Witkoff's Travels
Observing Remotely,
Gilbert Doctorow, Transcript of interview with Press TV, Iran 04/14/2025 It’s impossible to say with any confidence where this is headed, but I am an optimist with respect to the initiatives of Donald Trump, because there is some deep understanding that is being achieved between the United States and Russia, to which we are not privy.
But there are little signs that come out, signs that I was reading with respect to Steve Witkoff’s visit to Petersburg on Friday, which was a stop on his way to those meetings in Oman that you have just described. The Russians were, as I believe, important brokers in arranging the meeting in Oman. And I believe that Witkoff stopped over to get final recommendations, advice from President Putin on how to proceed in his dealings with Iran. The Russians–
If that is correct, and the Russians were demonstrating to Donald Trump how useful they can be, how constructive the relations with the United States can be, if there is a return to a normal relationship between the two countries, and looking past the ongoing fighting in Ukraine...
The West is doing its best– Britain is the ringleader, France is the second ringleader, in trying to sabotage the peace talks by speaking of a coalition of the willing, which didn’t work very well, to have men on the ground to resist Russians in case there is a further Russian aggression, as they say, in Ukraine after a peace treaty is signed. The issue that the Russians made, Mr. Lavrov made, in Turkey this past weekend is very relevant here: that the, whatever peace is concluded, has to look after the security interests of all the parties. And to speak about providing security to Ukraine alone is to miss the point entirely. The Russians also need security guarantees. And therefore the outcome of these negotiations is very much dependent on how well Mr. Trump can control these European former allies of Britain and France in particular.
Now, what does that mean for the end of the fighting? It means that the Russian positions are taken in all seriousness by Washington, which will seek to accommodate Russia’s security concerns. We’ve already heard from Witkoff that essentially America agrees to Russia’s keeping the four oblasts that it now largely occupies and has annexed by, according to constitutional procedures. I’m speaking now of Donbas oblasts and what used to be called Novorossiya, which is Kherson and Zaporozhzhye. These provinces are acknowledged by the United States as being future Russian-recognized territory. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/14/transcript-of-todays-interview-with-press-tv-iran/
Sundance, Envoy Steve Witkoff Gives Topline Review Following 5 Hour Meeting with Vladimir Putin
Within the brief moments provided by Hannity for Witkoff to speak, the envoy of President Trump noted both Putin and Trump understand the core issues and are aligned to solve the problem despite the CIA and SSCI efforts to keep wedging them apart. Additionally, Trump and Putin see a future where geopolitical and economic alignment can be very beneficial for both Russia and the United States; they just need to find a way to navigate the complex politics on the U.S/NATO side of the mess.
President Putin does not want an alignment with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it’s not a natural fit for Russia to be strategically networking with China. Put a simpler way, Putin really doesn’t like Chairman Xi because Russia values brutal honesty in relationships, not the Beijing cunningness, ulterior motives and manipulative self-interest.
President Trump and President Putin can be natural allies. Both leaders have the same basic national security worldview and on an economic front Putin would rather have financial ties to the West than the East.
However, the broader CIA apparatus is not going to give up power or control to President Trump without a fight. Recently the CIA operated rotor wing (helicopter) drones to attack Moscow in order to provoke a useful response from Putin. Despite the efforts of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio,both the CIA and State Dept embeds are operating to maintain their control in Ukraine...
..Vladimir Putin knows President Trump is navigating some deeply complicated networks within the G7, NATO, European Union, Great Britain, CIA, U.S. Senate and beyond.
The extent Putin is willing to go providing Trump room to negotiate these political land mines is increasingly clear within Putin’s nonresponse to the ongoing CIA provocations.
Trump and Putin will work to box in Zelenskyy while simultaneously Trump will threaten and even bash Putin a little. Actually, when you stop pretending this is a little fun to watch unfold.
From the other side, Ukraine President Zelenskyy knows Putin and Trump are on the same page; however, Zelenskyy also knows the CIA and SSCI are on his side.https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/04/15/envoy-steve-witkoff-gives-topline-review-following-5-hour-meeting-with-vladimir-putin/
Spy vs. Spy: Russia & Belarus Ready To Ramp Up Spy War Against NATO: Kremlin Intel Chief https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-belarus-ready-ramp-spy-war-against-nato-kremlin-intel-chief
Gilbert Doctorow, Friedrich Merz: the most dangerous German leader since Adolf Hitler
During his tenure in office, the mealy-mouthed and indecisive outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz took baby steps towards supplying the Zelensky regime with ever more lethal weapons systems. Yes, he yielded in giving to Kiev the celebrated Leopard tanks. Yes, he allowed Germany to be home to the NATO coordination centers where Americans and British officers planned every move of the Ukrainian armed forces on the field of battle. But Scholz held back on his country’s prize weapon, the air-launched long-range Taurus missile.
