The Libyan Nightmare
"(W)hat Libya is providing is a dystopian version of the euphoric, utopian "velvet revolutions" in Egypt and Tunisia, since this military, or at least significant parts of it, appears to have no compunction in unleashing its firepower on unarmed demonstrators. There is a degree of unscrupulousness and recklessness at work in the Qaddafi regime's response that was simply missing in Tunisia and Egypt and only briefly glimpsed, and in a very limited manner, in Bahrain. But this is what it looks like when the state won't restrain itself and at least some key elements of the military, mercenaries or otherwise, will take orders to open fire on unarmed demonstrators."
There is a chance that Qaddafi will cut and run. There's also a chance that he will unleash wholesale slaughter. Libya is a partial answer to those of you who ask whether we should have waited for the people of Iraq to overthrow Saddam. There would have been very few people left by the time that particular revolution burned itself out. Just ask the Kurds.