The last few months of WikiLeaks controversy has surely peaked your interest, but when viewing the WikiLeaks site, finding what you want is quite a hard task.
Despite rumors of easy access via the Kindle and iTunes App Store, there currently is no way to view the leaked documents without a little digging. The version on sale at Amazon is NOT the cables in their entirety. Amazon recently added this warning to the product page:
This book contains commentary and analysis regarding recent WikiLeaks disclosures, not the original material disclosed via the WikiLeaks website.
Apple recently removed the WikiLeaks application, too, which sold for $1.99 and let people view material from WikiLeaks on an iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
"We removed the WikiLeaks App from the App Store because it violated our developer guidelines," said Trudy Muller, a spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple. "Apps must comply with all local laws and may not put an individual or target group in harm's way."
But you CAN still enjoy the recent Cablegate documents on WikiLeaks. You just have to know how to sort through all the data. But be aware, not all of the documents have been released yet. Only a small portion (about 2,000) have actually been published, with the remainder to be published over the next couple of months.
PS: If you want to see an odd mapped out visualization of the text contained on WikiLeaks, check out the DataBlog at the Guardian.
Find WikiLeaks
Since the original WikiLeaks site has been shut down (wikileaks.org), you're going to have to gain access through one of the many mirror sites. Below are a few places you can find the WikiLeaks site.
- http://www.wikileaks.ch/ (New official site; Switzerland)
http://www.wikileaks.pl/ (Poland, redirects to wikileaks.ch)
http://213.251.145.96/
http://178.21.20.8/
http://88.80.13.160/ - http://www.wikileaks.fi/ (Finland)
http://46.59.1.2/ - http://www.wikileaks.nl/ (Netherlands)
http://46.21.239.250/ - http://www.wikileaks.de/ (Germany)
- http://www.wikileaks.at/ (Austria)
http://46.59.1.2/ - http://www.wikileaks.lu/ (Luxembourg)
- http://www.wikileaks.se/ (Sweden)
http://88.80.6.179/ - http://www.wikileaks.no/ (Norway)
http://46.59.1.2/ - http://www.wikileaks.is/ (Iceland)
http://46.59.1.2/
And for more up-to-date WikiLeak mirrors, visit wikileaks.info.
Find the Cablegate Documents
What you're interested in is the Cablegate Documents, where you'll find roughly 2,000 of the 251,287 U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Cables, which first started uploading on November 28th, 2010. It's the "largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents will give people around the world an unprecedented insight into the US Government's foreign activities."
From the main page of one of the mirror sites, you'll find a link to them. For this (and future) examples, I'll be using this one:
Follow WikiLeaks Guidelines
WikiLeaks themselves have published a mini-tutorial on viewing the Cablegate archives, mentioning how you can explore the data, plus giving you some key figures from the documents.
Browse the WikiLeaks Website
On the WikiLeaks website, there's multiple ways to browse the Cablegate archives. You can browse recent articles written about specific cables and you can browse cables by their release dates, creation dates, origination, tags and classifications.
You can also download an archive of the entire website (download torrent file here), but it only provides html links, which is perfectly fine for most, once you figure out what you're looking at.
Browse the Articles
Articles are not cables. They are commentaries on specific cables published on WikiLeaks, outlining what they are about. There's some written in other languages, but the ones we English folks should play attention to are the ones labeled "United States" and "Editorial". There's a few articles in each about the DDoS attacks on WikiLeaks and the problems with MasterCard and PayPal.
Browse the Cables by Release Dates
These are not the dates the cables were sent, but the dates on which they were published in the WikiLeaks archive.
If you've already browsed all of the cables from the first day of publish, then there's no reason to go back to them, unless you found some gold. So stick with the cables you haven't read.
Articles have been added to Wikileaks everyday, from the first publish date of Nov. 28th to the most recent, Dec. 21st.
Once you've picked your date, you'll be directed to the articles entered that day. The cable results will include the following information:
- Reference ID
- Subject
- Created
- Released
- Classification
- Origin
Browse the Cables by Creation Date
Browsing by the creation date lets you see the cables by the dates they were originally written and sent.
You can see the list of years directly under this section, dating from 1966 to 2010. Clicking on your desired year will not let you see all of the cables from that year, rather it will generate a list underneath with links to the months from that year.
