NATO could very well intervene in Libya *if* the situation persists. It would have to persist for a while for NATO to be able to mobilize in terms of decision-making (not physically, but for NATO peoples to start calling for military action), and persistence is unlikely, either the people will be cowed off or will succeed in offing Qaddafi before NATO (or any other group) can act.

Basically it would have to become protracted civil war, and even then the odds of intervention are dicey (Algeria's had 20-year protracted civil war and nobody's done anything, but that's because the Military Dictators are the western-aligned ones, and Algeria would go Iran on us if we actually let the Democrats win)

its quite interesting whats going on in these arab countries,i wonder where it will end

it could get completely out of control

personally i believe these countries should be ruled by whoever they want to be ruled by,how they get there i have no idea but it aint going to be pretty

If there's a revolt in Saudi Arabia, all bets are off...

GADAFFI HAS LEFT LYBIA!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358972/Libya-protests-Gaddafi-fled-Venezuela-air-force-attacks-civilians.html

WHOOT!

(Yeah, its the Daily Mail, but this is a great glimmer of hope!)

It may or may not be true.

There have been reports over the last 2 days that he left for Venezula with Huge Chavez denying it.

Actually maybe they've changed it since you read it, but they basically say he's still in Libya.

He's appeared on state TV saying he's still in Libya. But he's finished, there is almost literally no chance for him now. He has lost the eastern cities entirely, most of his diplomatic leaders are abandoning ship and I can't see violence stopping the revolution at this point.

The violence is a brutal last gasp, but the military will probably abandon ship in the near future too - already there are strong rumours of mass defection.

Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan and others are just as interesting. It appears they may offer enough reform to stabilise their countries. It's still a victory for the protesters, just without the chaos.

Right now, there is little to no chance for a mass revolt in Saudi Arabia to start. The general public is satisfied with the way things are at the moment.

I was speaking subjectively.

But objectively...the protestors did take down the Benghazi airport, for a start.

Saudi students are taught that revolutions are Haram and that you have to accept what the king does even if it's wrong. Saudi Shiokh stated that what happened in Egypt is bad and destructive. Despite increasing unemployment rate, people have their lives easy there. Zero chance for a mass revolt unless Shee'a get REALLY frustrated.

The problem right now seems to be foreign mercenaries replacing the military. In fact, some military units are reportedly fighting the mercenaries hired by Gaddafi.

As some commentators are saying, it looks like Gaddafi saw what happened in Egypt (military refusing to shoot fellow citizens), and took the option of hiring foreigners to do the "job".

Let's hope the next dictator in a revolting country (there seem to be at least a dozen in the queue) doesn't take an even more radical option.