This is an interesting article that originated in the Los Angeles Times about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It goes beyond his inflamitory rhetoric and dicusses what's been going on in Iranian politics. To make a long story short, Ahmadinejad is struggling. He's having trouble getting his policies and ministerial appointments approved. He also offended some muslims by seeming to claim that he was divinely inspired during a speech, which ius a no-no.
I found as I was reading it, that much of it sounded familiar. Then it struck me. This guy sounds like Bush. He hides his incompetence behind a screen of religion. I get the feeling about Ahmadinejad, just as I have about Bush, that the religious rhetoric isn't a result of deeply held belief, but is a political posture.
Fundamentals of Politics Challenge Iranian Leader