The reason for Scholz’s refusal to budge on this issue was the admission of his highest officers that use of the Taurus in Ukraine would be possible only if German officers and technical personnel actually controlled the programming, thereby making Germany a co-belligerent with Ukraine, and subject to Russian retaliation.
Even after the United States gave permission to the United Kingdom and France to provide Ukraine with their long-range precision missiles, the Storm Shadow and Scalp respectively, Scholz held back.
Yesterday Friedrich Merz told reporters that he is prepared to send the Taurus to Kiev. Still more irresponsibly, Merz signaled that Ukraine would be allowed to use the Taurus to destroy the Kerch (Crimea) bridge and other targets in Russian Crimea.
The Russians took notice of these statements at once. They stand ready to deliver a devastating counter-blow to Germany if Merz proceeds with policies that reflect the worst of German revanchism. What will happen after that is anyone’s guess. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/15/friedrich-merz-the-most-dangerous-german-leader-since-adolf-hitler/
For war, not social security: Incoming chancellor warns Germans of falling income Friedrich Merz has admitted that increased social security contributions could put pressure on net salaries https://www.rt.com/news/615724-merz-warns-germany-falling-income/
Staying on message, but spinning his wheels: Trump Blames Biden, Putin, Zelenskyy For Ukraine War, Says He's Working To End It https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-blames-biden-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-says-hes-working-end-it
"Dictator" refuses elections: Zelensky's Martial Law Move STUNS Trump, Ukraine's President To Remain In Power For 3 More Months Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted bills to extend martial law and mobilisation for an additional 90 days, starting May 9. This move is seen as a strategic attempt to delay elections amid ongoing conflict. Ukrainian lawmakers are expected to approve these measures, with the extension pushing martial law and mobilisation until August 6. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-blames-biden-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-says-hes-working-end-it
Doctorow, The Kremlin takes note of the contradictions in Trump’s foreign policy team General Kellogg brought particular attention to himself this past weekend in interviews with British news media. He initially was quoted as calling for a settlement in Ukraine along the lines of Germany at the conclusion of WWII, namely to divide up the country. Kellogg later backtracked and said he meant creation of spheres of influence, with Russia holding onto the eastern oblasts that it now occupies and Europeans providing defense for the Western territories of Ukraine, with an independent rump Ukraine in the middle. The acknowledgement that Russia would keep what is now theirs, of course, was an acceptable element for the Kremlin even if they completely rule out the introduction of European (NATO) forces in the Western Ukraine. Meanwhile, what Steve Witkoff has been saying since his return to Washington from Oman suits the Russians very well. Witkoff sees the war ending with Russia rightfully keeping Crimea and the four oblasts annexed in 2022: Zaporozhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Lugansk. In his remarks there is not a word about European peacekeepers. He has gone on to say that he is optimistic that agreement on a peace treaty is within reach. He also sees good prospects for normalization of relations with Russia and for development of large mutually attractive commercial projects. It is clear that the Kremlin expects Witkoff and Trump to prevail over Kellogg and Rubio. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/15/the-kremlin-takes-note-of-the-contradictions-in-trumps-foreign-policy-team/
EU industry bosses want Russian gas supplies restored – Reuters Germany’s chemical industry is in a “severe crisis” and in dire need of a return to cheap Russian gas, Reuters reported on Monday, citing executives in the sector. French energy majors Engie and Total have also told the agency that they could see a restart of imports of hydrocarbon from Russia. https://www.rt.com/news/615738-eu-energy-firms-russian-gas/
Gilbert Doctorow, Why did Russia attack Sumy and with what results?
For their part, the Russians have put out some very specific information about what were their objectives in the latest attack on Sumy and what they actually achieved. They tell us that they used two Iskander-M hypersonic missiles to obliterate the command staff of the Ukrainian army group called ‘Seversk’ which was holding a meeting at the time. They claim to have killed 60 soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian armed forces including a certain Colonel Yula.
Moreover, they point out that their missile strikes were successful in evading Ukraine’s local electronic warfare gear and Western supplied air defenses.
As regards possible civilian casualties, Moscow blames Kiev for continuing to violate international humanitarian law and placing military personnel and equipment in civilian properties.