So, clicking on 1966 will show you only 1 month, since there are cables from only one month in that year, whereas clicking on 2005 will show you all 12 months, because there were cables created throughout the entire year (or at least ones that WikiLeaks acquired).
Browse the Cables by Origination
This section allows you to browse the consulates and embassies for which cables were originally sent from. By clicking on a place, you can see all of the published cables that originated from that location. However, you cannot easily browse by locations that received the cables.
You can browse all of the locations by clicking origin or you can search the locations in alphabetical order. Simply select the letter of your choice to see what cities and urban areas are listed. If you're searching for the embassy in London, simply select the L and select Embassy London.
For a list of all the embassies and consulates, visit CableTags.
Browse the Cables by Tags
Browsing by tags can be a little confusing, if you're not sure what the tag means in the first place. Tags in Wikileaks are most commonly acronyms.
You can search the tags by the letter of the alphabet for which they begin, but the list itself for that letter will not be alphabetized (weird).
But if you're searching for UFO, which is an acronym for Unidentified Flying Object, you're not going to find it. At least, not yet. But if you want to look up Military Operations, which has an acronym of MOPS, you'll find it under M.
Tip
- For a complete list of tags and their meanings, scroll to the very bottom of this article.
Browse the Cables by Classification
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Clicking on one of the links will allow you to see all of the cables marked with that classification.
There are no Top Secret documents in these cables, so if you were looking for super secret information that could topple governments as they stand, then you've come to the wrong place.
A quick search on Wikipedia can tell you what each means.
Top Secret (not listed on WikiLeaks)
The highest level of classification of material on a national level. Such material would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security if made publicly available.
Confidential
Such material would cause "damage" or be "prejudicial" to national security if publicly available.
Confidential//NOFORN
Same as above, with NOFORM meaning No Foreign Nationals dissemination, which restricts dissemination to U.S. nationals.
Secret
Such material would cause "grave damage" to national security if it were publicly available.
Secret//NOFORN
Same as above, with NOFORM meaning No Foreign Nationals dissemination, which restricts dissemination to U.S. nationals.
Unclassified
Technically not a classification level, but is used for government documents that do not have a classification listed above. Such documents can sometimes be viewed by those without security clearance.
Unclassified//FOR
Same as above, with FOR allowing dissemination to foreign nationals.
Official Use Only
This is sensitive information that's labeled as restricted.
Decipher the Anatomy of a Cable
There's a lot going on inside each cable, and at first glance, it's totally confusing. But once you figure out what each line and abbreviation means, you'll know what to skip and what to pay attention to. Below is a cable example, and below that, some documents that should help you be able to figure everything out.
The following document tells you what everything means on the top portion of the cables. In the above document, it would be everything from VZCZCXR09560 to Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).
More information available about the above image at StateLogs.
Below is an example of an original paper cable, what one really looks like, along with a detailed breakdown of the parts.
This is what a real paper cable looks like.
Paper cable explanation.
This is what a real paper cable looks like.
Paper cable explanation.
You can download the above images in PDF here.
Cablegate Wikileaks TAG List
Though you won't find the TAGS in alphabetical order on WikiLeaks, in this list they are, for easier reference. In time, as more documents get posted, more TAGS will likely be added, so if there are some missing, mention it in the comments and I'll update this list.
Country TAGS
Those without asterisks are Country TAGS, which are two-letter codes for countries and world regions. The country codes are taken from the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication No. 10 (FIPS). Some of the Regional TAGS are based strictly on geographic locations while others are based on political regions. Geographic/Region TAGS identify the country or area that is the subject of the message. They also specify the country or area in which an event takes place or the country or area taking or participating in an action.
Organization TAGS
Those with asterisks (*) are Organization TAGS, with titles and/or acronyms of organizations approved for the WikiLeaks list. Most of the acronyms consist of the initials of organizations. However, because of computer processing of TAGS data, several codes are artificial.
Subject TAGS
Those with double-asterisks (**) are Subject TAGS which cover a broad area of information.
Program TAGS
Those with triple-asterisks (***) are Program TAGS (K TAGS), which group documents together that cross Subject TAGS. The grouping of documents allow for easy retrieval based solely upon program or office requirements. These TAGS begin with the letter K and should be placed on the TAG line of telegrams and memorandums, along with appropriate subject and geographic TAGS. K TAGS do not replace Subject TAGS, but should be used as adjuncts to them.
