FED:Rudd is 'control freak': US cable

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2010
FED:Rudd is 'control freak': US cable

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - The US regards Kevin Rudd as a "control freak" who presided over
a series of foreign policy blunders during his time as prime minister, diplomatic cables
reveal.

One message claiming Mr Rudd "does not have the staff or the experience to do the job
properly" was sent by the US embassy in Canberra to the Secretary of State in Washington.

The revelation is among hundreds of US State Department cables relating to Australia
obtained by WikiLeaks and made available to Fairfax newspapers.

Cables show how initially favourable US impressions of Mr Rudd, described as "a safe
pair of hands" were replaced by criticism of his micro-management and mishandling of diplomacy
as he focused on media opportunities.

"Rudd undoubtedly believes that with his intellect, his six years as a diplomat in
the 1980s and his five years as shadow foreign minister, he has the background and the
ability to direct Australia's foreign policy," the embassy observed in November last year.

"His performance so far, however, demonstrates that he does not have the staff or the
experience to do the job properly."

In a review in December 2008 of the first 12 months of the Rudd government, the then
US ambassador, Robert McCallum, characterised its performance as "generally competent".

But in Mr McCallum's view, the prime minister's diplomatic "missteps" largely arose
from his propensity to make "snap announcements without consulting other countries or
within the Australian government".

The leaks are published after Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested
on Tuesday in Britain over sex charges brought against him by Swedish police.

AAP tcm/msk

KEYWORD: WIKILEAKS RUDD

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