40 Comments

1. andrew:

whatever

Jan 4, 2007 - 3:32 pm 2. Baroness Wyszynski:

Good news. Now what?
Things seem to be changing in Iran; considering the last elections and the revelations from the recent info you gave, what is the best you see on the horizon (considering maybe, just maybe, the admin here might be on the job).
Also, any thoughts on Negroponte’s change in job title?
Seems to have irritated Jay Rockefeller which makes me happy although I have no idea why. Just whatever annoys the enemy within, pleases me.
Thx much.

From ML:

Roger that. Anything that annoys J R can’t be all bad…

-

Jan 4, 2007 - 3:46 pm 3. El Jefe Maximo:

Who knows, maybe even by natural causes, unless he went flying with some Generals or something.

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:18 pm 4. Baroness Wyszynski:

Today, Reuters reports that the Navy has just sent a second carrier battle group (CBG), the USS John Stennis, into “the Gulf,” presumably the Persian Gulf. This CBG joins that of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which entered the PG last month.
FYI:
The Herman Option
http://biglizards.net/blog/archives/2007/01/iran_strategies_4.html#comments

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:21 pm 5. Gil Borman:

This might just be the magic moment that might free the Iranian people and drain the Hezbollah Hamas swamps once and for all. Let us hope the Iranian people use this event as a catalyst to sieze back their lives and liberty.

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:48 pm 6. Rob:

For those of you who know your German history, I hope the Ayatollah does not turn into another Hindenburg (1847-1934).

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:48 pm 7. Greg Bloodworth:

God be praised.

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:53 pm 8. Bad Penny:

Baroness Wyszynski, that link is 404.

Jan 4, 2007 - 5:43 pm 9. Persepolis:

Where did you here this? No major western news outlet is covering this, nor are any Iranian news outlets.

Thanks.

Jan 4, 2007 - 5:46 pm 10. Pedarsag:

We shall soon see which Rafsanjani loves more, money, power, or the destruction of Israel…

Jan 4, 2007 - 6:06 pm 11. Baroness Wyszynski:

Bad Penny:
Pls, edumacate me. 404? Not working?
The site is Big Lizard–maybe a google would help?
Thx,
B.

Jan 4, 2007 - 6:54 pm 12. chsw:

May all of his virgins, if any, look like Yasser Arafat.

While in hell, he should suffer all of the tortures exercised by the ulema’s secret police.

chsw

Jan 4, 2007 - 9:58 pm 13. Khorshid:

http://sarbazekuchak.blogspot.com/2007/01/khamenei-death-ledeen.html

Jan 4, 2007 - 10:25 pm 14. bert:

this isnt true, if it was people would be in the streets right now shitting all over Ahmadinejad and his regime

ML:

Time will tell. The source is good, but there is no confirmation yet. His condition is/was grave, that’s certain.

Jan 4, 2007 - 10:26 pm 15. a Duoist:

It is not who is the ‘Supreme Guide’ in Iran that matters: What matters is whether the homicidal/suicidal ‘theofascism’ ideology will continue regardless of who rules in its name.

A new ‘learned jurisprudent’ is simply another “clerical fascist” fanatic. Regime change in Iran is not enough; a complete change in philosophy is required for any ‘change’ to be meaningful.

Jan 5, 2007 - 2:39 am 16. Winston:

Khamenei’s web site (www.khamenei.ir) has his recent pics posted from at least 5 days ago. Then it is not updated with newer pictures. Only 2 messages (one to Haj pilgrims and the other to send condolences for the death of ex-justice minister who died in a car accident)and these messages could also be written by his staff and don’t indicate that he wrote them himself. I keep looking for more evidence. According to his webpage, I can tell that his last public appearance was on December 24th, 06. He has not been seen since then….

Jan 5, 2007 - 4:34 am 17. James:

Yeah and they just found WMDs in Iraq.

ML:

Actually they have found lots of WMDs in Iraq.

Jan 5, 2007 - 9:29 am 18. Drellberg:

As is often the case, the non-story here is often as interesting as the story. Let’s assume that the source has it right, even though to all the world outside of pajamas media this is a non-story. What are we to infer? Can his faction keep this story from the world? Why would they do so? If disclosure is anything like a zero sum game, who would want to break the news, and what would they gain? I’m always fascinated when countries hide the deaths of their leaders, as if they only need the image of the leader and not the actual leadership.

Jan 5, 2007 - 10:13 am 19. Drellberg:

Ok, I have even more questions. What does this lack of disclosure disclose about Iran’s stability? If succession had been set, why wait? It seems to me that delaying notice of his death is prima facie evidence of a struggle over succession, and that the longer the delay the more protracted the struggle. Or am I missing something? Answers, please!

Jan 5, 2007 - 10:17 am 20. Matthew:

Khorshid, little sarbaze’s link is 404′d.

If Khamnei is dead, are we looking at Rafsanjani taking over, Mosbah Yazdi, or some other third universalist moron?

Jan 5, 2007 - 10:17 am 21. crosspatch:

So … have the people who were elected to the Council of Wizards or whatever it is called actually been seated yet?

The current government might have reason to keep mum about this development if they are trying to get the old group of experts (or whatever) to vote in a replacement Grand Poobah before the new members have a chance to take their seats.

ML:

I think they are 2-3 months away from sitting.

Jan 5, 2007 - 4:19 pm 22. Ardavan:

Javad Zarif, the islamic republics ambassdor to the UN said today that the news about Khameneis dead, is NOT true… http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20070105-122356-8351r

ML:

Now THERE’S a reliable source for you.