But let us go beyond this narrow technical explanation of the attack. The proper context to understand what is going on is the following: Sumy was the planning and staging center for the Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk oblast just across the border last August. It is still active supporting what remains of Ukrainian troops inside Kursk and it is the staging point for new attacks on the neighboring Belgorod oblast of the RF. Moscow has set the objective of taking Sumy and the surrounding territory of Ukraine to create a buffer zone, thereby pushing back the Ukrainian armed forces beyond the range of their artillery and local drones. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/14/why-did-russia-attack-sumy-and-with-what-results/
Simplicius, Zelensky Charms CBS, as Trump Throws Impatient Tantrum Trump erupted over the interview, calling CBS a failed station, and other predictable insults. The problem is, Trump has been floundering on his Ukraine position, digging himself a deeper hole out of desperation to save face over the failed talks with Russia. In his efforts, he has made quite a few contradictions. Sensing people’s increasing view that he has now ‘owned’ the reputationally-toxic Ukrainian conflict, Trump went on the offensive to claim it is Biden’s conflict, after all... ..Trump is getting really antsy about Russia’s steadfast adherence to its long-held principles. Lusting for the PR boost of ending a pesky war he knows nothing about, Trump is nearly begging for Russia to stop advancing and winning... ..From this critical 18-24 cohort, despite record monetary incentives, they managed to recruit—from the entire country, no less—only 160 or so people per month. This is while Russia is recruiting over 1,000 per day total.
The point is that, this is a dire bellwether for the critical 18-24 cohort: it means virtually no one in that age range wants to willingly serve in the war. As a kind of trial run for a necessary future forced mobilization of this group, it shows that virtually no one from the group wants to voluntarily serve, and that forcing them to fight when the time comes will be a very messy affair.
That comes at a time when there are again increased reports of women being recruited into the ranks, even from prison:
A captured soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the 425th assault regiment "Skala" reported during interrogation about the conscription of women from prisons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They have been preparing them for a month and a half, and now there are 2-3 women in the assault unit of 8 people. The men in the Rock are about 45 years old, and the women are about 30.
Not to mention the first reported deaths from the new 18-24 cohort, including a 21-year old girl who was featured in a video proudly discussing her signup to the 1 million hryvnia bonus program... ..Read the last part again:
A battle between the French army and the Russian army on the eastern borders of Romania is only possible if the Russian Armed Forces capture the Odessa region and Moldova before that.
The opposite is true: they’re clearly there to map out routes to seize Odessa swiftly in the case Ukrainian defenses collapse and Russian troops bear down on the key city.
It appears that the Russians shot down a Ukrainian F-16 at great distance. Did Russia’s 40N6 400km Range Air Defence Missile Just Shoot Down Ukraine’s F-16 Fighter? https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-s40n6-400km-shoot-down-f16
With Iran talks, Trump could achieve a triple win
Steve Witkoff met with Tehran's foreign minister directly. Already, this White House has achieved more than what Biden's did in four years. Trump has repeatedly declared that his only red line is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but it has remained unclear whether Trump would seek to achieve that through the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program a la Libya, which has been the Israeli position, or seek a verification-based solution that limits rather than eliminates the nuclear program.
The problem with the “Libya model,” of course, is that Iran would never accept such a capitulation, which is precisely why Israel has pushed this line. They calculate that such demands guarantee the failure of diplomacy and force Trump to shift towards military action.
But Witkoff never mentioned dismantlement during Saturday’s talks. The two sides discussed instead degrees of limitations to the program and the sanctions relief Trump was willing to offer in return.
While dismantlement sounds stronger and tougher, it is unfeasible, whereas a verification-based model not only works, Tehran has already agreed to one before and can agree to it again. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-talks-trump/
Gaza death toll since October 2023 nears 51,000 — health ministry
Over the past 24 hours, 39 people were killed and 118 others were hospitalized in the enclave, the ministry added https://tass.com/world/1943319
Killing Palestinian children rises to an industrial level https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250414-killing-palestinian-children-rises-to-an-industrial-level/
Caitlin Johnstone, Saying It's Antisemitic To Oppose Genocide Is Like Saying It's Anti-Catholic To Oppose Pedophilia
Israeli army forces raid West Bank hospital, detain Palestinian: Several staffers also arrested during Israeli raid on Jenin hospital, witnesses say https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-forces-raid-west-bank-hospital-detain-palestinian/3537911
On Palm Sunday, Israel Bombs The Only Christian Hospital In Gaza https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/palm-sunday-israel-bombs-only-christian-hospital-gaza
Guns vs no-guns: How Israeli settlers are able to seize Palestinian land with impunity in the West Bank https://www.arabnews.com/node/2597043/middle-east
Israel’s escalating West Bank assault is part of a larger plan to split the territory in two
Israel is expanding its “Iron Wall” offensive in the West Bank as it approves plans to separate the northern West Bank from the south. The plan is an accelerated prelude to Israel's expected annexation of the West Bank. https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/israels-escalating-west-bank-assault-is-part-of-a-larger-plan-to-split-the-territory-in-two/
Over 1,500 Israeli armoured corps troops demand end to Gaza war, return of hostages According to the daily, Maariv, the petition was signed by 1,525 members of the armoured corps, ranging from riflemen to generals.
