Do you think that real world education in islamic countries would break the back of ruling mullahs? It seems that their version of an education is that is memorizing the koran, the mullah's interpretation of it, and to be a faithful follower of muhammad, a constant state of war against non-believers is your duty. That is hardly an education that prepares one for industrial advancement, public service, scientific marvels, or civil engineering. The mullah's and elites send their wealthy cohorts to western schools for those few, while the fifth century shops, infrastructure, schools, and public works just stay stagnant. How do you get that lower class(the masses)a modern education? I'm not saying to eliminate their religious heritage, but to supplement it with "moving it forward".
Strange as it sounds, the very things we Americans consider one of the factors of apathy/lethargy in our young is a good influence here as far as modernization goes. That would be cable and satellite TV and the internet.
The young people in Middle Eastern countries that have some modicum of freedom are growing up and wanting a more modern society. Even the revolts in Iran (and I don't believe we've seen the last of that by any means) were spurred by young people getting glimpses of the outside world via satellite and internet.
It's not a sure thing by any means, but it's a glimmer of hope in a world where Muslim leaders have become increasingly power-hungry and tend to grow more irrational as time moves forward.
I remember the day in 2005 when I saw two young Iraqi guys painting a building. They were grooving to some (excruciating) blend of Arabic music and hip-hop blaring out of their radio and were dressed in Hilfiger, Nike and Reebok stuff and I smiled, thinking, "Ah...we're bearing fruit!". Now, they walk around bopping to iPods and texting on their smart phones, dressed just like Americans - the women included. The more they emulate westerners, the more I believe it has to be a good thing. These are the people who would, I hope, ultimately reject an Islamic regime.