Thoughts On Iran
Trumps 1996 Moscow Trip
15 hours ago I heard we attacked Iran on orders from our defacto leader “BIBI”. This was expected so I simply turned off my internet connection and ignored it. Evil Empires do Evil Empire things
After checking in on what transpired 15 hours ago it seems we have claimed to have killed the Ayatollah. Maybe true but so what? They have a successor or at least someone to assume the position of Acting Supreme Leader (Ali Larijani) who strikes me as being more formidable. We also seen to have killed 80 school girls (Epstein weeps, Jane in GM trial was 1/2 Iranian).
Iran seems to have launched some of its older and ineffective missiles at nearby bases that we have mostly evacuated, and Israel which has a formidable Iron Dome. Iran apparently warned everyone the Straits of Hormuz is closed so insurance for ships transiting is null and void should any ship dare transit. This should cause oil prices to spike.
The US of course is not prepared to put many boots on the ground, so unless Irans leadership suddenly capitulates, much like Venezuela did , or there is a mass uprising that overwhelms local security forces we could be out of luck. So this could be another protracted affair where Iran eventually starts using its more modern and lethal missiles .
I don’t have a crystal ball so don’t know if Trump gets that quick win he is looking for.
Of course, one must ask what a quick win looks like? Iran is no threat to the US, crippled as it was by sanctions and not having missiles that can reach US. No nukes either. In fact the Supreme Leader had a Fatwa forbidding their production.
Occupying Iran would be required to seize the Oil and we are not up for that. I suppose we could work out a deal where Oil sales revenue for Iran oil get deposited into our account but thats only $60 billion a year and we have to give Iran a lot of that back or they have no reason to produce oil for export.
The only winner seems to be Israel as Iran would likely split into pieces and this is part of their 1982 Oded Yinon plan for a Greater Israel and Balkanized Middle East.
Plus, you have to imagine that out of the rubble comes another terrorist group thats unhappy their homeland was attacked. New enemies for Israel mean more US$ to defend against them
Maybe the next 9/11 comes from an Iranian Al Qaeda with some help from within, like in 2001. Maybe right before elections. Then we can restart another GWOT and lose more liberties and add another $8 trillion to the debt. Remember, our debt is the billionaires class asset. More debt for us is more better for them.
See how it works?
Ps- just took a peak at Twitter and the Epstein Nutters all think this is all about the Epstein Files😂 Maybe Democracy is not such a great idea if the population is overwhelmed with idiots. Of course, maybe Twitter is not representative of the population and I am the idiot🤔
Trumps 1996 Moscow Trip
In a previous post I mentioned I would look at Trumps 1996 trip a bit closer.
“In November of 1996 Trump traveled to Moscow with Howard Lorber, CEO of Vector Group, a holding company with tobacco and real estate interests that held a lease on a site near the Kremlin that Trump had his eyes on as the potential location for a Trump Tower Moscow. Ducat Place, as the site was known, was controlled by a Russian cigarette company called Liggett-Ducat, a subsidiary of the Vector Group.
Lorber, who Trump has described as his “best friend,” later served on candidate Trump’s economic advisory team. Trump told The New Yorker in a 1997 profile that Lorber had “major investments in Russia.”
With Lorber by his side, Trump met with Moscow’s mob connected mayor Yuri Luzhkov.
Luzhkov was a friend Russian organized criminal Vyacheslav Ivankov. Luzkhov was believed to be connected to Semyon Mogilevich, the United States’ top Russian organized crime target, through Sistema, a business conglomerate that supported Luzhkov’s political machine. Luzhkov was also close friends with a Russian businessman with ties to both Trump and Russian organized crime, Shalva Tchigirinsky. His wife, Yelena Baturina, was a business partner of Tchigirinsky’s.
Trump and Lorber were accompanied by their mutual friend Bennett LeBow, a tobacco executive who had founded the Vector Group. A year earlier, LeBow attended a Clinton-Gore fundraiser and brought as his guest a Ukrainian businessman and organized criminal named Vadim Rabinovich.
