The Iraqi elections were a success because they happened. The Shiite 'secular' slate will take power as expected. The power of democracy is a scary thing. In some countries in the region democracy would mean a scary government comes to control, because religious fundamentalism is so pervasive in the 'middle east'. In Egypt a free election might result in an Iran-style regime. In Saudi Arabia a free election would shock the West because the fundamentalists would easily win in the home of Islam. Would we be prepared for that? The introduction of free voting into the middle east raises these questions.