Unknown TAGS
Those TAGS underlined are, as of yet, unidentified. If you know the meaning, please post it in the comments.
A
ABLD Buildings and Grounds (**)
AC Antigua and Barbuda
ACOA Communication Operations and Administration (**)
ADCO Diplomatic Courier Operations (**)
AE United Arab Emirates
AEC Atomic Energy Commission (*)
AEMR Emergency Planning and Evacuation (**)
AF Afghanistan
AFIN Financial Management (**)
AG Algeria
AGMT
AJ Azerbaijan
AL Albania
AL Arab League (*)
AM Armenia
AMED Medical Services (**)
AMGT Management Operations (**)
AO Angola
AODE Employees Abroad (**)
AORC International Organizations and Conferences (**)
APER Personnel (**)
AR Argentina
AS Australia
ASEC Security
AU Austria
AX
B
BA Bahrain
BB Barbados
BE Belgium
BEXP Trade Expansion and Promotion (**)
BF Bahamas
BG Bangladesh
BH Belize
BIDEN Joe Biden (**)
BILAT Bilateral ??
BK Bosnia and Herzegovina
BL Bolivia
BM Burma
BO Belarus
BR Brazil
BRUSSELS Brussels
BTIO Trade and Investment Opportunities (**)
BU Bulgaria
BX Brunei
BY Burundi
C
CA Canada
CACM Central American Common Market (*)
CASC Assistance to Citizens (**)
CBW Chemical and Biological Weapons (**)
CD Chad
CDB Caribbean Development Bank (*)
CDG Committee on Disarmament (*)
CE Sri Lanka
CF Congo (Brazzaville)
CG Congo (Kinshasa)
CH China (Mainland)
CI Chile
CIA Central Intelligence Agency (*)
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States (*)
CJAN Judicial Assistance and Notarial Services (**)
CLINTON Bill Clinton (**)
CM Cameroon
CMGT Consular Administration and Management (**)
CN Comoros
CO Colombia
COE Council of Europe (*)
CONDOLEEZZA Condoleezza Rice (**)
COUNTER Counter Terrorism (**)
COUNTERTERRORISM Counter Terrorism (**)
CR Coral Sea Islands
CS Costa Rica
CU Cuba
CV Cape Verde
CVIS Visas (**)
CY Cyprus
D
DA Denmark
DEA Drug Enforcement Administration (*)
DEAX Drug Enforcement Administration / ?? (*)
DHS Department of Homeland Security (*)
DJ Djibouti
DOD Department of Defense (*)
DOE Department of Energy (*)
DR Dominican Republic
E
EAGR Agriculture and Forestry (**)
EAID Foreign Economic Assistance (**)
EAIR Civil Aviation (**)
EC Ecuador
ECIN Economic Integration and Cooperation (**)
ECIP
ECON Economic Conditions (**)
ECPS Communications and Postal Systems (**)
ECUN
EFIN Financial and Monetary Affairs (**)
EFIS Commercial Fishing and Fish Processing (**)
EG Egypt
EI Ireland
EIND Industry and Manufacturing (**)
EINDETRD Industry and Manufacturing / Foreign Trade (**)
EINT Economic and Commercial Internet (**)
EINV Foreign Investments (**)
EINVEFIN Foreign Investments / Financial and Monetary Affairs (**)
EINVETC Foreign Investments / ?? (**)
ELAB Labor Sector Affairs (**)
ELECTIONS Elections (**)
ELTN Land Transportation (**)
EMIN Minerals and Metals (**)
EN Estonia
ENGR
ENRG Energy and Power (**)
ENVR
EPET Petroleum and Natural Gas (**)
ER Eritrea
EREL
ES El Salvador
ET Ethiopia
ETRD Foreign Trade (**)
ETTC Trade and Technology Controls (**)
EU Europa Island
EUC Europa Island / Croatia / Chapter 23 / ??