Rabinovich once served as the Ukrainian representative of Nordex, the Vienna-based commodities trading firm established by the KGB and believed to be involved in money laundering, drug smuggling and nuclear proliferation.
Nordex was operated by a Latvian spook-turned-mobster named Grigori Luchansky, who himself had met Bill Clinton at a 1993
fundraiser.
Note: Nordex was cofounded by Marc Rich. According to James Hatt, Kevin Maxwell and Epstein through Ghislaine were working with Luchansky starting in 1993 to move money around.
Luchansky was sprung from prison in 1993 with the help of the KGB and then used Nordex to launder Communist Party funds into the West. Luchansky was also working with Kevin Maxwell and Epstein starting in 1993 to launder money
In 1995, Luchansky and Rabinovich had attended a meeting in Tel Aviv with, among others, Semyon Mogilevich and Sergei Mikhailov, head of the Solntsevskaya, to discuss their holdings in Ukraine.
Trump, Lorber and LeBow were joined by several other Americans during their 1996 trip to Moscow. One in particular was David Geovanis, a Moscow-based American businessman who served as the Vector Group’s Moscow real estate developer. Geovanis holds a Russian passport and may be a dual Russian-American citizen.
Several witnesses testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that Geovanis possesses potentially compromising information about Trump’s relationships with women in Moscow and has suggested that the Russian government is likely aware of this.
The Committee further assessed that Geovanis’ pattern of conduct with women in Moscow had made him and those around him vulnerable to Russian intelligence kompromat operations.
In Moscow at the time, international businessmen were regularly taken out to nightclubs or parties where prostitutes were present and Russian intelligence eagerly took advantage of these opportunities.
Leon Black, founder of the multi-billion dollar investment management firm Apollo Global Management, also joined Trump on his 1996 trip to Moscow. Black had worked with Geovanis in the Beverly Hills office of the investment firm Drexel Burnham Lambert, which invented the Junk Bond market and later collapsed after its founder, the “Junk Bond King” Michael Milken, was arrested and convicted of securities and tax violations. Black was Milken’s right-hand man at Drexel.
LeBow was a major investor with Drexel and often flew it’s executives on private jets to parties costing millions of dollars. While Trump never worked directly with Drexel, he had used the kind of Junk Bonds they pioneered to fund his debt-fueled purchases in the late 1980s, including pouring $675 million worth of Junk Bonds into the Taj Mahal Casino. Years later as President, Trump issued an executive pardon to Milken.
Geovanis was assigned to show Trump around Moscow during his 1996 visit. Trump was also joined on the trip by Matthew Calamari, his former bodyguard and later Chief Operating Officer at the Trump Organization, a Goldman Sachs executive named Ron Bernstein, and the architect Theodore Liebman.
On one of their first evenings in Moscow, the Vector Group threw a party for Trump in a room called “The Library” at the five-star Baltschug Kempinski hotel in Moscow, where Trump and his entourage likely stayed the evening. According to a 1996 FBI confidential report, the Baltschug Kampinsky was owned by Semyon Mogilevich.
During the party, Trump may have initiated a romantic relationship with a Russian woman, possibly a former Miss Moscow, whose name is redacted from the Senate Counterintelligence report. Trump was married to his second wife Marla Maples at the time.
https://medium.com/@petergrant_14485/trumps-1996-trip-to-moscow-and-russian-investments-in-trump-organization-properties-8ca8d69cf947
In Moscow, Trump also connected with Felix Sater, a Russian-American money launder and fraudster who had recently fled to Russia to escape charges back home in the states. Sater’s father, Mikhail Sheferovsky, is a New York-based underboss for Semion Mogilevich. (Rabinovich, while not part of his organization, met with Mogilevich as recently as October ’95.)
