I also think Teribus has made some very good points. If you assassinate one tribal potentate, another quickly rises in his place...in this case, it would be Kadhafi's son, of course...and if the son was then assassinated, another such would rise in his place, and right out of the same tribal power structure.

Teribus also says "As far as the armed forces of the Arab countries go it should be remembered that they are there not to protect the country from an external aggressor, they exist to protect the ruling caste."

Yes......okay....but it's overstating the case a little. ;-) What I mean is, yeah, their number one purpose is definitely to protect the ruling caste and keep the domestic public in line....but that doesn't mean that they will not at least attempt to resist an external aggressor...or to launch an external aggression of their own...if given the orders to do so. They most certainly will do both, because it's part of their job. The only question is how effectively will they do it? I doubt that the Libyan Army would do it very effectively.