They called on the government “to do everything possible to secure the release of the hostages – even if it comes at the cost of halting the fighting.” https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250414-over-1500-israeli-armoured-corps-troops-demand-end-to-gaza-war-return-of-hostages/
Good for Turkey, not Israel? Saudi Arabia to 'pay off' Syria's World Bank debt: Report
Syria owes around $15 million to the World Bank and is suffering severe economic conditions due to years of war and sanctions https://thecradle.co/articles/saudi-arabia-to-pay-off-syrias-world-bank-debt-report
Michael Hudson, Return of the Robber Barons, Donald Trump’s Distorted View of America’s Tariff History What Trump singles out to admire in America’s nineteenth-century industrial policy is the absence of a progressive income tax and the funding of government primarily by tariff revenue. This has given him the idea of replacing progressive income taxation falling on his own Donor Class – the One Percent that paid no income tax prior to its enactment in 1913 – with tariffs designed to fall only on consumers (that is, labor). A new Gilded Age indeed!
In admiring the absence of progressive income taxation in the era of his hero, William McKinley (elected president in 1896 and 1900), Trump is admiring the economic excess and inequality of the Gilded Age. That inequality was widely criticized as a distortion of economic efficiency and social progress. To counteract the corrosive and conspicuous wealth-seeking that caused the distortion, Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Law in 1890, Teddy Roosevelt followed with his trust busting, and a remarkably progressive income tax was passed that fell almost entirely on rentier financial and real estate income and monopoly rents.
Trump thus is promoting a simplistic and outright false narrative of what made America’s nineteenth century policy of industrialization so successful. For him, what is great is the “gilded” part of the Gilded Age, not its state-led industrial and social-democratic takeoff. His panacea is for tariffs to replace income taxes, along with privatizing what remains of the government’s functions. That would give a new set of robber barons free reign to further enrich themselves by shrinking the government’s taxation and regulation of them, while reducing the budget deficit by selling off the remaining public domain, from national park lands to the post office and research labs. https://www.democracycollaborative.org/whatwethink/return-of-the-robber-barons
Federal Judge Halts Trump Admin's Deportation Of Half A Million Biden "Parolees" Judge Talwani’s order would require individual hearings for the half of a million individuals allowed into the country under this program by President Joe Biden...
..The Administration argued that it did have a “reasoned decision” to end the CHNV program and weighed the cost to the parolees. It noted that the parolees were always going to face family separation and costs since this was just a temporary, two-year program. It asserted that it did weigh alternative periods for winding down the program. While the court may disagree with its conclusions, it asserts that it has the same discretion used by President Biden in creating the program. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/federal-judge-halts-trump-admins-deportation-half-million-biden-parolees
Economic shunning of "non-persons": Deliberately Polluting the Death Master File Violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act The Trump administration seems to be walking straight into a pair of Fair Credit Reporting Act violations by placing immigrants whom it knows to be alive on the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File. The Death Master File is a list compiled by the Social Security Administration of people Social Security believes to be dead (generally based on the filing of death benefit claims with Social Security, so it is not at all a complete list of who is actually dead). Creditors and other users of consumer reports regularly use the Death Master File, either directly or through a consumer reporting agency, as part of credit granting, employment, or insurance decisions—you don't want to be doing business with someone who is dead (and that might indicate that the living person with whom you are dealing isn't who they say they are). So, Death Master File issues end up being consumer reporting issues and fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, violations of which can not only create substantial private civil liability, but they can also be enjoined in a suit by a state attorney general. https://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2025/04/deliberately-polluting-the-death-master-file-violates-the-fair-credit-reporting-act.html
Jessica Rose Ph.D. broadens her scope: Is Blackrock an entity prioritizing metrics over people? What are the implications of AI's role in seeking data-driven returns?
