and "
Now she must know what the German Chancellor felt like after her personal phone calls were spied on by the NSA. Only difference is that the Russians leaked the calls.
Kicking ass and taking names is the American way. Kudos to her. The conversation clearly shows she has a firm grasp of the situation and has the guts to get it done. We need more Diplomats like her. Fish or cut bait. Thanks to the Russians for keeping it real. Now if they could only fix the toilets.
Seems to me someone here is full of ...
Except Al above, everyone else that posted comments so far think this news is about the F-word. This shows the caliber of the news readers I guess. Great sheeple!
Point taken, however, the CNN headline was sensationalistic and dumb that I just had to post some sarcasm.
wow. this is quite embarrassing and no way to refer the allies.
For anyone interested, this is a link to recorded call referenced in the CNN article above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSxaa-67yGM#t=237
Wow! Thanks for this video I had no idea the US was directly involved. Do we not have enough problems on the home front? Why are we coordinating protests in a foreign country with a democratically elected president?
Because we are arrogant idiots who think we should be dictating to every country what to do. Now tell me Russians don't have reasons to object and counteract on their own?
She just said what everyone is thinking, is all.
WHAT KIND OF ETHICS AND MORALS DO WE HAVE-IF ANY.HOW SHAMEFUL THAT OUR LEADERS ARE NO BETTER
THAN THE BONEHEADS IN SOME BANANA REPUBLIC IN SOME FAR AWAY PLACE.WE REALLY NEED TO POLISH UP
ON OUR MORALS AND ETHICS
And you need to bone up on your typing and internet etiquette...
Really? Oh no she said a bad word. bring out of waaahhmbulance.
Hey that's the way this administration rolls. They should be use to it by now.
This is news? How is a private phone call anyone's business.. CNN is a joke..
It's news because a US official was caught badmouthing an ally potentially by Russian spies.
The funny thing is, how much the Russians complain about the US spying on their phone calls. The Russians spy on America's phone calls. EVERYONE SPIES ON EVERYONE. GET OVER IT!
People are drying and this is news? Grow up media, the Fu-k word is not a bomb, it is common language and we need to get over it. SLow news day there CNN?
People should use towels or dryers to avoid lengthy times drying.
Things tend to spill all over the place with these leaks. I like your suggestions as long it's not paper towels which aren't reusable.
Nice try defending this foul mouthed woman. Many feminists use this language but it is inappropriate at work. A man would be fired over this. So should she.
you realize that this call was an internal one between two americans who thought they were in private conversation, right? the private conversation was caught by a pro-russian or at least pro-yanukovich hacker. news flash: people sometimes use saucy language in private conversations.
Didn't V.P. Cheyney tell Sen. Patrick Leahy "f%&k yourself" on the Senate floor?
The issue is not the language. The issue is 2 Americans deciding who should govern Ukraine.
May be as an American you don't realize it, but normally democracies like to pretend that it is their citizewns who decide.
Oh come on. People dry every day. I was at the sports club pool yesterday, and you know what? People were drying all around me. Didn't even make the back page of the paper.