Spun wool

Senator Joker Arroyo must think Filipino politicians are naive. Either it’s them, or it’s the rest of us schmucks, who have witnessed his publicized rants at Kirstie Kenney, former US Ambassador, that Joker is trying to fool.

 According to Senator Arroyo, henceforth, all politicians who speak, meet or interact with American embassy officials must beware, for they never know when their schmoozing and gossiping will end up in a confidential cable to Washington. Naturally, this endearing lecture from our august statesman is the offshoot of the daily headlines about this Cabinet minister or that Presidential hopeful or even some business leaders, who have been unfortunate enough to be named as sources by various diplomatic and consular staff in the deluge of cables sent to America. (And, most unfortunately for them, recently made available by Wikileaks.)

 It’s embarrassing for both writers and subjects. As regards the American officials, their masked thoughts about their subjects are laid bare in their missives, and stripped of all pretence and politesse. And as for the subjects, they’re flayed, their flaws are exposed, and their accusations of criminal activity are echoed across the Pacific.

 So now, Senator Arroyo wants to caution our innocent officials, who like lambs were meek enough to lay bare their milk-white bosoms to the American embassy. He says they must no longer trust these diplomats. They must be aware that when they are invited to a cocktail or a Fourth of July celebration, they could end up just being pumped for information. 

 Are our politicians really that naive that they need this warning? These are seasoned operators that Arroyo is talking about. Wheelers and dealers who know how to use the backdoor. They know who to tap in what situation and the nearest escape route to the exit. Men and women who have plans laid within plans. Does he think these politicians spoke to the Ambassador and whispered accusations about this minister or that army general, without knowing, or at least hoping, that something must necessarily happen to that information? That perhaps, it would be acted upon? That hopefully, it would lead to wheels turning and gears grinding?

 Of course, diplomats have to wrestle with the information provided them. Of course, they try to analyze the character, the strengths, and the relative position in the political spectrum that the speakers occupy. Of course, they try to separate the rice from the palay. Why else are they here? What did Senator Arroyo think embassy officials do from 8:00 to 5:00? Stamp passports and grant visas?

 Somehow I don’t want to go down that road. I mean, if it were me talking to the Ambassador, I would certainly hope I get some kind of mention in her report to Washington. (Or, her memoirs would also be good). If they were talking about sensitive topics like druglords, crooked politicians, and martial law, how could a Cabinet secretary not think that the communication channels would be working overtime?

 So our politicians don’t need that warning. For all we know, they were actually taking advantage of the fact that they had the ear of the Ambassadress, and were feeding her information meant to sabotage their enemies. Or worse, they were feeding her disinformation, meant to sow some seed and reap some nebulous reward the Americans might not cotton on to. 

 So maybe it’s us that the Senator thinks is naive. Maybe he thinks he can convince us that all these Filipino pillars of the business, military and political community were unfortunate enough to have been hoodwinked by the Ambassadress, and we must all unite in condemnation of these nasty underhanded tactics deviously sprung on us by the villainess. We must be led to the conclusion that: Filipino politicians, sweet and innocent. Americans: very bad. Very bad, indeed.

 I don’t want to go down that road either. So the alternative is, it’s the Senator himself who’s naive, for holding these views. Maybe it was him who was wined and dined by the Embassy, made to reveal titillating secrets about the Arroyos, and we will soon find out the nasty details in some future Wikileak revelation.

I can’t wait for the next installment.