April 21st, 2009 // comments (0)

Misinformation In Iran: Ahmadinejad Welcomed Home – Update: Additional Videos Added

Take a look at that epic walkout video from yesterday and tell me where the ‘standing ovation‘ part begins. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received a ‘sensational welcome‘ home if you are to believe the Iranian press. Iranian bloggers seem to disagree with the state media, they call the appearance an ‘embarrassment‘. Then again, they can be dealt with as well.

Update: There’s some controversy over the ’standing ovation’ line. I’ve taken a long look at the video below which shows that Ahmedinejad did get some applause on the way in. Yet, once the Iranian president uttered the more controversial parts of his speech, cheers turned to jeers and dozens of diplomats walked out. The handful of people clapping for him after this point certainly don’t amount to a ’standing ovation’. In fact, the entire time he is speaking the majority of the crowd is booing him loudly. In all, you would have a hard time painting a rosy picture of the performance unless you had an axe to grind. He looked amateurish and unpopular. He came off as more of a rable rouser than a leader.

If you want to take issue with the source of the above video, fine. Here’s an alternate version. This is the full speech and it shows the applause at the end. There was no standing ovation in the sense that what the Iranian President said was not supported by anything even close to a majority in the room.

Related:

• December 21, 2009 -- IRAN HIKER SENTENCING
• June 5, 2009 -- Iran’s Coming Election: Things Are Heating Up In Persia
• April 20, 2009 -- The Ahmedinejad Walkout: Western Envoys Leave En Mass
• April 20, 2009 -- Clown-Wigged Protester Interrupts Ahmadinejad’s U.N. Speech
• March 6, 2009 -- Shoe Tossed At Iran’s Ahmadinejad
• January 28, 2009 -- Ahmadinejad’s Idea Of U.S. ‘Change’
• January 3, 2010 -- DESERT EXILE PUNISHMENT
• December 28, 2009 -- OBAMA ON IRAN PROTESTS
• December 14, 2009 -- IRAN TO TRY AMERICANS
• December 9, 2009 -- IRANIAN MEDIA OUTRAGE