EUN European Union (*)
EWWT Waterborne Transportation (**)
EXTERNAL
EZ Czech Republic
F
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (*)
FARC Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaria (*)
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation (*)
FINR
FJ Fiji
FMLN Farabundo Marti Liberacion Nacional (*)
FR Corsica
FREEDOM
FTAA Free Trade Area of the Americas (*)
G
GA Gambia
GE
GG Georgia
GH Ghana
GM Germany
GOI Government of Italy
GT Guatemala
GTMO Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (*)
GV Guinea
GZ Gaza Strip
H
HA Haiti
HILLARY Hillary Clinton (**)
HO Honduras
HR Croatia
HU Hungary
HUMAN Human Rights (**)
HURI
HYMPSK
I
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (*)
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization (*)
ICTY International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (*)
ID Indonesia
IMO Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (*)
IN India
INRA National Institute for Agrarian Reform (*)
INRB
INRO International Natural Rubber Organization (*)
INTERPOL International Criminal Police Organization (*)
IO Indian Ocean
IPR
IQ
IR Iran
IRAJ Iran / Azerbaijan ??
IRAQI
IS Israel
IT Italy
ITALIAN
ITALY
ITPHUM Italy Human Rights
IV Cote D'Ivoire
IWC International Whaling Commission (*)
IZ Iraq
J
JA Japan
JAMES James Steinberg (**)
JO Jordan
JOSPEH Joseph Biden (**)
JUS Department of Justice (*)
K
KACT Strategic Arms Control (ACS) Treaties (***)
KAWC Atrocities and War Crimes (***)
KAWK
KBCT Arab League Boycott (***)
KBIO
KCFE Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (***)
KCIP Critical Infrastructure Protection (***)
KCOM Chief of Mission (***)
KCOR Corruption and Anti-Corruption (***)
KCRM Criminal Activity (***)
KDEM Democratization (***)
KDEMAF Democratization / Afghanistan (***)
KDEV
KDRG Detainee Repatriation from Guantanamo Bay (***)
KE Kenya
KFIN
KFRD Fraud Prevention Programs (***)
KG Kyrgyzstan
KGCC
KGHG Global Climate Change (***)
KGIC Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (***)
KGIT Global Information Technology Modernization Program (***)
KHDP Humanitarian Demining Program (***)
KHIV Emerging Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Program (***)
KHLS Homeland Security (***)
KICC
KIFR
KIPR Intellectual Property Rights (***)
KIRC Information Resource Centers (***)
KIRF International Religious Freedom (***)
KISL Islamic Issues (***)
KJUS Administration of Justice (***)
KLIG Foreign Litigation (***)
KMCA Millennium Challenge Account (***)
KMDR Media Reaction Reporting (***)
KMIG
KMRS Rightsizing the U.S. Government's Overseas Presence (***)
KN Korea (North)
KNNP Nuclear Non- Proliferation (***)
KNPP
KNUC
KOLY Olympic Games Reporting (***)
KPAL Palestinian Affairs (***)
KPAO Public Affairs Office (***)
KPIN Political Internationals (***)
KPKO United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (***)
KPLS Polls, Survey Research and Focus Groups (***)
KPRP
KPWR Power Support Program (***)
KR Kiribati
KRAD Radioactive Contamination of the Environment (***)
KS Korea (South)
KSCA Security Advisory Council (***)
KSEC
KSPR Strategic, Performance and Resource Planning (***)
KSTC Strategic Trade and Technology Controls (***)
KSUM Summit Meetings (***)
KTFN Terrorism Finance Traffic (***)
KTIA Treaties and International Agreements (***)
KTIP Trafficking in Persons (***)
KU Kuwait
KUNR UN Reform (***)
KV Kosovo
KWAC
KWBG West Bank and Gaza (***)
KWMN Women Issues (***)
KZ Kazakhstan
L
LE Lebanon
LG Latvia
LH Lithuania
LI Liberia
LU Luxembourg
LY Libya
M
MA Madagascar
MAPP
MAR
MARR Military and Defense Arrangements (**)
MASC
MASS Military Assistance and Sales (**)
MCAP Military Capabilities (**)
MCC
MD Moldova
MDC Movement for Democratic Change (*)
MEPP
MG Mongolia
MIL Military (**)
MK The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
ML Mali
MNUC Military Nuclear Applications (**)
MO Morocco
MOPPS
MOPS Military Operations (**)