Years later, Trump partnered with Felix Sater and his Bayrock Group on Trump SoHo, and Lorber becomes an adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign. He is Donald Trump Jr.’s first call after the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.
https://trumpfile.org/donald-trump-visits-russia-1996/
Black came out of Drexel and Drexel attempted to entrap its clients with sex. Connie Bruck’s The Predators’ Ball described the famed annual bash for Drexel’s raiders. One part was when the heavy hitters were brought to a room full of enticingly beautiful women.
https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
Black told the senators he did not recall “any compromising behavior” during the trip. He said he did remember going to a concert with Trump, and then to a “discotheque,” where they met other people whom Black could not recall. Black however added that he and Trump “might have gone to a strip club together.”
The Senate report also mentioned Black’s other ties to Russia, aside from knowing Geovanis and the 1996 trip with Trump. In September 2011, Black “reportedly” met “one-on-one” with Vladimir Putin to discuss Apollo’s plans for investing in Russia. Reuters reported on September 16, 2011 that Black was onstage with Putin at an economic forum in Sochi where he agreed to serve on the international advisory board of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund that Putin was setting up. Black served on the advisory board of the RDIF until 2014.
Kirill Alexandrovich Dmitriev is a Russian financier served as Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) since 2011. Dmitriev began his career at Goldman Sachsand McKinsey & Company before managing private equity funds and completing major transactions in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
In January 2017, Dmitriev met with Erik Prince, the founder of the private military company Blackwater, George Nader, and the UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (known as “MBZ”) in the Seychelles. The meeting was convened by the UAE. Erik Prince was understood by the other participants to represent the presidential transition team of Donald Trump, while Dmitriev was understood to represent the Russian government. Prior to the meeting Nader had briefed Prince on Dmitriev and at the meeting Nader introduced Prince to Dmitriev as the person “designated by Steve [Bannon] to meet you! I know him and he is very very well connected and trusted by the New Team.” Dmitriev also had contact to Jared Kushner during the first Trump presidency
Dmitriev’s appointment as Putin’s special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation in April 2024 positioned him as a key intermediary in US-Russia dialogues, including reported mediations with Trump administration figures such as Steve Witkoff.
Mentioned in the Epstein Files is Sergei Belyakov, the FSB academy graduate . After graduating from the FSB Academy, Belyakov landed a position as an adviser to aluminum oligarch and Putin loyalist, Oleg Deripaska. In August 2012, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia. In September 2014, he took the position of chairman of the Board of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
He also worked for Kirill Dmitriev with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) starting from 2016. Epstein turned to him for help in dealing with a woman “attempting to blackmail a group of powerful businessmen” in NYC. Peter Thiel met Belyakov in July 2015 with help from Epstein. On Feb 2016 Sergey Belyakov asked for an introduction to Vincenzo Iozzo, later identified by the FBI as Epstein’s “personal hacker.”
The report also said that Black “knows” Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch, and had “interacted with him in Russia and the United States” prior to Deripaska “being sanctioned” by the U.S. in 2018.
Deripaska’s principle advisor was Nathaniel Rothschild, son of the current Baron of the family, Lord Jacob Rothschild. Nathaniel played a crucial role in 2000, when Deripaska and Roman Abramovich created a partnership and founded RUSAL
In 2005 Manafort began a secret deal with Deripaska whereby Manafort’s firm was paid $ 10 million per year to influence politics, business dealings, and media coverage inside the US, Europe, and the former Soviet republics in a way that would benefit Vladimir Putin’s government. Deripaska was “among the 2–3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis
Black also told the committee of “a personal, but not close” relationship he has with both Jared Kushner and with Ivanka Trump, and about a “business transaction” between Apollo and the Kushner Companies. Apollo lent the Kushner Companies $184 million to refinance a Chicago skyscraper, according to the NYT
According to reporting and Black’s later statements (including internal Apollo reviews), the Black and Epstein met around 1996–1997 via mutual contacts in New York’s finance and philanthropy networks. Some accounts point to connections through Epstein’s relationships with wealthy families and trustees; others suggest it arose in overlapping social circles tied to art collecting and charitable boards.
