Problems with Islam and representative gov't

The problem with representative government in Islamic lands is becoming apparent in the Iraqi process of hammering out a constitution. The proposed constitution would read: "Islam is a main source for legislation and it is not permitted to legislate anything that conflicts with the fixed principles of its rules." If you read my post below, such a standard provides an open-ended mandate for things like prohibiting the use of credit cards (charging interest, it appears, is forbidden by the Quran--but wife-beating is "ok").

I have previously noted my belief that Muslims are only keen on a republican form of gov't when they are in the minority, and I read something similar just last evening in Islam Unveiled, by Robert Spencer.