Libya: Benghazi unrest, to Civil War, to a new government and Gaddafi's death.

[lowtech redneck]

In Egypt, there's a strong, secular force that have a respect in society: armed forces.

The army is only 'secular' in comparison to the Muslim Brotherhood (and didn't they just slaughter a bunch of Copt protesters?); frankly, I highly doubt any powerful segment of a country in which 84% of the Muslim population support the execution of apostates could be a considered a 'secular' force.

I'm not optimistic about Egypt (I do consider the overthrow of Mubarak and the NDP to have been necessary, in light of their regime only making the Islamist problem worse over time, but that doesn't mean the replacement will be anything but terrible for decades to come).

[lowtech redneck]

I, naturally, am happy to see another tyrant fall. I regret that it was so bloody, but with Gaddafi's regime being what it was there was never any chance of it being otherwise...

I'm also filled with a warm gleeful feeling thinking of how upset Gaddafi's international buddies are - the thought of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Evo Morales, Rafael Correa, and Robert Mugabe screaming over this makes me smile.

I wonder what the Shinners think of this?

Ortega, Morales and Correa were elected democratically, so your attempt to tie them with Gaddhafi and Mugabe is a fail of epic proportions.

Wasn't Chavez also democratically elected?

Yes, he is a democratically elected tyrant in control of an illiberal democracy that oppresses the opposition.

[lowtech redneck]

FDR committed crimes against humanity against his own people?

um, well, now that you mention it...*

*The internment of Japanese-Americans pales in comparison, but I couldn't resist.

[lowtech redneck]

Most others use them with a combination of other law systems and some (including Indonesia, the biggest Muslim country) use them only in family law.

Two things:

1.) Its most important to evaluate what aspects of Shariah law are incorporated into the total body of law, how explicit that incorporation is, and which laws have precedence over conflicting laws.  For example, no matter how much English common law is incorporated into their system, Pakistan is still governed by Shariah law where it counts (with the probable exception of interests rates).

2.) You also have to see how the laws are enforced; laws regarding religious freedom (already somewhat deficient by American standards) and religious equality are commonly ignored in Indonesia, and Ahmadis and Christians in most areas of the country suffer discrimination and effectively cannot even worship freely.