Is Jared Kushner's Middle East Peace Iniative Working?

General Raheel Sharif dining with Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Muhammad Bin Salman. PHOTO: Twitter

Noah Feldman, Bloomberg: Jared Kushner's Dreams of Mideast Peace Are Alive

His strategy of developing a relationship with the Saudi crown prince is a step in the right direction.

It was easy to miss it, what with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson being fired and President Donald Trump fueling rumors of more personnel shake-ups. But last week Jared Kushner, presidential adviser and son-in-law, presided over a highly unusual White House conference on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Who participated was noteworthy: Israel was there, alongside Arab states with which it does not have diplomatic relations, such as Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Who didn’t participate was noteworthy too: the Palestinians, who have been boycotting Trump since his announcement that the U.S. will have an embassy in Jerusalem.

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WNU Editor: Too soon to say where this is all going to end up, and the Palestinians have shown no interest to "play ball" after President Trump announced that he was moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. On a side note .... I guess this does not bother Jared Kushner .... Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Boasts That He Has President Trump's Son-In-Law Jared Kushner In His Pocket (March 22, 2018).

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Boasts That He Has President Trump's Son-In-Law Jared Kushner In His Pocket

Photo: The White House/flickr

The Intercept: Saudi Crown Prince Boasted That Jared Kushner Was “In His Pocket”

Until he was stripped of his top-secret security clearance in February, presidential adviser Jared Kushner was known around the White House as one of the most voracious readers of the President’s Daily Brief, a highly classified rundown of the latest intelligence intended only for the president and his closest advisers.

Kushner, who had been tasked with bringing about a deal between Israel and Palestine, was particularly engaged by information about the Middle East, according to a former White House official and a former U.S. intelligence professional.

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WNU Editor: What I find disturbing about this report is this ....

.... Citing three sources close to the Saudi and Emirati royal families, the news outlet said Kushner provided the heir to the Saudi throne details about Saudi princes who were not loyal to him.

I would love to know who made the decision to take sides in Saudi Arabia's internal disputes.

Update: Some are not happy with the role that Jared Kushner is playing in foreign policy .... 'Outrageous' Jared Kushner a 'Huge Threat' to US Foreign Policy, Says Retired Army General (Newsweek)

More News On Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Boasting That He Has President Trump's Son-In-Law Jared Kushner In His Pocket

Saudi crown prince boasted Jared Kushner was 'in his pocket' -- Al Jazeera
Saudi Crown Prince Reportedly Bragged After Purge: 'I Have Kushner in My Pocket' -- Haaretz
Saudi Arabia's crown prince reportedly bragged about having Jared Kushner 'in his pocket' after being told classified information meant for Trump -- Business Insider
Saudi prince said he owns Jared Kushner: Report -- Washington Examiner
Why the Saudi Crown Prince Might Think He Has Jared Kushner 'In His Pocket' -- New York Magazine
Jared Kushner May Have Helped the Saudi Prince Carry Out a Purge of His Political Opponents -- Splinter

Presidential Son-In-Law And Adviser Jared Kushner Has Had His Top-Secret Intelligence Clearance Status Downgraded

Politico: Kushner loses access to top-secret intelligence

A memo sent Friday downgraded the presidential son-in-law and adviser and other White House aides who had been working on interim clearances.

Presidential son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded — a move that will prevent him from viewing many of the sensitive documents to which he once had unfettered access.

Kushner is not alone. All White House aides working on the highest-level interim clearances — at the Top Secret/SCI-level — were informed in a memo sent Friday that their clearances would be downgraded to the Secret level, according to three people with knowledge of the situation.

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WNU Editor: Apparently he is one of many who lost his top-secret intelligence clearance today. What's my take .... this review should have been done last year.

More News On Jared Kushner Having His Top-Secret Intelligence Clearance Status Downgraded

Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, has security clearance downgraded -- USA Today
Kushner loses access to top intelligence briefing: sources -- Reuters
Jared Kushner's Security Clearance Downgraded -- New York Times
Jared Kushner loses access to top-level security briefings -- BBC
Jared Kushner loses top security clearance -- NBC
Kushner security clearance is downgraded -- CNN

Deutsche Bank Reportedly Has Evidence That Links President Trump's Son-In-Law Jared Kushner To Suspicious Bank Transactions

U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisor Jared Kushner arrive for a meeting with manufacturing CEOs at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S. February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Daily Mail: Deutsche Bank 'has evidence Jared Kushner made suspicious transactions and is ready to hand it over to Mueller'

* Deutsche Bank reportedly has evidence linking Kushner to suspect transactions
* Bank has shared the information with German regulators, a report on Friday says
* Mueller probe has reportedly subpoenaed Deutsche Bank for the records
* Kushner, Trump's advisor and son-in-law, made millions as a real estate investor
* Follows Steve Bannon's remarks that probe will target 'greasy' Kushner deals

Deutsche Bank has evidence linking presidential advisor Jared Kushner to suspicious money transactions, and is ready to hand it over to special counsel Robert Mueller, according to a new report.

