KHAMENEI DEAD

[WarGamer]

I don't grave dance or wish death upon anyone... but Imma go grab a burger

https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-crisis-live-explosions-tehran-israel-announces-strike-2026-02-28/

Neda Agha-Soltan, motherfucker...

[sarisataka]

1. Much like the attack on the school, I will await further confirmation.

Single source reports often can be less than fully accurate.
That said, it is plausible that the US/Israel were aware of his "secure location"

[rsdsharp]

2. Congrats, Trump.

You just put a legitimate target on your large, orange ass, as well as Bibi’s.

[chicoescuela]

61. 100% true

[BannonsLiver]

3. Is Mars smiling now?

Ohhh with the edgy sign off at the end too

[Celerity]

44. Neda Agha-Soltan (23 January 1983 - 20 June 2009) was an Iranian student of philosophy who was participating in the 2009

presidential election protests with her music teacher, and was walking back to her car when she was fatally shot in the upper chest.

Eyewitnesses are reported by Western sources as saying Agha-Soltan was shot by a militiaman belonging to Basij paramilitary organization. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet, and the video became a rallying point for the opposition. Agha-Soltan's death sparked renewed protests against the disputed election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Neda_Agha-Soltan

Banner of Basij

سازمان بسیج مستضعفین 'Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed'

[dem4decades]

4. I guess the war is over, mission accomplished. When does Trump go over to view the parade

They are surely going to honor him with one.

[Arazi]

6. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this isn't the off ramp Traitor takes

Like Venezuela, take out the lead bad guy, declare victory and then just accept the same tyrannical regime

[LeftInTX]

81. Yeah, there is backlash and protests. (Nine killed outside US Embassy in Karachi) Not looking so good for Trump

He'll make sure that Iran is crippled enough not to be an immediate threat to Israel and then he'll cut the chase.

[Greg_In_SF]

5. Yay!!!

n/t

[hlthe2b]

7. Well, CIA has said the hard-liners waiting in the wings are even worse.

And as one who has had some ties to Iran since 1977 (no, I am not Iranian but I have spent time there in the last years of the Shah), I sadly don't have a lot faith in things getting better there very soon. The people are not armed, after all. WTF did Trump et al think would allow them to depose the current power structures with a mere bombing campaign and an unarmed population? Obviously he did not undertake this out of any concern for the people or even a modicum of democracy.

We shall see...It is tragic. Most Americans are unbelievably ignorant about Iran--Tehran specifically. They are an incredibly well-educated people even despite the horrific theocracy that followed a US-placed autocrat, the Shah, whose own corruption and deadly secret police (SAVAK) inevitably led to his own downfall. Trump is ignorant enough to have thought Iran to be a hapless, uneducated third-world country--ya know those "shit-hole" countries he loves to talk about.

[WarGamer]

9. I predict the Islamic Republic is done and a Democracy will blossom.

[hlthe2b]

10. Based on?

Or are you simply being sarcastic? I certainly hope this could happen but there is nothing currently that suggests the "ingredients" are there to make it so. Yes there is a populace that seeks a departure from an Islamic theocracy,, but they are not empowered and the simple demise of this one man and the hope of a democracy-seeking younger populace does not empower them alone.

[WarGamer]

16. I think at this point, the elements who wish to continue the Islamic Republic will be destroyed.

There is a wide opening for a Democratic leader to emerge... it's up to the Iranians

[hlthe2b]

20. As I repeatedly point out, those who seek democracy (or at least change) are UNARMED & UNEMPOWERED...

I'd love for it to be so and for Iran to be the vibrant country it once was less the horrific corruption and behind-the-scenes horrific secret police of the Shah. But a vacuum is filled quickly and I have few doubts (as does our current CIA) that the Islamic theocrats have someone waiting in the wings or at least those prepared to preserve the theocracy via violence toward the people.

[WarGamer]

22. It's going to come down to the Military... once a Colonel or Major steps up and says he's done supporting the status quo

then it can change.

Shrub, among his many mistakes didn't offer immunity to police and military and Ba'ath party to rejoin society...

if the current offer of immunity is legit... we could see a reversal in the military.

We'll see

[SSJVegeta]

63. On top of all your points, wasnt an actual moderate confirmed as his successor?

That in itself suggests an end to the theocracy

On edit: not confirmed. But I think Hassan Khomenei is agreed on by most to be the msot likely.

[SSJVegeta]

71. The most powerful forces in Iran are those who are unarmed.

"Unempowered" is a propaganda term that hopes those forces dont know their true strength.

[hlthe2b]

84. I am NO "Propagandist" but I DO know HISTORY.

Maybe that is something you might consider before making such absoluteist and accusatory statements.