MP Mauritius
MPOS
MR Mauritania
MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime (*)
MTCRE Missile Technology Control Regime (*)
MTRE
MU Oman
MX Mexico
MY Malaysia
MZ Mozambique
N
NAR Narcotics (**)
NATIONAL
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization (*)
NG Niger
NI Nigeria
NIPP North Ireland Peace Process (**)
NL Netherlands
NO Norway
NPT Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (*)
NU Nicaragua
NZ New Zealand
O
OAS Organization of American States (*)
ODIP U.S. Diplomatic Representation (**)
OEXC Educational and Cultural Exchange Operations (**)
OFDP Foreign Diplomats and Foreign Missions (**)
OFFICIALS
OIIP International Information Programs (**)
OPDC Diplomatic Correspondence (**)
OPRC Public Relations and Correspondence (**)
OREP U.S. Congressional Travel (**)
OSAC Overseas Security Advisory (*)
OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (*)
OSCI Science Grants (**)
OTR
OTRA Travel (**)
OVIP Visits and Travel of Prominent Individuals and Leaders (**)
OVP Office of the Vice President (*)
P
PA Paraguay
PAK
PARM Arms Controls and Disarmament (**)
PARTIES
PBIO
PBTS National Boundaries, Territories, and Sovereignty (**)
PE Peru
PECON
PEPR
PF Paracel Islands
PGOF
PGOV Internal Governmental Affairs (**)
PHSA High Seas Affairs (**)
PHUM Human Rights (**)
PINL
PINR Intelligence (**)
PINS National Security (**)
PINT
PK Pakistan
PKFK NATO Led Peacekeeping Forces in Kosovo (*)
PL Poland
PM Panama
PMIL
PO Portugal
POGOV
POL
POLITICAL
POLITICS
PREF Refugees (**)
PREL External Political Relations (**)
PROP Propaganda and Psychological Operations (**)
PSI Italian Socialist Party (*)
PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (*)
PTER Terrorists and Terrorism (**)
PTERE
PU Guinea-Bissau
Q
QA Qatar
R
REGION
RICE Condoleezza Rice (**)
RIGHTS Human Rights (**)
RO Romania
RP Philippines
RS Russia
RU
RW Rwanda
S
SA Saudi Arabia
SANC Sanctions (**)
SCUL Cultural Affairs (**)
SENV Environmental Affairs (**)
SF South Africa
SG Senegal
SHUM Shum, Pakistan
SI Slovenia
SL Sierra Leone
SMIG Migration (**)
SN Singapore
SNAR Narcotics (**)
SO Somalia
SOCI Social Conditions (**)
SP Spain
SR Serbia
ST Saint Lucia
STEINBERG James Steinberg (**)
SU Sudan
SW Sweden
SY Syria
SYR
SZ Switzerland
T
TBIO Biological and Medical Science (**)
TC
TD Trinidad and Tobago
TERRORISM Counter Terrorism (**)
TFIN
TH Thailand
TI Tajikistan
TIP
TO Togo
TPHY Physical Sciences (**)
TR
TRGY Energy Technology (**)
TS Tunisia
TSPA Space Activities (**)
TSPL Science and Technology Policy (**)
TT East Timor
TU Turkey
TW Taiwan
TX Turkmenistan
TZ Tanzania
U
UAE United Arab Emirates
UE
UG Uganda
UK United Kingdom
UN United Nations
UNEP UN Environment Program (*)
UNESCO UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (*)
UNGA UN General Assembly (*)
UNHCR UN High Commissioner for Refugees (*)
UNMIK UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (*)
UNO United Nicaraguan Opposition (*)
UNSC UN Security Council (*)
UP Ukraine
US United States
USEU United States / Europe
USUN United States / United Nations
UV Burkina Faso
UY Uruguay
UZ Uzbekistan
V
VE Venezuela
VN
VT Vatican City
VTPREL Vatican City / External Political Relations (**)
VZ
W
WI Western Sahara
WMO World Meteorological Organization (*)
WTO World Tourism Organization (*)
WTRO World Trade Organization (*)
X
XA Africa
XC Southeast Asia
XF Middle East
XG Europe
XH Eastern Europe
XK Central America
XL Caribbean
XM Latin America
XR South America
XS North America
XT Western Europe
XW East Africa
XY West Africa
XZ Scandinavia
Y
YE
YI Yugoslavia
YM Yemen
Z
ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union (*)
ZB Baltic States
ZF Central Africa
ZI Zimbabwe
ZK Central Asia
ZP Persian Gulf Area
ZR Arabian Peninsula
ZU Southern Africa
Sources
Other References: Huffington Post
Tags References: WikiLeaks, Miran Rijavec, CableTags
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