Jan 5, 2007 - 7:33 pm 23. Ali N:

Is this the new psychological warfare strategy of the neo-cons and their dishonest Iranian opposition puppets. Shame on you all.

Jan 5, 2007 - 8:29 pm 24. hadi:

The Leader is not dead. and he will not die before USA flee from the ME . Its time for the US to see the reality, this man defeated u.. he said: “USA is an Iceberg… thats is melting!” … Look at iraq .. and in few weeks.. look at Lebanon - A Lebanese Student

Jan 5, 2007 - 8:55 pm 25. Dan:

“[T]he Council of Wizards,” that’s a good one. LOL.

So is he dead or what, and if so, will we see a three ring circus of a funeral for him as we saw with the grand kook Khomeini?

Jan 6, 2007 - 3:03 am 26. Bahramerad:

Well, My Ledeen, Is He dead or not?
He cannot be both. You on the other hand can be either a liar or an idiot.

Jan 6, 2007 - 6:18 am 27. shayan:

im sorry for you.
down with usa and israel…..

Jan 6, 2007 - 6:32 am 28. Iranian:

God Bless him.

Jan 6, 2007 - 12:32 pm 29. Craig:

He’s been dead a long time. Probably going back to his childhood.

Remember when the Soviets used to roll out their leaders in wheel chairs, so heavily medicated they were incoherent?

Jan 6, 2007 - 5:15 pm 30. Winston:

wow… I am stunned with the number of pro-regime idiots leaving comments here. I suggest their comments be banned since they have enough propaganda outlets to spread their freaking virus.

ML:

You should see the ones that don’t get published here, heh.

Jan 6, 2007 - 10:02 pm 31. Neda:

If it really happens now, Ahmadinejad and his father-in-law Mesbahyazdi will destroy iran quite easily.
But anyway apparently it’s not true.

Jan 7, 2007 - 10:29 am 32. Persian:

His death won’t make any diffrence. There are so many of them to replace each other.

ML:

Indeed

Jan 7, 2007 - 3:33 pm 33. sajjad:

I really wonder , you Mr ledeen , you seem to be a professional. man in the politic world but what is more obvious is your extreme hate toward one of the greatest and oldest empires of the world. Persians. I am not a historian but since I read so many books I never forget the HOLY HELP of you American of so many Dictators all around the world. I am sure you have heard about Milluseviches , pinoshes and so many others. It leads me not to be so much shocked of your indeed happiness on the death of the one of the best Islamic leaders the world has ever seen. Coz he was against the ideology the Great Satan has widespread over weak countries and the way he look at the world is different from what you see.hey Mr. ledeen HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT WHEN YOU DIE. WHEN NOTHING ELSE IS REMAINED EXCEPT A DIRTY AND OLD GRVAE STONE IN THE EARTH FROM YOU, WHAT WOULD BE THERE IN THE OTHER WORLD AFTER DEATH. WISH YOU A GREAT TIME ONCE YOU ARE REALLY ALONE THERE. YOU STILL HAVE TIME, CHANGE YOUR WORLD….
I hope Ayatollah khamenei would be great all the time – he was last night that i saw him – and even when he dies the way of him will never die…

Jan 8, 2007 - 3:23 am 34. anton riviera:

Actually, Michael Ledeen is dead, and any posts made under his name from now on are counterfeits, including any ‘ML’ reply made to this post. Do not be taken in by this imposter.

ML:

no comment

Jan 8, 2007 - 1:29 pm 35. ALI:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
THE JOKE IS ON YOU LEDEEN
ALI KHAMENEI

Jan 8, 2007 - 2:04 pm 36. ScottyB:

Looks like you need A New Method of Fact-Checking.

ML:

Frankly I cannot imagine any publication being more assiduous in checking, or more open with its readers, as PJM has been. My readers have been able to track the story from beginning to now; when i or others had doubts, they were reported, and many of the mysteries have been well explored.

You prefer, say, the NY Times, which took months before it acknowledged something was wrong with its “lady in jail for life because she had an abortion” story?

Here you’ve been able to follow it hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute.

Jan 8, 2007 - 3:52 pm 37. A Hermit:

You need a new red letter banner headline:

Michael Ledeen is a pinhead…CONFIRMED!

Jan 8, 2007 - 5:58 pm 38. DenverOasis:

way to make up your own imaginary news stories! maybe people will take you even less seriously now. good investigative reporting!

Jan 8, 2007 - 8:21 pm 39. Radian:

“Frankly I cannot imagine any publication being more assiduous in checking, or more open with its readers, as PJM has been. My readers have been able to track the story from beginning to now; when i or others had doubts, they were reported, and many of the mysteries have been well explored.”

Except it turns out your assiduously checked information was dead wrong. And if your blog is so assiduous, why rely on your readers to track the story?

Face it - you failed a serious test of credibility, and no amount of spin will change that.

ML:

I do not know if the story of Khamenei’s death was true or false. I do know that the story of his grave illness was true. The checking was done by me and others at Pajamas. Commenters gave us their reactions, that’s the nature of this medium, as your own critical remarks show.

No spin here, mr. mystery, just hard work. There will be errors, and when I spot one I will try to correct it as quickly as I can.

Jan 9, 2007 - 10:17 am 40. mehdi:

my lafe jast for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran’s Supreme Leader

Sep 28, 2008 - 2:21 pm

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