WASHINGTON — New diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks detailing internal communications between US diplomatic corps staff reveal that the Obama administration used the promise of Thailand’s first Krispy Kreme franchise to seal the deal in obtaining wanted arms merchant Viktor Bout.
According to documents placed on the site Wednesday, emails between the US Ambassador’s office and Washington from July to October discussed the strategic implementation of the famous, oven-warmed doughnuts in the diplomatic row between the US and Russia over Bout.
Most revealing was the reference to Krispy Kreme as an immediately deployable asset, without any visible reference to securing the co-operation of the supposed parent company Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc, suggesting to many observers that the entire pastry operation is a CIA shell company.
International consulting firm, McKinsey, called the deal lopsided, “but for who, we’re not sure.”
Discussions between the State Department and the US Ambassador also named members of the Abhisit government as conspirators in the agreement, with Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya cited several times as providing assurance that Bout would be handed over to the US “after the doughnuts were in hand” and “supply chain was established to Kasset’s [sic] satisfaction.”
Most damning to the Abhisit administration was the US Ambassador’s office referring to the Krispy Kreme franchise as “bread and circuses for their shallow, materialistic voters” and a “distraction from the May massacres.”
Wikileaks documents also show that Russia tried to counter the offer with 30 tons of fresh-baked blini, prianik, and kulich, which the State Department described as “pathetic.”
Foreign Minister Kasit declined comment on the case, insisting that Wikileaks was not a credible source.
Krispy Kreme opened its Bangkok branch on September 28. Victor Bout was handed over to US authorities on November 16.
