WikiLeaks Document Dump: Iran President Ahmadinejad Slapped by Head of Revolutionary Guard

[Hissyspit]

Source: Daily News

WikiLeaks document dump: Iran President Ahmadinejad slapped by head of Revolutionary Guard
BY HELEN KENNEDY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, January 4th 2011, 4:00 AM

A new diplomatic cable says the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard smacked President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the face for suggested restrictions on the press.

- snip -

The Iranian bigs were trying to figure out what to do in the wake of Tehran's explosive pro-democracy street protests of 2009.

"Ahmadinejad claimed that 'people feel suffocated,' and mused that to defuse the situation it may be necessary to allow more personal and social freedoms, including more freedom of the press," the cable says.

It continues, "Ahmadinejad's statements infuriated Revolutionary Guard Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari, who exclaimed 'You are wrong! it is YOU who created this mess! And now you say give more freedom to the press?!' "Source said that Jafari then slapped Ahmadinejad in the face, causing an uproar," the cable says.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/01/04/2011-01-04_a_slap_for_mahmoud.html

[johnroshan]

1. Why was this information classified in the first place?

Revolutionary Guard Chief of staff is like the DefSec in US right? Wow, that should have been embarrassing.

Why exactly was this information classified? I would assume that information like this could've tipped the revolution, signalling that the government was about to relent towards more freedom.

[rpannier]

2. After reading the article (which is rather short)

It is possible that the person who provided this information (and other information) would be easily identified.
If this is the case, it would be a good idea to classify it

[leveymg]

4. More likely, it was gossip that spread widely in Tehran before someone put it into a cable

Not exactly breaking news that there were deep divisions within the Iranian leadership in early 2010 over handling of the pro-Democracy movement and a number of other issues pressing in on the regime.

#
Iran's Moves Reveal Leadership Rift - WSJ.com
Nov 10, 2009 ... But it's at least as likely that it reflects deep divisions within Tehran. Outside observers see four camps emerging. Iran's true reformers ...
online.wsj.com/.../SB125780048673839451.html - Cached - Similar - Add to iGoogle
#
New sanctions led by U.S. are causing divisions within the Iranian ...
New sanctions led by U.S. are causing divisions within the Iranian leadership, Gates says (Washington Post - Middle East). Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates ...
www.israelnetdaily.com/.../_New_sanctions_led_by_US_are_causing_divisions_within_the_Iranian_leadership_Gates_says - Cached
#
Wikileaks statements about Iran Syria and KRG are showing True ...
Dec 8, 2010... 1 proposal reflected divisions within the regime's leadership and an .... Syria is actively working to change Iranian leaders' minds; ...
www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2010/12/state4413.htm - Cached
#

[rpannier]

5. That's possibly true

I was responding to the query as to why it was classified.

[WhiteTara]

9. It's secret to keep the embarrassment

private. We don't want the world to be a better place. We want money.

Oh, and Israel want to bomb them.

[leveymg]

3. This show has something for everyone. But, that cable was first reported in November.

#
'Revolutionary Guards chief slapped Ahmadinejad' - Israel News ...
Nov 30, 2010 ... Jafari, who was infuriated by Ahmadinejad's stance, confronted the president and slapped him in the face, the report claimed. ...
www.ynetnews.com › Ynetnews › News - Cached
#
Ahmadinejad got bitch-slapped by Ali Jafari - Snooper's Take Our ...
Nov 28, 2010 ... An enraged Revolutionary Guard Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari allegedly got into a heated argument with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and slapped ...
snooperreport.com/.../ahmadinejad-got-bitch-slapped-by-ali-jafari.html - Cached
#
Now We Know… Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Got Bitch-Slapped By Iranian ...
Nov 28, 2010 ... An enraged Revolutionary Guard Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari allegedly got into a heated argument with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and slapped ...
gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/.../now-we-know-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-got-bitch-slapped-by-ali-jafari/ - Cached

[crikkett]

13. Reported by an israeli blog that puts "bitch-slapped" in their headlines

Yeah I'm adding that to my daily reading list NOW.

What the cable does is turn yellow right-wing tabloid gossip into credible news.

Hm.
What does it say about you that you follow right-wing blogs so closely?

[leveymg]

14. Ynet is a widely-reported Israeli news source. That doesn't mean I endorse it.

If you GOOGLE "Ynetnews", it has a large number of related hits. I've seen it reposted many times here.

I think it was one of the blogs that used the term, "bitch slapped".

As I posited above, the slapping incident early last year may have been a widespread rumor in Tehran that made its way into a US diplomatic cable. I don't know its actual source, but would be interested in learning more details about it, for if true, it indicates that the policy splits and emotional divisions within the top echelons of the regime were extremely intense.

[lunatica]

6. Someone has to do it

I hope the slap was resounding and that it smarted.

[ret5hd]

7. Yeah!!! No way should more freedoms for Iranians be supported here!!!

K&R!!!

(for the mentally impaired: :sarcasm: )

[lunatica]

11. I guess you think Ahmadinejad is a beacon of light for freedom

You're entitled to your opinion, whether it's fact based or not.

[ret5hd]

12. So you think an a-hole should be slapped even when he tries to do right?

I guess your idea of positive reinforcement involves thumbscrews.

[lunatica]

15. Yes. I'm sure he actually uses thumbscrews, whereas I don't.

[ret5hd]

16. Or logic either.

[stray cat]

8. Just because something is posted doesn't mean the quote is based on facts

Weakileaks does not confirm facts behind the opinions or heresy in cables

[Lucky Luciano]

10. I would have enjoyed bein a fly on the wall for that confrontation! nt

[Javaman]

17. 3 slaps in quick succession followed by, "you fool!".

interesting.