Galery

1

In March this year, it was revealed that Hillary Clinton had used the family server for her official correspondence.

The topic became widely discussed as the former first lady and state secretary and current presidential candidate clashed with the FBI over her official emails exchanged during that period. National security was also bandied about, and Clinton wound up being forced to comply with the State Department's demand to disclose more than 55,000 emails, while the FBI seized her server through a court decision.

The disclosures had wide repercussions among the world media because of the secret conversations of the former state secretary. In September, CNBC published 15 emails regarding the US role vis-a-vis the Greek crisis in the period 2010-2012.

Hillary's emails to and from top diplomats, State Department employees, her advisors and associates, became known as of late, showing her avid interest towards the Greek crisis. Ethnos has studied Clinton's 'Greek e-mails' in detail.

She has mentioned Greece in about 100 messages, and they contain extensive inquiries, reports and assessments on the Greek financial crisis and the impact it might have on the other side of the Atlantic. "I hope you're ready for what will happen," writes Douglas Redinger, US representative at the IMF, to an associate of Clinton's on 12 September 2011. The same email was forwarded to the closest state secretary's collaborator, Jacob Sullivan, a favourite for NSA Director, if Hillary Clinton becomes president, with a note saying that Greece's bankruptcy is expected in two days. Subsequently the email reached Clinton. During that period, the international press was syndicating the news that the Eurozone was bracing itself for the bankruptcy of Greece.

The email of June 18, 2012, a day after the Greek elections, is fairly interesting: Clinton is being informed of the conversation between the US ambassador to Athens, Daniel Smith, and the Governor of the Bank of Greece. "Dan Smith told me he had just spoken with the governor of the Bank of Greece. The governor believes that we are OK for the time being, – as long as a government is formed sooner rather than later. He believes that if this happens, small depositors will start to return to the banks."

Hillary's heightened interest towards the Greek crisis and backstage dealings at diplomatic level aimed at finding a solution is evident from the correspondence on 13 September 2011 between the US Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Smith, and senior American diplomat Robert Hormats. The ambassador wrote: "Georgios Papandreou announced no new measures in his speech at the Thessaloniki fair, but Venizelos introduced the tax paid with the electricity bills, in a desperate attempt to raise money for the state.  There is a strong reaction against this tax, even members of the government believe it is a mistake. New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has not changed his critical tone towards the government and continues to believe for some reason that he stands a better chance of securing agreement with the troika." That correspondence ends with Hormats' words, stating he will meet with the Greek finance minister in Washington the following week. Clinton was apparently informed on all matters because when rumours started spreading about a national unity government led by Lucas Papademos, the latter's biography was immediately sent to her.

Hillary was being informed about a great deal, even minor details concerning everyday life. Her emails contained reports, but also publications and telegrams, e.g. one by AP agency from 18 July 2011. It gives an account of the cab drivers' strike against the opening of the profession. "Striking Greek taxi drivers are blocking access to the airport and the harbour. They are protesting against the new government measures." The telegram was forwarded to Hillary Clinton by the deputy head of her office, Huma Abedin.

Clinton had frequent correspondence with Tony Blair's wife, Cherie. In one of her emails, Hillary informed Cherie about her agenda for June 2009, which mentions a stopover in Corfu.

Clinton was in connection with Georgios Papandreou as well. In a communication of 23 July, 2010 Huma Abedin informed her that Prime Minister Papandreou phoned in and wanted to inform her about his trip to the Middle East. Another email mentions Papandreou's trip to Cairo.

"A potential second major phase of the economic crisis, at least in Europe, can be caused by the devaluation of Greek bonds to junk. Portugal, Spain and possibly Ireland are on the brink," says a secret email of 27 April 2010 sent to Hillary by her advisor, entitled "The Greek crisis, transatlantic implications."