Khameini fleeing to Russia? But I thought he was dead! (Fake document/bogus story alert)

[mcablue]

There's a triple-hearsay rumor going around, in which it's said that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is ready to flee to Russia due to protests there.

Here's how the chain goes: The sensationalist Huffington Post says that Radio Netherland says that a Netherlands-based Iranian group says that a fax says that Khamenei is fleeing to Russia.

But the Huffington Post itself debunked its own story in an update which reads:

Iranian journalist and media researcher Omid Habibinia tells HuffPost he has doubts about the authenticity of the document that this report evolves around. He says it is fast circulating Facebook but for many reasons he believes the document is forgery, including the fact there are no words below the logo of the Islamic Republic of Iran and no mail is confidential in the Persian month Mehr.

Of course, the Huffington Post won't change its false title because it wants lots and lots of traffic, and it wants websites left and right (such as DU) to click on its link and provide them with lots and lots of traffic. A shocking, bold, yet unsubstantiated headline does the trick.

Here's the alleged official document in which the rumor was based:



For whatever reason, God-knows-who has thought in the past that falsely pronouncing Khamenei dead or painting him as a coward would be a good thing to do. For example

George Stephanopolous of ABC spreads rumor that Khamenei is in coma (October 2009): http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/10/khamenei-in-coma.html

Days later the Stephanopolous rumor is debunked when Radio Free Europe reports that Khameini was present at a meeting with students: http://www.rferl.org/content/Khamenei_And_The_Student_/1864962.html

Here is a right-winger in 2007 "breaking" the following news: "BREAKING NEWS --Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, is dead." http://crooksandliars.com/2007/01/08/pajamas-media-and-major-embarrassment-connect-the-dots

Needless to say, Khameini wasn't dead. Let's stop being so gullible around here.

The saddest part in all this is that one DU'er was for not believing the rumor.

I wish the Iranian tyrants were replaced by Democratic revolutionaries; but wishful thinking is one thing and disinformation is another.

[aquart]

1. Yet Twitter says Russia doesn't want the Iranians.

Who to believe? Who to believe?

I don't think they're anywhere near being ready to run.

[mcablue]

4. Who's Twitter?

You mean someone who has a Twitter account? I would expect a better source than that.

[aquart]

7. #iranelection is nuts today.

Between obvious Ahmadi agitators and wild contradictory rumors, I have absolutely no idea what's going on. Which I suppose is the goal. Last night someone was even impersonating PersianKiwi who's been gone since June 24.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. Omidhabi (Omid Habibinia) is in exile in Switzerland and has been for many years. His information

over the summer was less than reliable and what he did get right was WAY after the fact and WAY after other (more reliable) sources published the information. IMO, he tends toward sensationalism and jumping on rumors to enhance his relevancy.

Not that this is or is not true, but he is one of the last I would look to as a source for anything happening on the ground in Persia.

[That Is Quite Enough]

3. Gawd, the situation in Iran is going to make my head explode

I like the idea of a Democratic revolution to overthrow the theocrats and their oppressive customs, but the idea of American agencies (and I think also British, but I may be mistaking that) tampering doesn't make me feel very fuzzy.

If America is agitating over there we obviously have some actual reasons outside of "Bringing Iran freedom" and must have something to gain.

Perhaps if we install another puppet regime we can mess with Iran's oil supply and drive a wedge between customers China and Russia? I don't know. Perhaps it's a step towards creating a war with Russia. Perhaps it's just another step in whatever the shadowy plan for the perpetual crusade in the Middle East is trying to accomplish.

The whole situation is making me really uneasy.

[Barack_America]

6. This is between the Iranian people and their government.

Most specifically the way the Iranian government has been treating its citizens.

If this document is fake, which it VERY well could be (I mean, wouldn't a phone call have sufficed?), it is almost NOT the work of any foreign force, but rather Iranians looking to give an emotional boost to regime opponents.

[Barack_America]

5. If you're referring to my stated skepticism of that poster's history.

I think his short history of posts on DU warrants skepticism.

I asked him about it, he responded, I thanked him and told him that I hoped he didn't mind my continued critique of his views.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss it further.