The bank headquartered in Frankfurt has already given German regulators its evidence that Kushner or related companies could have directed suspicious money through Deutsche Bank, Manager Magazin reported on Friday.

Kushner, 37, and his wife Ivanka Trump are worth at least $240million, with their holdings potentially exceeding $740million, according to financial disclosure forms. The president's son-in-law made much of his fortune as a real estate investor.

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Update #1: Report: Deutsche Bank Flags 'Suspicious' Kushner Company Transactions (Huffington Post)
Update #2: Jared Kushner’s Firm Tied to “Suspicious Transactions” at German Bank (Mother Jones)

WNU Editor: Former President Trump adviser Steve Bannon did predict this. Now this could be nothing .... or it could be a lot.

Report: President Trump's Son-In-Law Kushner Is Said To Have Ordered Flynn To Contact Russia

Jared Kushner back when he was willing to be photographed next to Mike Flynn. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Eli Lake, Bloomberg: Kushner Is Said to Have Ordered Flynn to Contact Russia

Now that the retired general has pleaded guilty, the president's son-in-law could be one of the next dominoes to fall.

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn's guilty plea Friday for lying to the FBI is alarming news for Donald Trump. But the first person it's likely to jeopardize will be the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Two former officials with the Trump transition team who worked closely with Flynn say that during the last days of the Obama administration, the retired general was instructed to contact foreign ambassadors and foreign ministers of countries on the U.N. Security Council, ahead of a vote condemning Israeli settlements. Flynn was told to try to get them to delay that vote until after Barack Obama had left office, or oppose the resolution altogether.

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WNU Editor: If Jared Kushner lied to the FBI he is in trouble .... but I do not think he is that stupid. As for those who say that he should be charged under the 1799 statute known as the Logan Act .... they are dreaming.

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s Senior Adviser And Son-In-law, Is Now In Closed-Door Senate Questioning On Russia

Washington Post: Kushner arrives at Senate for closed-door questioning on Russia

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, walked into Senate offices Monday morning to begin answering questions behind closed doors about his contacts with Russian officials.

In written remarks made public prior to his appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Kushner denies any improper contacts or collusion. The 11-page statement by Kushner details four meetings he had with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and transition period — including one set up by Donald Trump Jr. with a Russian lawyer.

Kushner defends his interactions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and other Russian officials as typical contacts in his role as the Trump campaign’s liaison to foreign governments, according to the prepared statement he plans to submit for the record.

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WNU Editor: This US Senate hearing is closed to the public.

More News On Jared Kushner And His US Senate Testimony

Trump son-in-law Kushner denies collusion with Russia -- AP
'I did not collude': Trump son-in-law Kushner on Russia -- Reuters
Kushner's statement on Russia: What you need to know -- CNN
Kushner says met Russians four times, denies collusion -- AFP
Kushner defends his Russia contacts: 'I did not collude' -- Politico
US-Russia probe: Trump son-in-law Kushner denies collusion -- BBC
Kushner: 'I did not collude' with any foreign government -- The Hill
Kushner confirms Russia meetings, says 'I did not collude' -- CNN
Jared Kushner denies collusion: 'I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds' -- National Post/Bloomberg
Kushner says meeting with Russian lawyer a 'waste of our time' -- The Hill
Trump son-in-law Kushner to face grilling by Congress committees over Russia ties -- DW
Donald Trump: Jared Kushner denies improper contact with Russia ahead of questioning -- ABC News Online

Report: Are President Trump's Family Using Their Connections To Him To Help Their Businesses?

666 Fift Avenue, New York City. Wikimapia

The Intercept: Jared Kushner Tried And Failed To Get A Half-Billion-Dollar Bailout For His Company From Qatar

NOT LONG BEFORE a major crisis ripped through the Middle East, pitting the United States and a bloc of Gulf countries against Qatar, Jared Kushner’s real estate company had unsuccessfully sought a critical half-billion-dollar investment from one of the richest and most influential men in the tiny nation, according to three well-placed sources with knowledge of the near transaction.

Kushner is a senior adviser to President Trump, and also his son-in-law, and also the scion of a New York real estate empire that faces an extreme risk from an investment made by Kushner in the building at 666 Fifth Avenue, where the family is now severely underwater.

