Wikileaks Confirm Much of What We Suspected

The latest information distributed from Wikilieaks confirm much of what followers of Congo and the Great Lakes suspected. However, one key insight that Wikileaks provided was what seems to be a more aggressive and broader data collection effort of an established practice by the diplomatic corps. This quote from the NY Times report places it in context "While the State Department has long provided information about foreign officials’ duties to the Central Intelligence Agency to help build biographical profiles, the more intrusive personal information diplomats are now being asked to gather could be used by the National Security Agency for data mining and surveillance operations. "

Some excerpts from Wikileaks include:

"Reporting officers should include as much of the following information as possible when they have information relating to persons linked to African Great Lakes: office and organizational titles; names, position titles and other information on business cards; numbers of telephones, cell phones, pagers and faxes; compendia of contact information, such as telephone directories (in compact disc or electronic format if available) and e-mail listings; internet and intranet "handles", internet e-mail addresses, web site identification-URLs; credit card account numbers; frequent flyer account numbers; work schedules, and other relevant biographical information."

A. Mineral Resources (ENVR)

-- Details on mining of diamonds, copper, cobalt, uranium, other minerals, and oil extraction: number and location of mines, production statistics and revenue generated, and extent of control given to China and other foreign governments, companies or consortiums; export statistics. -- Details on mineral, oil and other resource exploitation by rebel groups and foreign elements to include type and location of resources exploited, and revenue generated through sales, customs duties, taxation, and access control. -- Government ability/willingness to deal with environmental abuses.

Read entire leaks on Great Lakes here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/202678