Monday, January 29, 2007
Is Iran's Top Turbin dead?
Michael Ledeen has been wondering for weeks whether the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei is dead, or as good as dead. He is known to have cancer, so the rumor dovetails well with the recent surge of internal criticism of his hard-line pal, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Well, I just received an email from a source that is often correct that American intelligence -- I don't know which agency -- has concluded that Khamenei has, in fact, died. Unfortunately, Iran's succession planning is sufficiently robust that it is unlikely that the Supreme Leader's expiration will lead to meaningful change, except perhaps in tone.
UPDATE: Per regular commenter DEC, it appears that Khamenei is not only alive, but able to pose for pictures with visiting dignitaries.
8 Comments:
By 
D.E. Cloutier, at
Mon Jan 29, 12:08:00 PM:
Any outsider who deals with Iran should remember two things:
1. The Prophet Muhammad began his career as a trader.
2. The Persians invented an early form of poker. Iranians know how to bluff.
By Gordon Smith, at
Mon Jan 29, 02:36:00 PM:
News from the Right...
In Continuing Effort To Salvage Ledeen's Credibility, Right-Wing Blogs Hope For Dead Iranian Leader.
By 
, at
Mon Jan 29, 05:07:00 PM:
No screwy, people hope that the Ayatollah is NOT dead.
Consider the current guy (if he's still alive) like a more robust Hindenburg. The only restraining factor on Ahmadnutjob who has rock-star popularity among Muslims world-wide and the poor in Iran.
A free-for all battle for power and influence makes Iranian aggression MORE likely (like setting off a nuke inside a US city and claiming it). Because the harder of the hard cases always win when picking fights with outside enemies.
By , at
Mon Jan 29, 05:17:00 PM:
Forget Iran! Barbaro's gone! Oh, the humanity!
By Purple Avenger, at
Mon Jan 29, 05:22:00 PM:
He'd look very dapper in a coffin. Just saying...
By allen, at
Mon Jan 29, 07:44:00 PM:
As a Westerner, I need bar coding to tell one turbin (turbine) from another.
By D.E. Cloutier, at
Mon Jan 29, 08:52:00 PM:
According to a report today from Fars News Agency in Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei met Sunday with Russian National Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov. With the report is a photo of the two men together.
More at:
http://www.farsnews.com/English/newstext.php?nn=8511090086
By , at
Mon Jan 29, 10:34:00 PM:
Or to put it another way:
"Weekend with Ayatollah Sayyid Ali"
He looks a little stiff and waxy. :)
-David
