Topic: Khomeini

Adam Curry shares details from a dinner with a Persian acquaintance regarding the current state of daily life in Iran. The report suggests that while the internet is heavily restricted, residents use various workarounds to communicate via WhatsApp. The conversation highlights social paradoxes in Tehran, including the prevalence of gay culture despite strict laws and the observation that hijabs are now more common in Amsterdam than in Tehran.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran is theorized to involve significant back-channel communication aimed at removing hardline military leaders. While high-profile figures like Qasem Soleimani and Hamas leaders have been eliminated, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains untouched. This strategy mirrors the end of WWII, where the U.S. preserved the Japanese Emperor to facilitate a formal surrender.

Pieczenik discusses the lead-up to the Iranian Revolution, claiming he warned the State Department to evacuate the embassy months before the hostage crisis. He resigned after refusing to join a delegation to see Ayatollah Khomeini. Following his resignation, he worked at the RAND Corporation to develop formal strategies for military, political, and cultural regime change.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirms the administration is submitting a petition to the FCC to clarify Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The move follows a New York Post report by Ebony Bowden regarding Twitter's refusal to remove tweets from Iran's Supreme Leader while simultaneously flagging President Trump's posts. The proposed regulatory changes aim to hold social media companies liable as publishers if they engage in political censorship or editorializing.

Kayleigh McEnany highlights Twitter's alleged bias by comparing the platform's rapid fact-checking of President Trump to its reluctance to label misinformation from Chinese officials or the Ayatollah of Iran. The White House argues that Twitter allows foreign adversaries to spread conspiracy theories about the coronavirus while aggressively targeting American conservative speech.

BBC reports suggested that the intelligence regarding an "imminent attack" by Soleimani was "razor thin" and based on travel patterns and intercepted "chatter." President Trump was reportedly presented with a "menu of options" by military planners, with the assassination of Soleimani being the most extreme measure. The President initially chose a more moderate path before escalating following the U.S. Embassy attack in Baghdad.

The Quds Force is described as an elite unit above the standard Iranian military with significant economic power derived from privatized industries and smuggling networks. A theory is proposed that the Iranian leadership, specifically Ayatollah Khomeini, may have wanted Soleimani removed due to his growing independent power. This suggests a "wag the dog" scenario where both U.S. and Iranian leadership benefit from the removal of a mutual rival.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress, warning of the threat posed by Iran. Netanyahu highlighted the Iranian Supreme Leader's use of Twitter to call for the annihilation of Israel. The hosts mock Netanyahu's focus on "tweets" as a primary security concern and his dramatic rhetorical style.

Newly disclosed CIA files confirm the United States provided satellite imagery to Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War despite knowing he would use nerve gas. An Iranian filmmaker discusses the long-term health effects on victims and the historical ignoring of UN investigations into these attacks. The segment highlights the perceived hypocrisy of current U.S. stances on chemical weapons.