On the other hand, we're getting a better look at the consequences of an overriding desire for "neatness" (a.k.a. "political stability") and they're hardly any prettier. I recognise that the record of past revolutions demonstrates that they often end in tears, but at least they offer a chance of improvement in situations where the status quo is an open-ended succession of strongmen. As bloody as Iraq is, is anyone out there really willing to argue it's worse off than North Korea (once again primed for another catastrophic famine)? Somalia is even less of a poster child, but there's no question that parts of it (notably Somaliland) are doing far better than than they were under Siad Barre. If, say, Libya splits and only the eastern half the country transitions to a civil regime, at least that's another million and half people who have escaped tyranny.