The Pentagon Leaks and the Middle East
Summary: what is being called the worst leak of top secret
documents since Wikileaks has caused concern in DC and provoked swift
denials in Egypt, the UAE and Israel.
A leak of top secret Pentagon documents is causing some embarrassment
to states in the Middle East, as well as deep blushes in Washington.
The leaks apparently have been ongoing for several weeks and possibly
months but only gained traction when mainstream media such as the
Washington Post reported on them over the week-end.
A Pentagon spokesperson described it as “a very serious risk to
national security” while a clearly worried John Kirby, the White House
National Security Council spokesperson, had a lot of “ don’t knows” when
questioned by reporters about the extent of the leaks.
We don’t know what’s out there. We don’t know who’s responsible for this. And we don’t know if they have more that they intend to post. So
we’re watching this and monitoring it as best we can. But the truth and
the honest answer to your question is we don’t know and is that a
matter of concern to us? You’re darn right it is.
Another of the don’t knows is the extent to which the documents may
have been tampered with maliciously by whoever leaked them or by those
receiving them before dumping them on the internet. Nonetheless the
leaks have left governments scrambling to issue denials whilst
reaffirming their close relations with Washington.
The Washington Post
carried a story on Monday that according to one of the documents dated
17 February, Egypt’s President Abel Fattah el-Sisi had ordered his
military to supply 40,000 rockets to Russia to be used against Ukraine
but to keep very quiet about it to “avoid problems with the West.”
As we reported in our newsletter yesterday, Sisi is in a desperate
financial bind and urgently needs foreign funds so a sale of that many
rockets would be helpful. However, whether he would be desperate enough
or foolish enough to upset the Americans who have provided tens of billions
in military and economic aid to Egypt since 1978 is another question.
Last September President Biden fired a shot across the bow by withholding US$130 million in military aid whilst citing Egypt’s appalling human rights record under Sisi.
The Egyptian response to the leaked document was somewhat curious.
Rather than an outright denial, the foreign ministry spokesperson
reiterated Egypt’s position of “non-involvement in this crisis and
committing to maintain equal distance with both sides.” He added “We
continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political
solution through negotiations.”
Also fingered in the documents was the UAE. Allegedly one document
has US spies reporting of boasts from Russian intelligence officers that
Abu Dhabi was working against US and UK interests in support of Russian
endeavours in the region. AP whilst noting it was unable to verify its veracity quoted the document as saying:
In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service
officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK
Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence.
The UAE probably views engagement with Russian intelligence as an
opportunity to strengthen growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Moscow and
diversify intelligence partnerships amid concerns of US disengagement
from the region.
While it is true that the UAE has proved a welcoming haven
for Russian oligarchs and like other Middle East countries has ignored
US sanctions, it does seem quite a stretch that Mohammed bin Zayed, the
Abu Dhabi ruler and president of the UAE would so blatantly throw his
weight and prestige behind Vladimir Putin. It is simply not his style
and he is far too savvy an operator to risk alienating Washington to the
degree the document claims.
Unsurprisingly the UAE in response to the AP story called the claims
“categorically false.” The statement went on to note rather piously:
“The UAE has deep and distinguished relations with all countries,
reflecting its principles of openness, partnership, building bridges,
and working to serve the common interests of countries and peoples to
achieve international peace and security.”
![]()