We are all hopeful that the people in any conflict, any authoritarian or dictatorial regime, will prevail. But, against the armed, they often do not. That is what is so damned frightening in this country, as an authoritarian and a private heavily armed force answerable to no one but the authoritarian has arisen. No one here or elsewhere is suggesting that people should not rise up in protest nonetheless, as I'd bet a very large proportion of DUers (myself included--have YOU?) have been doing. But to do so in the US or most countries is not the same as having had the brutality and ruthless murder of the Ayatollahs since 1979, and in the face of their current murder of thousands on the street today.

[wnylib]

24. There has been talk of the late Shah's son

becoming the new leader t. I think the backing for that idea comes from the US.

If the Shah, Jr (can't remember his name) takes over Iran, I would not hold my breath waiting for a democracy. His father was a brutal dictator, which is why the revolution occurred that overhrew his govt. If the son is like the father, no democracy will develop.

[WarGamer]

27. If he's a temporary placeholder and there is a UN committee working on a free Democracy... that's be great

But no we don't need another authoritarian.

[Amishman]

41. It might still be an improvement over the current regime

A pro western petty dictator would still probably a huge improvement for the Iranian people, especially for women.

[wnylib]

43. The last time that Iran had a democracy, the US and UK

overthrew it in the 1950s and installed a dictatorship in order to preserve US/UK oil profits.

Trump recently overthrew Venezuela's leader in order to commandeer Venezuelan oil and left the dictatorial regime in place in Venezuela.

Do you see a pattern here? It is about the US taking over the world's oil supplies in order to control the world. Nobody could fight back against a US world dictatorship if the US controls the oil necessary to fuel weapons. Look what the oil embargo is doing to Cuba.

[Seeking Serenity]

49. Reza Pahlavi.

His name is Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

[wnylib]

56. Thanks. I remembered it after the post.

[Seeking Serenity]

57. YW

[LeftInTX]

80. He lives in Maryland or Virginia. Has grown kids. Seems like an OK guy.

He's popular with the exiles. And that's where this "draft Reza Pahlavi" is coming.

One of his daughters is married to a Jewish guy. And Reza himself is fairly cozy with Netanyahu

He will never survive being a leader in Iran and I don't think aspires to become another "shah". I think he would like to return to his home country as many exiles would like to. Many would just love to visit. He can't even visit and hasn't been there for almost 50 years.

There was more serious talk of him being an transition advisor. However, a government would need to be formed that is amiable to even having him as an advisor. I think the Revolutionary Guard would kill him if he tried to return.

[AZProgressive]

52. Iran did have a Democracy

The US overthrow their leader when they elected their version of Bernie Sanders who nationalized oil production and kicked BP out of the country.

If Iran sold out a long time ago to US commercial interests this would have never happened to them and they would have been able to keep whatever form of government they wish.

If we were so interested in Democracy in Southwest Asia we would install it in Saudi Arabia but they are friendly to US business interests.

[rurallib]

13. like democracy is blooming in the US?

[Rafi]

46. What a crock.

Chances are slim and slimmer.

[Polybius]

48. I think The Shah returns to power

Well, his son anyway. And I'm ok with that.

[Gore1FL]

62. I'm visualizing a power vacuum, one or more autocrats, and perhaps a civil war.

In any case, expect the price to heat a home or fill a gas-tank to double.

[Polybius]

47. The Shah wasn't worse

[Seeking Serenity]

50. This is so true, and it's sad to see progressives making excuses for this theocratic regime.

All because "muh Trump hate" I guess.

[AZProgressive]

58. I thought there were rules against targeting heads of state?

Situations like that tend to lead to World Wars. Obama could have taken out Putin years ago but there are rules and norms against that sort of thing.

What about another country from taking out Trump to please Americans that fled America because of Trump?

[Seeking Serenity]

64. If we haven't leanrt this by now, "the Rules" only apply when someone is willing to enforce them.

As for a foreign government "taking out" one of our leaders, even a president, that's always been on the table for anyone brave or reckless or desperate or stupid enough to try it.

[AZProgressive]

66. I still believe in international law

and do not agree that it should be up to Trump's own morality as to whether international law is followed by him. I don't really think the rules are being enforced especially when it comes to Gaza but that it is because the US doesn't have a President willing to enforce international law when it his own sick morals that limits what will or won't do.

[Seeking Serenity]

72. I hear you. I'm hip, totally.

But law and rules only exist between people, societies, nations that agree to follow them. The Islamic regime had made it perfectly clear that it didn't care, sanctions, payoffs, strongly worded letters, and International tut-tutting notwithstanding.

My idealism was stolen when my home got burgled several years ago.

[WarGamer]

65. The US didn't do it... Israel did

[AZProgressive]

68. The same country that has been trying to drag the US into a war with Iran

for 3 decades.

