Zuma's Rise 'Astonishing' - U.S. Diplomats
The rise of President Jacob Zuma "at the same time that serious questions about his character were headline news, is an astonishing political achievement," the United States Embassy in Pretoria reported to Washington soon after Zuma was sworn in. .
The embassy's comment is reflected in one of two cables sent from Pretoria shortly after Zuma assumed power. The full texts of both cables appear below.
One cable also records a
In another cable, from 2001, the embassy described President Thabo Mbeki as "defensive," "brilliant," and "prickly."
President Jacob Zuma addressing crowds after his inauguration as President of South Africa.
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South Africa:
Zuma's Rise 'An Astonishing Political Achievement' - U.S. Diplomats
WikiLeaks, 9 December 2010
The rise of President Jacob Zuma "at the same time that serious questions about his character were headline news, is an astonishing political achievement," the United States… Read more »
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South Africa:
Zuma's Early Life, According to U.S. Embassy in Pretoria
WikiLeaks, 9 December 2010
Friday, 08 May 2009, 15:04UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRETORIA 000939SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIEDSIPDISEO 12958 N/ATAGS KDEM, PGOV, PREL, SFSUBJECT: PART 1 OF 3: THE LIFE AND TIMES… Read more »
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South Africa:
U.S. Diplomats Found Mbeki 'Defensive,' 'Brilliant', 'Prickly'
WikiLeaks, 9 December 2010
The text of a 2001 American diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to the State Department in Washington, DC, as published by WikiLeaks on December 8: Read more »
