As he prepares to give up his office, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is using what remains of his public platform to protect his followers and try to leave a lasting legacy in the Islamic Republic.
In his speech Sunday [Feb. 10] marking the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Ahmadinejad used a slogan — "Viva Spring" — that sought to piggyback on the Arab uprisings of the past two years and suggest that Iran would likewise benefit from greater transparency in government.