Passengers Will Soon Need Real ID To Board Domestic Flights, TSA Warns The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on April 11 said it will begin enforcing the long-delayed REAL ID rules at airports nationwide on May 7. Once the rules are fully enforced, state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards that do not meet the new standards will no longer get through the security checkpoints... ..Travelers can still use documents that the TSA recognizes as acceptable alternatives to a Real ID. These include a passport or passport card, a permanent resident card, and an enhanced driver’s license issued by one of five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—as well as other federally approved forms of identification. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/passengers-will-soon-need-real-id-board-domestic-flights-tsa-warns
Decorum-Mandatory: Respect & Clarity: China Opens Door For Reengaging Trump In Trade Talks https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/respect-clarity-china-demands-prerequisites-reengaging-trump-trade-talks
Big Win for Trump, NVIDIA to Manufacture AI Supercomputers in US https://mishtalk.com/economics/big-win-for-trump-nvidia-to-manufacture-ai-supercomputers-in-us/
But not in China? Uncontrolled AI growth in US could doom humanity — Chinese ambassador Zhang Hanhui stressed that China regards security as a fundamental principle of AI development, "emphasizing the priority of ethical norms and the need to keep AI under control" https://tass.com/world/1943151
"Inclusiveness" must be good, right? Chinese envoy vows efforts to develop partnership in AI with Russia
Zhang Hanhui said that China and Russia will seek to surmount obstacles by establishing cooperation, build the future on the basis of inclusiveness https://tass.com/world/1943117
But you may want to upgrade to our proprietary version: Chinese neural network DeepSeek to remain open-source to benefit the world — ambassador According to Zhang Hanhui, China believes that artificial intelligence "should be a technology accessible to all, not a privilege for the few" https://tass.com/world/1943127
Study Finds COVID-19 mRNA Booster Shots Decrease Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 50%
In a cohort of 272 pancreatic cancer patients, receiving ≥3 mRNA doses increased overall death risk by 300% and induced immune dysregulation via IgG4 class switching.
Study Identifies 86 Serious Neuropsychiatric Safety Signals Linked to COVID-19 Vaccination
CDC/FDA safety thresholds breached for 86 adverse events including dementia, schizophrenia, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, stroke, psychosis, depression, cognitive impairment, delusions, and more.
Autism Rates Reach Unprecedented Highs: 1 in 12 Boys at Age 4 in California, 1 in 31 Nationally
New CDC Data Paints a Stark Picture of America's Silent Epidemic. Let's look at the numbers
New Studies Ignite Debate: Fluoride Linked to Autism and ADHD, Prompting Calls for Policy Reassessment https://basedunderground.com/2025/04/14/new-studies-ignite-debate-fluoride-linked-to-autism-and-adhd-prompting-calls-for-policy-reassessment/
Peter McCullough MD advocates reducing all of the nudges into Autism: Determinants of Autism Multifactorial Problem Amenable to Risk Factor Analysis--Dr. McCullough on Stage at Autism Summit
Poop and pee get mixed with PFAS when industry dumps illegally. Don't look! BIOSOLIDS – the dirty trick behind our commercial fertilizers https://doortofreedom.org/biosolids-the-dirty-trick-behind-our-commercial-fertilizers/
Organic Gardener (barefoot in the kitchen, cooking up the first green beans of the season)
"EU industry bosses want Russian gas supplies restored – Reuters
Germany’s chemical industry is in a “severe crisis” and in dire need of a return to cheap Russian gas, Reuters reported on Monday, citing executives in the sector."
Really? The EU .gov is the one that has to ask for the gas. Russia is sanctioned remember so only the government can seek renewed gas deliveries from Russia. Getting the hired hands to go hat in hand because narcissists won't eat crow.
"It appears that the Russians shot down a Ukrainian F-16 at great distance. Did Russia’s 40N6 400km Range Air Defence Missile Just Shoot Down Ukraine’s F-16 Fighter?"
That would be too funny really, except of course for the crew on board. I'm not sure which is better: Russia made a hell of a shot or the incompetence of Ukraine.
"Is Blackrock an entity prioritizing metrics over people?
What are the implications of AI’s role in seeking data-driven returns?"
That is how the market works, always did and likely always will. Just cheaper to use A.I. than actual bean counters.
What is SSCI? (US) Senate Select Committee on Intelligence?