Profile picture
WaterBluSky @MsMariaT
, 43 tweets, 10 min read Read on Twitter
9/17: Manafort working on "Kurdish referendum"

"...the Kurdish referendum, scheduled for Monday, would not immediately trigger independence, the American gov't and the international community have expressed serious concerns about it. "
"They fear that, if it passes overwhelmingly, as expected, it could further destabilize Iraq, damage the coalition fighting the Islamic State, and potentially spark violence in disputed areas."
"...the State Department urged Kurdish leaders “to accept the alternative, which is a serious and sustained dialogue with the central government, facilitated by the United States and United Nations, and other partners.”
"The Iraqi Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, and his allies, who are the driving force behind the referendum, hope it will put their semiautonomous oil-rich region on a path toward full independence..."
"...which they contend is their right. Independence could also allow the Kurdistan Regional Government, for which Mr. Barzani serves as president, to have uncontested control over its lucrative OIL EXPORTS."

Manafort and the Kurdish referendum
"The Kurdistan Regional Government had paid millions to Washington lobbying firms with deep connections to both Democrats and Republicans, including more than $1.5 million over the last three years, according to Justice Department records..."
"But it has also worked to build support for independence from THINK TANKS and scholars who might be willing to vouch for the referendum’s fairness, and use it to win bipartisan support in Washington for Kurdish independence, according to people familiar with the outreach."
"MR MANAFORT AGREED TO ASSIST THE REFERENDUM, including a planned push for Western recognition, after he was approached several months ago by an intermediary for Mr. Barzani’s son, Masrour Barzani, according to two people familiar with the arrangement."
"MASROUR BARZANI SET TO BE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF KURDISH REGION IN IRAQ"

Masrour Barzani retained Manafort's services last summer around 9/17 (above), for Kurdish referendum

jpost.com/Middle-East/Ma…
"Manafort has traveled to the region since then to advise the Barzanis’ allies on the referendum...one of Manafort’s lieutenants is in Erbil prep'g for the referendum, and Manafort himself may return to the region in the coming days for the vote, according to the advocates."
Who was Manafort's "man in Erbil" Anyone know?

"The ex-Trump surrogate is finding refuge from the FBI investigation while lining his pockets and helping his old Russian friends as a lobbyist in Erbil, writes Sam Fouad."

alaraby.co.uk/english/commen…
"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his army stood on the Iraqi-Turkish border ready to do "WHATEVER IT TAKES" to make sure Erbil DOES NOT BREAK AWAY from Baghdad."
"Because of large Kurdish populations in Turkey, Syria and Iran, fears that the referendum could spark uprisings within those nations is the main reason behind opposition in Ankara [TURKEY], Damascus and Tehran."
"While most of the world's govt's, aside from Israel's, is firmly against Kurdish independence, one defining factor in the referendum campaign has been the role of FOREIGN CONSULTANTS."

alaraby.co.uk/english/commen…
"One such professional lobbyist who has been embroiled in the Kurdish referendum is none other than Paul Manafort, the former chairman of the campaign to elect Trump as president of the United States.

He is also understood to be the focus of an FBI investigation."
"Although not much is known about Manafort's official role in KURDISTAN, it is being reported that he is most likely IN ERBIL RIGHT NOW, in order to help pay his rising legal fees, and as a good excuse to be a long way from the United States...."
"Manafort's past work w/figures algned w/Russian Pres Putin may help explain why he signed on to help w/the KRG's referendum in Erbil. The conjunction of Manafort's increasing legal and financial troubles and ANKARA [Turkey]..."
"...and Baghdad THREATENING TO CUT OF ERBIL'S OIL exports as economic retaliation for the non-binding vote create the perfect opportunity for a man w/Manafort's career and expertise." 🔥🔥🔥
Having already bypassed Baghdad in 2014 and creating an oil route straight into Ankara, ERBIL may be losing one of its main exporters of oil in TURKEY if ERDOGAN decides to act upon his threats.

ROSNEFT..." 🔥🔥🔥
"...ROSNEFT, a major RU oil company, is increasing its investments in KURDISH gas/oil by agreeing to fund a nat gas pipeline in KURDISTAN, reaching a deal w/ the KRG worth more than $1BILLION...."