Their relationship developed into a professional advisory arrangement.
Epstein of course gave Black tax and estate-planning advice, for which he was paid $158 million from 2012 to 2018, according to an audit — far above what those services are typically worth. Hmm?
On January 31, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Ben Black—Leon’s 40-year-old son and a former Apollo associate—to serve as CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The announcement came three days after Bloomberg reported Apollo’s interest in purchasing debt tied to Elon Musk’s acquisition of the social media platform X.
More on Trumps best friend Lorber.
Howard Lorber is the former CEO and chairman of real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman which is connected to the Alexander sex scandal involving his former star brokers, Tal and Oren Alexander (along with their brother Alon).
The “Alexander sex scandal” refers to federal sex-trafficking charges against the three Alexander brothers. Prosecutors allege they worked together for over a decade (starting around 2010) to lure, drug, sexually assault, and rape dozens of women in New York, Miami, and elsewhere, often using luxury real-estate perks as bait. Tal and Oren were top-producing brokers who began their careers at Douglas Elliman; they later left to start their own firm. The brothers have pleaded not guilty and are facing trial (as of early 2026).
The key accusations against him include:
He knew or should have known about the brothers’ alleged behavior, which plaintiffs describe as an “open secret” at the firm. Specific claims cite a 2012 incident in which a Douglas Elliman agent (Jessica Cohen) says she told Lorber she believed she had been drugged and assaulted by Tal and Oren after a 2010 event.
As their mentor and boss, he allegedly continued to promote them, direct high-profile business and developer referrals their way, and provide “money, resources, and corporate cover.”
He attended social events and parties with the brothers (e.g., their 27th birthday party) where misconduct allegedly occurred.
The suits claim negligent hiring, retention, and supervision by Lorber and the company.
These claims appear in complaints filed in New York and Florida courts. Lorber is not accused of personally participating in any assaults—only of enabling the brothers through his leadership role at Douglas Elliman.
Seems that should be bigger news given his relationship with Trump. I don’t watch much mainstream news and haven’t really seen much of the Alexander case on my Twitter and Substack feeds
One interesting note is Oren Alexander was listed as the agent for Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s acquisition of a $24 million home in 2021.
Epstein
Epstein surprisingly had little contact with Russian Oligarchs or Mafia types. His Russians like Churkin and Belyakov were government (diplomatic, economic/intelligence) guys. Epstein mostly worked through intermediaries who had direct contact. Guys like Leon Black and Trump for example
There was one exception although he came to the US at age 21 and made his riches as a US citizen. Thats Len Blavatnik who is mentioned in the Epstein Files and associated with Leon Black
Len Blavatnik was born in Odesa (then Soviet Ukraine) to a Jewish family that emigrated in 1978 fleeing antisemitic persecution, he obtained U.S. naturalization in 1984,
In the 1990’s Len Blavatnik was using his New York-based holding company, Access Industries, to buy up former state assets in Russia being privatised by the Government, in particular accumulating shares in aluminium smelters.
Blavatnik’s wealth was built in partnership with Viktor Vekselberg’s Renova Group – one of Putin’s closest oligarchic power blocs As a minority stakeholder via his firm Access Industries, Blavatnik contributed to the venture’s growth, which by 2012 produced over 1.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, but these ties were commercial in nature, focused on privatization-era acquisitions rather than political alignment with the Kremlin. In 2013, TNK-BP was sold to Rosneft for approximately $55 billion, yielding Blavatnik about $7 billion personally, after which he redirected proceeds into Western assets like chemicals, media, and real estate, severing major energy exposure to Russia a decade before the 2022 invasion.
