Topic: Wikileaks Cables

WikiLeaks released a massive archive of secret Saudi diplomatic files, revealing a $1.5 billion unpaid limousine bill and internal discussions regarding the lack of a death certificate for Osama bin Laden. The documents provide insight into the kingdom's administrative operations and diplomatic priorities. The hosts discuss the logistical scale of the Saudi royal family's travel expenses.

The hosts discuss the slow release of WikiLeaks cables through The Guardian and The New York Times. One cable reveals Herman Van Rompuy's frustrations with the Copenhagen climate summit and his threats to withdraw Belgian troops from Afghanistan. The hosts argue that much of the "leaked" information has already been discussed on No Agenda.

The reaction to the WikiLeaks document release is characterized as more significant than the actual content of the leaked papers. Discussion focuses on the archaic use of the term "cables" by the State Department to describe internal electronic communications, drawing parallels to obsolete Telex technology. The hosts suggest the media is over-sensationalizing the event while ignoring other news.

The detention of a 22-year-old intelligence officer, later identified as Bradley Manning, is discussed following the leak of a helicopter combat video to WikiLeaks. The leak reportedly includes 260,000 classified State Department "cables" covering topics such as the Vatican's sex abuse scandals. The hosts question why WikiLeaks is withholding certain documents and express skepticism regarding the term "cables" in modern diplomacy.