I think I read somewhere there is speculation that he is the Mahdi.
I hadn't heard that. Do you have a link? Ahmadinejad's a true believer follower type, not a Mahdi type. The frenzy's making edge Muslims believe the Mahdi's here, or close. It adds danger.
Islam's hitting a wall and desperation will bring it all out. Something will step into the void. Real or not. Instability is part of change - scary when so much is on the table...