Manafort and the Kurdish referendum
"The volumes of gas that would be funnelled through this agreement would represent SIX PERCENT of total EUROPEAN GAS DEMAND and 1/6th of RUSSIAS CURRENT GAS EXPORT volumes, making ROSNEFT THE LARGEST GAS SUPPLIER IN EUROPE."

🔥🔥🔥

Manfort and the Kurdish Referendum
"The pipeline would be ready for Kurdish domestic use in 2019 and international exports would begin in 2020.

Kurdistan HAS SOME OF THE LARGEST UNTAPPED OIL/GAS RESERVES in the world, estimated at 5.66 trillion cubic meters, and 45 billion barrels respectively."
"Rosneft, led by Igor Sechin, a close ally of Putin, would become the largest RU gas co, and would find another key ally in KURDISTAN if the KRG does gain independence...

Sechin, a CLOSE FRIEND of Secty of State TILLERSON, sees Rosneft as a vehicle of geopolitical influence."
Reminder: the guy Manafort was working for in the Kurd Referendum - he just became PM a few weeks ago.

This deal is gonna go through:

jpost.com/Middle-East/Ma…
"Sechin also allegedly offered former Trump ally Carter Page a 19% stake in Rosneft in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions on Russia.

The same dossier also claims that Paul Manafort had supposedly asked Page to be a liaison between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin."
"Manafort can leave the eye of the FBI investigation's storm, help enrich himself as well as Russian and Kurdish allies, and possibly seek protection from extradition"
"Being involved in a deal between RU oil giants and the Kurdistan Reg'l Gov't for a pipeline route would be the perfect temporary fix for Manafort. Kurdistan gaining full independence...would financially benefit all the main biz figures, consultants and politicians involved."
"Masrour Barzani...was nominated as PM, a position he will likely receive because his political party is the largest in the KRG. The transition is important for the Kurdish autonomous region as it seeks to...improve its economic standing and stability."
"A year later the region is back on track. Economically it is performing well, EXPORTING OIL and SIGNING AGRMTS. Barzani made a historic trip to Baghdad in late 11/18 Masrour Barzani went to Kuwait and the UAE. "

Manafort's and PUTIN'S guy, WON.

jpost.com/Middle-East/Ma…
So of course, that means some data-fuckery had to be going on in there, somewhere:

"The Daily Telegraph has learnt that YouGov gathered info about voters and secretly created material for social media that promoted independence for Iraqi Kurdistan."

theweek.co.uk/96905/yougov-t…
"YouGov 'played role in Kurdistan independence referendum'

thenational.ae/world/mena/you…
"Behind the scenes, a small group of people had a secret—and billions of dollars were at stake. Hedge funds aiming to win big from trades that day had hired YOUGOV and at least five other polling companies, including Farage's favorite pollster."

bloomberg.com/news/features/…
So just to recap: a company that helped Farage and #Brexit - which was the dry-run for Trump - they also helped Paul Manafort out in Kurdistan, got it? YOUGOV:

"Brexit's Big Short: How hedge funds hired private pollsters to make millions"

afr.com/news/world/eur…
"Mr. Maloni would not say whether Mr. Manafort intended to disclose his Kurdish work and source of income to the Justice Department under #FARA, which would be required if he lobbied the American government on behalf of a foreign client."

nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/…
Was Manafort's guy in Erbil, Nader?

Russia already took over Kurdistan's main pipeline, 10/17, during "crisis" - so that was nice of them to step in and help out.

(Trump just MAJORLY F'D us, by ceding to Putin):

Russia's Rosneft to take control of Iraqi Kurdish pipeline amid crisis

reut.rs/2gTqcM9
So, I go to look to see who is reg'd on a #FARA for Kurdistan....🧐

Is Manafort there: NOPE. But you know who is?

Rudy Giuliani's old firm, Greenberg Traurig (in 4/14): 😁🤦🏽‍♀️

efile.fara.gov/pls/apex/f?p=1…
That "Kurdistan Regional Government" that's the guy who just won his election to be PM 🤓😆

I'm done playing w/these suckas for now, gotta go give my little one a bath! 🤓✌🏽
Missing some Tweet in this thread?
You can try to force a refresh.

Like this thread? Get email updates or save it to PDF!

Subscribe to WaterBluSky
Profile picture

Get real-time email alerts when new unrolls are available from this author!

This content may be removed anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member and get exclusive features!

Premium member ($30.00/year)

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!