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The Hidden History of Trumps First Trip to Moscow, 1987: The KGB made it happen (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/19/trump-first-moscow-trip-215842It was around this time [1987] that Donald Trump appears to have attracted the attention of Soviet intelligence. How that happened, and where that relationship began, is an answer hidden somewhere in the KGB's secret archives.
The KGB also distributed a secret personality questionnaire, advising case officers what to look for in a successful recruitment operation. In April 1985 this was updated for prominent figures in the West. The directorates aim was to draw the target into some form of collaboration with us. This could be as an agent, or confidential or special or unofficial contact.
The form demanded basic detailsname, profession, family situation, and material circumstances. There were other questions, too: what was the likelihood that the subject could come to power (occupy the post of president or prime minister)? And an assessment of personality. For example: Are pride, arrogance, egoism, ambition or vanity among subjects natural characteristics?
The most revealing section concerned kompromat. The document asked for: Compromising information about subject, including illegal acts in financial and commercial affairs, intrigues, speculation, bribes, graft and exploitation of his position to enrich himself. Plus any other information that would compromise the subject before the countrys authorities and the general public. Naturally the KGB could exploit this by threatening disclosure.
Finally, his attitude towards women is also of interest. The document wanted to know: Is he in the habit of having affairs with women on the side?
The form demanded basic detailsname, profession, family situation, and material circumstances. There were other questions, too: what was the likelihood that the subject could come to power (occupy the post of president or prime minister)? And an assessment of personality. For example: Are pride, arrogance, egoism, ambition or vanity among subjects natural characteristics?
The most revealing section concerned kompromat. The document asked for: Compromising information about subject, including illegal acts in financial and commercial affairs, intrigues, speculation, bribes, graft and exploitation of his position to enrich himself. Plus any other information that would compromise the subject before the countrys authorities and the general public. Naturally the KGB could exploit this by threatening disclosure.
Finally, his attitude towards women is also of interest. The document wanted to know: Is he in the habit of having affairs with women on the side?
When did the KGB open a file on Donald Trump? We dont know, but Eastern Bloc security service records suggest this may have been as early as 1977. That was the year when Trump married Ivana Zelnickova, a twenty-eight-year-old model from Czechoslovakia. Zelnickova was a citizen of a communist country. She was therefore of interest both to the Czech intelligence service, the StB, and to the FBI and CIA.
During the Cold War, Czech spies were known for their professionalism.
The ambassadorfluent in English and a brilliant master of negotiationscharmed the busy Trump, telling him: The first thing I saw in the city is your tower!
Dubinina said: Trump melted at once. He is an emotional person, somewhat impulsive. He needs recognition. And, of course, when he gets it he likes it. My fathers visit worked on him [Trump] like honey to a bee.
This encounter happened six months before the Estée Lauder lunch. In Dubininas account she admits her father was trying to hook Trump. The man from Moscow wasnt a wide-eyed rube but a veteran diplomat who served in France and Spain, and translated for Nikita Khrushchev when he met with Charles de Gaulle at the Elysée Palace in Paris. He had seen plenty of impressive buildings. Weeks after his first Trump meeting, Dubinin was named Soviet ambassador to Washington.
This encounter happened six months before the Estée Lauder lunch. In Dubininas account she admits her father was trying to hook Trump. The man from Moscow wasnt a wide-eyed rube but a veteran diplomat who served in France and Spain, and translated for Nikita Khrushchev when he met with Charles de Gaulle at the Elysée Palace in Paris. He had seen plenty of impressive buildings. Weeks after his first Trump meeting, Dubinin was named Soviet ambassador to Washington.
In The Art of the Deal, Trump writes: In January 1987, I got a letter from Yuri Dubinin, the Soviet ambassador to the United States, that began: It is a pleasure for me to relay some good news from Moscow. It went on to say that the leading Soviet state agency for international tourism, Goscomintourist, had expressed interest in pursuing a joint venture to construct and manage a hotel in Moscow.
There were many ambitious real estate developers in the United Stateswhy had Moscow picked Trump?
According to Viktor Suvorova former GRU military spyand others, the KGB ran Intourist, the agency to which Trump referred. It functioned as a subsidiary KGB branch. Initiated in 1929 by Stalin, Intourist was the Soviet Unions official state travel agency. Its job was to vet and monitor all foreigners coming into the Soviet Union. In my time it was KGB, Suvorov said. They gave permission for people to visit. The KGBs first and second directorates routinely received lists of prospective visitors to the country based on their visa applications.
As a GRU operative, Suvorov was personally involved in recruitment, albeit for a rival service to the KGB. Soviet spy agencies were always interested in cultivating young ambitious people, he saidan upwardly mobile businessman, a scientist, a guy with a future.
Once in Moscow, they would receive lavish hospitality. Everything is free. There are good parties with nice girls. It could be a sauna and girls and who knows what else. The hotel rooms or villa were under 24-hour control, with security cameras and so on, Suvorov said. The interest is only one. To collect some information and keep that information about him for the future.
There were many ambitious real estate developers in the United Stateswhy had Moscow picked Trump?
According to Viktor Suvorova former GRU military spyand others, the KGB ran Intourist, the agency to which Trump referred. It functioned as a subsidiary KGB branch. Initiated in 1929 by Stalin, Intourist was the Soviet Unions official state travel agency. Its job was to vet and monitor all foreigners coming into the Soviet Union. In my time it was KGB, Suvorov said. They gave permission for people to visit. The KGBs first and second directorates routinely received lists of prospective visitors to the country based on their visa applications.
As a GRU operative, Suvorov was personally involved in recruitment, albeit for a rival service to the KGB. Soviet spy agencies were always interested in cultivating young ambitious people, he saidan upwardly mobile businessman, a scientist, a guy with a future.
Once in Moscow, they would receive lavish hospitality. Everything is free. There are good parties with nice girls. It could be a sauna and girls and who knows what else. The hotel rooms or villa were under 24-hour control, with security cameras and so on, Suvorov said. The interest is only one. To collect some information and keep that information about him for the future.
Lots here. This is only about 25% of the article. Read the whole thing.
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The Hidden History of Trumps First Trip to Moscow, 1987: The KGB made it happen (Politico) (Original Post)
sharedvalues
Nov 2017
OP
Trump was the most obvious "useful idiot" who would put money before country every time
world wide wally
Nov 2017
#4
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)1. These Russians really know how to create assets
It amazes me how much they've done over the years, and how deeply they've got their hooks into us. Also, alas, how easily so many of our politicians have succumbed to their seductions.
BigmanPigman
(51,585 posts)2. The moron was an easy mark...flattery gets him every time.
hedda_foil
(16,373 posts)3. The schmuck was a textbook pigeon.
world wide wally
(21,741 posts)4. Trump was the most obvious "useful idiot" who would put money before country every time