Blavatnik retained a smaller stake in United Co. Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum producer, valued at around $610 million as of early 2023, which represented his final significant Russian holding but involved no operational control or Kremlin dependencies. He fully divested this position in May 2023 through a share sale, completing his exit from Russian markets amid heightened geopolitical risks, with Access Industriesconfirming no remaining business interests there by mid-2022 for operational purposes.
Steve Witkoff had joint ventures such as the Belgrove Resort & Spa in West Palm Beach, and the Ocean Terrace redevelopment in Miami Beach that linked to Len Blavatniks young brother Alex (who is a chairman of Access Industries).
Blavatnik has said he was never an associate of Vladimir Putin, met him only once with no further contact after 2000, and fully divested from all Russian assets in 2022.
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/trump-envoy-has-financial-ties-with-former-adviser-to-putins-money-man-now-leading-kremlin-peace-talks/
The recently released Epstein files depict the blackmail and extortion schemes to which Black was subjected to after a six-year affair he carried on with a young Russian model. She threatened in 2015 to expose everything to Black’s wife and family, and “ruin his life,” unless he paid her $100 million.
Despite a settlement Guzel Ganieva then went public and sued Black, accusing him of “rape and assault” . This was after he paid more than $9 million out of a $21 million deal he made with her to stay silent. The judge threw out the case because of he previous agreement
During the initial negotiations Leon Black had a couple of conversations with Guzel that were taped with the assistance of a private investigator
You can read the transcripts here
https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00590667.pdf
https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01128746.pdf
This is her FBI 302 summary
https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01246236.
Blavatnick is also apparently connected to Leon Black as the Russian Model mistress had some unkind words for him, saying he threatened her.
Ok, so I am done here. The 1996 trip led to a lot of connections that branched out and expanded and Epstein sort of stayed on the periphery letting others deal direct with the Russians. I can only find 1 report of his being in Russia in 1998 and that was with Nathan Myhrvold. His pilot said in 2018 that his last trip was in 2003. No details on the 2003 trip. Epstein did ensure he kept a valid visa after 2003 for Russia in case opportunity presented itself. He really did want to meet Putin but that never did happen , at least not in Russia.
I did find evidence he made it to Ukraine for a day in March 2012 but that was on Modeling business with Jean Luc Brunel
Anyways, the 1990’s were an interesting period for the Elites. All those resources in the Former Soviet Union, natural and human were up for grabs dirt cheap. The only difficulty was getting the girls and money into the US and Western Europe but once they figured that out trillions of dollars flowed into US banks and the Elites pockets, and many thousands of young girls into their beds. Russian Oligarchs who also enriched themselves and set up shop in the US, , UK , Europe and Israel as they moved much of their wealth with them. These Russian Oligarchs, some of whom were also Mafia , would mix with Western Elites and Western Mafia ,and create a Transitional BLOB with the main hubs in London, Paris, Tel Aviv, Vienna, NYC and Miami/Palm Beach , with much of the wealth parked in the Treasure Islands with the help of guys like Epstein to minimize tax and hide it from bounty hunters
It’s incorrect to say Russia or Israel took over and controls the US. Its that their Elites/Oligarchs and American/British/European/Israeli Elites and the respective Mafias entered into a informal partnership bonded by an ideology where they deserved their wealth and they would do whatever it takes to keep it while getting wealthier
Of course there are factions, for example the pro-Putin Russian Oligarchs and their Western Partners vs the anti-Putin Russian and Ukraine Oligarchs and Western Partners as a simple example. In the US this aligns with the MAGA vs Democrat (Russia-gate) divide.
Russiagate was not led by Putin nor the Russia Government but by pro-Putin Russian Oligarchs and their Western Partners (mainly British, Israeli, Americans, some with Russian/Ukraine heritage). Not to say Putin did not assist in some fashion since Hillary was no friend of his.
Like 9/11 Russia gate was mostly an inside job with some willing foreign partners and a designated patsy (Putin instead of Osama).
End