Notes on The Heritage Foundation, Trump’s Son-in-Law, and Albania

Earlier, I had forgotten to mention that the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK), an Iranian dissident group backed by the U.S. and Israel, is based in Albania. Additionally, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is also attempting to develop a luxury resort on Sazan Island in Albania. Sibel Edmonds has been investigating the Kushner-Albanian connection on her Patreon, although I haven’t been following it closely. Seeing DeSmog’s revelation that the Heritage Foundation had attempted to influence the latest Albania election prompted me to think about it, but it slipped my mind when I made that post. It’s worth noting that Kushner has ties to both George Soros and Peter Thiel. As George Carlin famously said, “It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.”

On a related note, since Sibel came up: Nima of Dialogue Works reported that Graham Fuller has died. Fuller was a key figure in the early establishment of “East Turkestan.” He authored a 1998 RAND report titled The Xinjiang Project, later revised in 2003 as The Xinjiang Problem, outlining the strategic value of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in the broader effort to encircle China.

2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy +

2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy

It follows that, although we are and will remain engaged in Europe, we must—and will—prioritize defending the U.S. Homeland and deterring China.

Related papers from the Marathon Initiative:

Bridge Colby / DTRASharing the Load: Developing Better Strategies for Burden Sharing

Robert Almelor Delfeld / Elbridge Colby: Broadening the Base: A Blueprint for Expanding Defense Industrial Capacity

Report: Kurdish Fighters Have Been Entering Iran From Iraq and Clashing With the IRGC

Report: Kurdish Fighters Have Been Entering Iran From Iraq and Clashing With the IRGC

By Dave DeCamp | The Libertarian Institute | January 14, 2026

Turkish intelligence has warned Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that Kurdish fighters have been entering Iran from Iraq amid protests inside Iran, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The US has a significant presence in Iraqi Kurdistan, including a military base and an $800 million consulate compound that it opened in December. The Israeli Mossad is also known for having a presence in the area, and Iran claimed that it attacked a Mossad base in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024.

Previously:

Trump Has Strong Options for Iran /Alastair Crooke & Lt Col Daniel Davis

These are the same Iraqi Kurds for whom the U.S. established the post‑1991 autonomous zone. Erbil Governorate sits on the Iran‑facing side of Iraqi Kurdistan. The U.S. operates Harir Air Base there (active since 2003) and maintains the largest consulate compound in the world. This is a forward U.S. position on Iran’s border. The U.S./Coalition also has units in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, which likewise borders Iran.