"Could something like this ever happen in Egypt?” And the answer from everyone at the table was, of course, “no.” It couldn’t happen anywhere in this region. Could a Copt become president of Egypt? Not a chance. Could a Shiite become the leader of Saudi Arabia? Not in a hundred years. A Bahai president of Iran? In your dreams." Yes, and these scenarios are as unlikely as electing a Muslim president of the U.S. Friedman could not tell that he was undermining his own point here. (thanks Guilherme)