[WarGamer]

69. true...

[hlthe2b]

83. Seeking Serenity, WHERE have YOU seen ANY Progressive DO THAT? WHO has "made excuses"

for this theocratic regime? Who? Where? You made the accusation, which I find to be so demonstrably false on a global level as to be inexplicable that you would make it. SUPPORT IT.

[LeftInTX]

86. Groups that support Putin, North Korea, and Syria's Assad. Party for Socialism and Liberation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_Socialism_and_Liberation

This group has infiltrated the Democratic Party and protest groups. They had their own presidential candidate, but also supported Jill Stein and Cornell West.

Keep in mind Putin supports the Iranian regime.

They hate Trump, so the attitude is, "Enemy of my enemy".

They also hate Israel.

[hlthe2b]

90. Thank you, LeftinTX but the implication was that it included DUers... I don't consider the groups

that infiltrate the Dem/Progressive Party valid members of our party and causes any more than I consider internet bot trolls to be valid voices for anything.

[LeftInTX]

91. I deal with these people in real life. They bring out the grhh in me.

I think my disdain for them has spilled over into DU also.

They are very loud and aggressive.

[hlthe2b]

92. Grhh is right...

San Antonio is a hotspot for them?

[LeftInTX]

94. Yes, it seems that way...I don't know why either?

I think they're kinda all over the place though...If you go to a protest, you will often see their signs. The signs have bold letters and always have the PSL logo and the name of their party at the bottom of their signs.

[hlthe2b]

93. Accidental Dupe... Deleted

[hlthe2b]

82. I hope YOU are not using that accusation toward me. NO WHERE NO WAY did I say the Shah was

worse than the Ayatollahs. That would be the worst strawman argument you could make, but likewise shows a desire to ignore that there was horrific brutality under the Shah, while likewise a demonstrable improvement and progression for Iran as a whole--both economically, for education, and as a more secular country. But for those whose bodies were left by SAVAK on the Iranian desert for even incredibly minor "offenses," including teens (something I know about firsthand as the child of one of the many American corporate employees assigned to Iran), all was not the rosy time you and most Americans PREFER to believe.

Do not continue with the insinuation that pointing this out is somehow suggesting support for Islamic theocracy and all the horror it has brought. Polybius, you are better than that. Such a strawman argument is really unforgivable. Perhaps you will state that yours was a global comment, but you did direct it to me.

[Polybius]

88. I wasn't accusing you of saying the Shah was worse

I apologize for wording my reply poorly. I was directing my comment to those who I thought said he was worse. Your quote was this:

Well, CIA has said the hard-liners waiting in the wings are even worse.

Looking back, it turns out that I even misunderstood the quote. This is embarrassing, and I will make sure I word my replies better in the future.

[hlthe2b]

89. Thank you, Polybius

I greatly appreciate your reply. All good.

[róisín_dubh]

78. Most Americans...

are incredibly ignorant about most things, I’m sorry to say

[LeftInTX]

79. I agree

[EarlG]

11. Eh...

Assuming this report is true, the dude was 86 years old. He would have popped off on his own within a few years if he hadn't been blown up today. Surely there is going to be a successor lined up, and surely there will have been one lined up for quite some time.

I'm not sure that removing this particular asshole is going to have any measurable effect on Iran whatsoever, other than providing Iranian nationalists with a holy martyr to rally around.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on Iran, I'm merely pretending to be one on the Internet.

[WarGamer]

12. The successor was his son, also presumably dead...

This isn't a situation where the next bad guy can assume the office... the question at this point is simply... will the people rise up and demand a Democracy?

Also, Iran isn't iraq... we won't see a repeat of the sectarian civil war we did there...

[hlthe2b]

14. Will the (UNARMED) populace rise up? You seem to continually miss that important part...

[WarGamer]

17. For all we know, elements of Iranian military working with CIA right now...

We'll find out soon.

[hlthe2b]

21. Yes. I'll take the cup half-full hope. But, our CIA has hardly been an effective force for democracy

in recent decades--if ever. They can analyze what info they receive but when we lost actual people on the ground, CIA lost the pretense of being the super intelligence agency once projected. After all, they totally MISSED the rising anger that led to the deposing of the Shah.

[BannonsLiver]

15. Source: Trust me bro.

[BannonsLiver]

23. You're a proponent of nation building, I'm not.

So that’s where the divergence is. Nation building had gone poorly for us in the past, even when attempts at it were executed by people who, despite their own idiocy, were far more competent than the current regime.

I think this has been interesting in that it shows you’re actually very pro war, despite frequent comments to the contrary. Unless of course we are talking about Ukraine defending itself from a brutal invasion. Then not so much.

[WarGamer]

25. Of course you're right...

Look what happened in Egypt with Mubarak... nation building gone bad. And Iraq!!

