K.S. Rajan (11
Jan 2012)
"US expels Venezuelan
diplomat who 'discussed cyber war on America'"
"America is expelling Venezuela's consul general in Miami amid
allegations she discussed possible cyber attacks against the US
while she was stationed at her country's embassy in Mexico."
From yesterday's TheGuardian, also available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/09/us-expels-venezuelan-diplomat-cyber
, FYI,
David
US expels Venezuelan diplomat who 'discussed cyber war on
America'
Livia Acosta Noguera sought information about US nuclear power
plant servers, according to documentary
Monday 9 January 2012 03.40 GMT
Livia Acosta Noguera
Livia Acosta Noguera discussed cyber attacks on the US and
sought information on servers at its nuclear power stations,
according to a documentary that has led to her expulsion as
Venezuelan consul general in Miama. Photograph: Javier
Caceres/AP
America is expelling Venezuela's consul general in Miami amid
allegations she discussed possible cyber attacks against the US
while she was stationed at her country's embassy in Mexico.
The US state department said it had declared Livia Acosta
Noguera persona non grata and given her until Tuesday to leave
the country. A spokesman, Mark Toner, said the Venezuelan
government was notified of the decision on Friday, giving her 72
hours to depart under standard diplomatic procedure.
There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan government.
Toner would not discuss the reason for the expulsion and said it
was done in accordance with article 23 of the Vienna convention
on consular relations. That article does not require the
expelling state to explain its decision.
The FBI investigated claims contained in a documentary aired by
the Spanish-language broadcaster Univision last month. According
to the documentary, The Iranian Threat, Acosta discussed a
possible cyber attack against the US government when she was
previously assigned as a diplomat in the Venezuelan embassy in
Mexico.
The documentary was based on recordings of conversations with
her and other officials, and also alleged that Cuban and Iranian
diplomatic missions were involved. Citing audio and video
obtained by the students at the National Autonomous University
of Mexico, Univision said Acosta had been seeking information
about the servers of nuclear power plants in the US.
After the documentary aired, the state department said the
allegations were "very disturbing" and the FBI had opened an
investigation.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the US House or
Representatives foreign affairs committee, said: "This is the
appropriate step to take against the Venezuelan general consul
in Miami and highlights the threat posed by Iranian influence in
Latin America.
"This administration must be more proactive and engaged against
the serious threat of Iranian activity in the region and this is
a first step in that direction."