Let me see if I have this right. You believe that Saddam would have brought about the same reforms (only better) than an elected government should?
You believe because he said he was "secular" he would have avoided the fate of every other secular leaders in the area, like the Shah of Iran, Sadat in Egypt, the King of Jordan, Kaddaffi, the head of Syria, the government of Turkey? Hell, the fate of every "secular" country with a large moslem population.
And, on top of these insights, you agree with the laughably named "Age of Reason" that to appease the terrorists we should all live in caves like goat-herders. It's not so bad. We'll all be better for it.
Have I got that right? God, what is going on here? Has Moby sent out memos?
"would have brought"? He or rather BAATH regime (which was larger thing than personal rule of a dictator) DID BRING such reforms. That is why Iraqi population is one of the best educated in the region and that is why women were free to pursue professional careeers etc ...
The new government at best will preserve some of the westernizing reforms and very likely will make the Islamic law the supreme standard.
"the fate of every other secular leaders in the area, like the Shah of Iran, Sadat in Egypt, the King of Jordan, Kaddaffi, the head of Syria, the government of Turkey?"
Secular governments of Turkey, Libya and Syria are still in power.
Iran is a more complicated case. The whole mess started in 1953 when Mossadeq - the pro-American, secular leader of Iran with popular democratic support in his country tried to channel part of the oil profits to benefit his nation.
It was not liked in UK and US and shah was forcefuly imposed. Only then Iranians started gradual process of islamisation seeing in the mosque the way to secure the national independence. My prediction is that Shia Iran left to its own devices, (even with the nuclear power) will evolve to pro-Western position and will return to the natural equilibrium resembling Mossadeq aspirations.
General comment. My desire is to keep the facts straight and to understand what is going on.
LOL