It is probably worth noting that the best Qaddafi can likely hope for with his current tact is to restore a state of forced suppression over the insurgency. To reset the conditions of failure. The conditions of insurgency will remain quite high, and having had a whiff of liberty this is not a populace that will quit their pursuit of liberty after a "whiff of grape."
The people may re-engage violently, or as is often the case, become more organized and pursue more effective non-violent means to better leverage popular support with international legal organizations.
Qaddafi will likely offer up some lame, inadequate concessions, much as the Saudis are currently doing. My advice to all of these nervous despots is that now is not the time to be tight-fisted. Either have the balls to totally and ruthlessly crush your own populace so that they dare not complain; or in the alternative concede that the royal party is over and that it is finally time to give the people some means to legally affect government, listen to their concerns, and make reasonable concessions on important issues. There is little tolerance in today's information age for option one, so best to go with option two. Most will be able to retain power if this is how they go.
For American leaders, stop staring at Libya and wringing your hands. Step back, look at the big picture, and act. This is far bigger than Libya, and in that context the US absolutely has interests at stake. But remember that what we do here sets a precedent for when similar events unfold in Yemen or Saudi, etc. As Jim Rome says on his sports radio show "Have a take, and don't suck!"
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