To Cut the Head Off the Snake

I am conflicted about the diplomatic cables that have been released through wikileaks. On one hand, some of them are so recent that it's likely they will have at least a short-term impact on how the US interacts with allies. How negative that impact will be is yet to be seen. On the other hand, I find them incredibly fascinating. It's essentially gossip on world leaders, uncensored. Or, as I saw it phrased today, it's basically the US Government's burn book. In case you may have missed it, here's some twitter-sized summaries (not mine; I stole them from other sources) of what US diplomats think of other countries:

• Putin is Batman.
• Libyan dictator has a hot blond Ukrainian "nurse" who travels with him at all times. He also loves botox.
• Italian PM is a silly ho.
• Putin and Berlusconi are involved in a bromance.
• North Korean dictator is fat.
• Everyone hates Iran. Everyone.
• Canadians have an "Alice in Wonderland" worldview. (I don't get this. They .... throw mad tea parties and paint white roses red?)
• US diplomats were instructed to collect used tissues from UN diplomats in order to get their DNA. EW GROSS.
• A British Royal is cocky, chauvinistic imperialist. (Later revealed to be Prince Andrew. Borrrrrring. I wanted it to be Camilla.)
• Sarkozy is like "the emperor with no clothes on"
• China thinks North Korea is a "spoiled child"

Of course the biggest lesson learned out of this situation is that perhaps the US Government should invest in a firewall. And fast.