Most of the population is Shia, with a strong religious bent. We probably didn't help things either, but when Mr. Hussein came down there really wasn't anybody in the wings ready to take his place.

By middle eastern standards the Iraqi population was educated, secular and moderate prior to the war. The war seems to have done a lot to radicalize the population and put the most radical into power.

I suspect that any government that would have been created to replace Saddam would have had some religious trappings. But suspect that the US invasion has created one that is more overtly and dedicated then would have replaced Saddam or his sons after and internal collapse.

Jay