Qatar is facing an ongoing blockade led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and joined by Egypt and Bahrain, which President Trump has taken credit for sparking. Kushner, meanwhile, has reportedly played a key behind-the-scenes role in hardening the U.S. posture toward the embattled nation.

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WNU editor: The Clintons were accused of using their foundation for "pay to play" .... one can make the case here that the Kushner family are doing the same thing but via through their real-estate holdings. For those who may not know .... I know a little bit about real-estate .... the building at 666 Fifth Avenue is not worth the $1.2 billion interest-only mortgage that is due in February 2019 .... and if there is a downturn in the New York City market .... which is very possible .... it will be worth less. Jared Kushner may be married to Ivanka Trump, be an adviser to the President as well as having his ear .... but he may end up being worth far less by the time of the next election cycle.

Hat tip to Fred for this link.

Did Jared Kushner Want A Secret Communications Channel With The Kremlin?

Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and President Donald Trump at the White House last week. Photo Credit: @RusEmbUSA

Washington Post: Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Kremlin

Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports.

Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, son-in-law and confidant to then-President-elect Trump, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser.

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WNU Editor: This is not the first time that the Washington Post (and the same reporters) are pushing a Trump back-channel to Russia story .... Was A Trump-Putin Back Channel Established Between The Founder Of Blackwater And A Close Friend of Putin? (April 3, 2017). The April 3 story on Erik Prince being the back-channel to Russia became a dud when no evidence or collaboration from other "anonymous" sources came forward. Is this new Washington Post story on Jared Kushner also a dud .... I do not know. But the template on how this story is being pushed is following the same pattern on how the Erik Prince story was pushed 2 months ago.... anonymous intel officials tell the Washington Post that the Trump administration wants to have a direct line of communications to Moscow that is independent from all other U.S. agencies .... and the rest of the media carry the story. As to what is my take .... quoting from my April 3 post ....

.... Back channels are always established when new administrations are sworn in. Did the Obama administration have back channels with Russia .... most definitely. Does the Trump administration have back channels with Russia .... I can only say that I hope so. Should I be surprised that someone like Blackwater founder Erik Prince (and I can now say Jared Kushner) was trying to set one up in the Seychelles .... I would just say that because he is well known, he is probably the wrong person to be involved.

Update: The more that I think about this Washington Post exclusive .... the more I realise that it has a lot of holes in it. One .... the Russians would never permit such a communications link. Two .... Michael Flynn who was present at the meeting would know that they would never permit it. Three .... what's the point of having a secret communications channel via through the Russian embassy to the Kremlin .... where it would not be secret at all. Four .... President Trump is the President .... he can do anything he wants with the executive branch .... including having his own direct line to the Kremlin should he (and Putin) want to. But I digress .... what the Trump administration wanted (and I am sure the Kremlin wanted it too)  was a private back-channel .... and for those who may not know .... this is how it works. If the Trump administration wanted Putin to know something independent from normal diplomatic channels .... it will be done by having someone President Trump trusts telling someone that President Putin trusts inperson (that Russian official will be living in the U.S. .... probably near Washington DC). That person .... once the message has been received .... will then be taking the first flight to Moscow. The best example that I can think of are the Henry Kissinger and Anatoly Dobrynin back channels of the early 1970s (check the link here). This is what exactly Michael Flynn was trying to do .... he was Henry Kissinger, and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak was Anatoly Dobrynin. Unfortunately for Michael Flynn .... he lied to Vice President Pence on what he was doing and the rest is history. As for Jared Kushner .... I am willing to bet that this is what he was also told to do .... set up the structure so that a top U.S. official can meet a top Russian official where they can discuss issues in private that will not be shown on any visitor log. I should also add that IMHO this back-channel is now in operation .... as evident by the unannounced but surprising close cooperation of the U.S. and Russian military over the skies of Syria right now .... U.S. And Russia Are Not Hindering Each Other Over The Skies Of Syria (May 24, 2017). As for the main stream media's hyper-ventilation on this story .... please .... every administration has done this .... and all future administrations will.

Update #2: Former Bush-Clinton-Obama officials are horrified that this type of back channel was being established .... Lawyer: Kushner ‘has no recollection’ of reported undisclosed Russian contacts (Politico). LOL ..... coffee pot calling the tea kettle black.

Update #3: Someone who reads this blog  has just emailed me to tell me that if this story is true .... it is a massive intelligence leak. The Washington Post's anonymous source has just revealed that Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak private communications .... and these communications must be ultra-secured .... have been compromised by U.S. intelligence.