I don't believe war is necessary in the 21st century and can't support it. But when it HAPPENS... it's fair to examine the possibilities.

It all comes down to the Iranians.

[Another Jackalope]

29. I don't think you're "just curious"...

Just sayin'.

[EarlG]

26. I think it's presumptive to declare that "this isn't a situation where the next bad guy can assume the office."

We'll see, I guess.

[WarGamer]

28. Just being optimistic I guess...

I'd be overjoyed if the Iranians could elect their own leaders and build their own future

[EarlG]

38. As would we all be

I think we can be advocates for a peaceful, democratic Iran while also recognizing that what's going on here is an illegal war by a autocratic president, which he has undertaken for his own personal benefit, without clear explanation or strategy. The most likely outcome is going to be chaos. Don't be surprised if it involves crackdowns inside the U.S. as well as inside Iran.

[LudwigPastorius]

32. "...will the people rise up and demand a Democracy?"

They are more likely to rise up and demand retribution.

Nothing brings internal enemies together like an external enemy.

[SSJVegeta]

77. Khamenei rejected his son as his successor months ago.

Largely the moderate Hassan Khomenei has been considered the most likely.

The assembly of experts will probably make the final decision within a few days.

[Buckeyeblue]

19. Is Trump going to declare himself the leader of Iran?

[ananda]

60. I wouldn't be surprised.

I expect it will be like Venezuela, by proxy.

[thought crime]

73. Or "Supreme Leader" of America?

[Kingofalldems]

30. Should we now genuflect before Trump?

[WarGamer]

31. Of course not... but it's ok to hope for Democracy to emerge from all of this

[BannonsLiver]

34. It looks like that ship sailed in the content of the Op.

[gulliver]

33. Good riddance to bad trash

I'm hoping the Iranian people finally get the freedom we all deserve

[Jspur]

35. From what I have read Iran has set up multiple levels of succession on

who becomes the leader after Khamenei gets killed. It's not as simple as killing him or his family that you can instantly install a puppet leader. Iran has set it up in a way that there is large tree of leaders that follow if one is assassinated. For example lets say Leader A is suppose to replace Khameni and gets killed then there is Leader B ready to take the spot and if B gets killed then they have C, D, E, F, G, etc.

[Arazi]

53. This. Plus the IRGC is deeply embedded into every aspect of life and industry

There’s a vast network of upper echelon Iranian fanatics to get through before Reza Pahlavi could even think of being installed into a leadership position

[fujiyamasan]

36. I'd wait until a third party confirms

I just don’t trust the US/Israel, and certainly not Iranian propaganda.

As for the Ayatollha, fuck that guy. I wish the Iranian people had the satisfaction of being responsible for his death. Let’s hope that a few other 80 something year old leaders meet their fate soon.

[Boo1]

37. I've got a few thousand years of history

That make me think democracy won't spring up.

[BannonsLiver]

40. But surely this time it will work!

[dpibel]

39. That's a big but ya got there

I don't...but...

There's this other person who says "I can't say this" and then says it. I'm trying to call the name to mind.

[W_HAMILTON]

42. You once claimed to be ""anti-war consistently," right?

[WarGamer]

67. I didn't support the war just hoping something good comes of it. See the difference?

[W_HAMILTON]

74. Nope, I do not!

So, let me get this straight, this military action that you sound downright giddy about, have you spoken out against it?

Are you calling for it to stop?

If it were up to you, this guy that you were so happy to see assassinated, would he still be alive today?

[Raine]

45. GOOD!!! nt

[Iggo]

51. Shrug. (Also...GOOD! But still...)

Next man up.

[Seeking Serenity]

54. I truly hope some front-line commanders (colonels, majors, etc) really consider the offer of immunity.

The people of Iran have truly suffered enough over the past 47 years.

[Melon]

55. If true I'm happy for the Iranian people.

There will be celebrations in Iran and abroad for Iranians whoever wanted to return to Iran someday.

[Tarc]

59. Good

That is all.

[mvd]

70. Would be better news if..

1) The Trump administration wasn’t so incompetent and corrupt

2) Iran had any history of democracy

3) If these Middle East wars ever turned out well

[mr715]

75. Brother

I am worried about the UN in the wake of this.

You and I agree on a lot: I don't know where this leads.

[Ferrets are Cool]

76. So what? He will be immediately replace by someone just as bad or worse.

Regime change brought on by 'Merica never works out good for the involved country.

[Shrek]

85. That's okay

If he's dead then the world is slightly better than it was.

[Ferrets are Cool]

95. No, it's not ok. It's illegal. We are supposed to be a nation of laws.

[Raine]

87. They still have to scrounge someone up

one less evil person off this earth is a good thing