More News On Reports That Jared Kushner Wanted A Secret Communications Channel With The Kremlin

Kushner Is Said to Have Discussed a Secret Channel to Talk to Russia -- New York Times
Washington Post: Kushner proposed secret communication channel with Kremlin -- CNN
Kushner, Russians discussed secret communication link, reports say -- USA Today
Jared Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Russia, new report alleges -- FOX News
Report: Russian Amb. said Kushner sought secret communications back channel -- ABC News

Jared Kushner Is Now The Focus Of The FBI's Russian Investigation

NBC: Jared Kushner Under Scrutiny in Russia Probe, Say Officials

Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and one of his senior advisers, has come under FBI scrutiny in the Russia investigation, multiple U.S. officials told NBC News.

Investigators believe Kushner has significant information relevant to their inquiry, officials said. That does not mean they suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him.

The FBI's scrutiny of Kushner places the bureau's sprawling counterintelligence and criminal investigation not only on the doorstep of the White House, but the Trump family circle. The Washington Post first reported last week that a senior White House official close to Trump was a "person of interest," but did not name the person. The term "person of interest" has no legal meaning.

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WNU Editor: When speculation emerged a few days ago that investigators were focusing on someone in the White House .... the first name that came to my mind was Jared Kushner. His family is Jewish, and from what I have heard they know a lot of Russia Jews who are involved in New York City real estate and financing. This raises something that I have said more than once .... nepotism with enormous business interests at play never works in politics .... especially at this level. I have also mentioned in past posts that President Trump's is vulnerable on this point ..... he knows the same people as Jared Kushner does (New York real estate is a small circle), and he has also received help in the past for his businesses from these individuals. There is nothing illegal about this .... but perception is everything in politics, and in this case the optics are raising legitimate questions on what were/are President Trump's connections to these people. And while I do understand the importance and the need of having this type of loyalty (family loyalty) around you .... and President Trump certainly needs it in today's Washington .... the downside to the family (and the Presidency) should everything go south can .... and will .... be incredibly destructive.

More News On Jared Kushner Now Being The Focus Of The Russian Investigation

Jared Kushner now a focus in Russia investigation -- Washington Post
Jared Kushner is under FBI scrutiny, new report alleges -- FOX News
Jared Kushner under FBI scrutiny in Russia probe: reports -- The Hill
Jared Kushner is under scrutiny in the FBI's Russia investigation -- CBS
Reports: Jared Kushner a 'focus' in Russia probe -- CNN
Trump son-in-law Kushner under FBI scrutiny in Russia probe: media reports -- Reuters
Investigators’ attention on Jared Kushner puts Trump in an awkward position -- Washington Post

Jared Kushner Goes To War

DoD/PO2 Dominique A. Pineiro

WNU Editor: This is hilarious (but also true) .... Jared Goes To Iraq! A Picture Story (Task & Purpose).

This Is Why The Pentagon Wanted Jared Kushner To Make A Trip To Iraq

Jared Kushner speaks with Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, the senior American commander in Iraq, during his trip. Photo: @TheJointStaff/Twitter

Politico: Kushner Iraq trip part of wider Pentagon outreach to Trump

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has been cultivating a close relationship with his boss, inviting senior aides to meetings and spending time at the White House meeting with the commander in chief.

The arrival in Iraq on Monday of Jared Kushner as part of a senior U.S. military delegation is the latest example of a conscious outreach campaign by the Pentagon to President Donald Trump and his inner circle, according to several administration officials with direct knowledge.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have sought to build strong personal and working relationships with members of the new administration – with an eye to using those relationships to win the president’s support not just for their approach to dealing with ISIS, but for making hiring and other decisions.

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WNU Editor: I understand the role that Jared Kushner is playing in the Trump administration .... President Trump put him there to act as his trusted buffer to those who want to send a message to the President. In a certain way he is really acting as President Trump's personal assistant .... and in places like the Middle East and Asia .... the title of personal assistant to a leader holds enormous respect and attention.

More News On Jared Kushner In Iraq

Jared Kushner Meets With Iraqi Leader on Future of ISIS Battle -- NYT
Kushner joins Dunford for Baghdad talks on the war -- Washington Times
Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner in Iraq with top US general -- BBC
Jared Kushner joins Gen. Joseph Dunford for Islamic State talks in Baghdad -- Washington Times
Jared Kushner visits Iraq: Trump's Middle East peace envoy son-in-law makes surprise visit as US and Iraqi forces close in on ISIS in the battle for Mosul -- Daily Mail
Jared Kushner Visits Iraq on Invitation From Joint Chiefs Chairman -- NYT
White House violated protocol by confirming Jared Kushner’s trip before he landed in Iraq -- Washington Post
The military may have found an unlikely ally in the Trump administration -- David Choi, Business Insider
Jared Kushner Went to Iraq Because the Pentagon Knows How Trump Operates -- Margaret Hartmann, NYMag