It's quite possible that most Libyans prefer the rebels. On the other hand it is also possible that most Libyans prefer Gaddafi. Nobody in public life or the media seem in the least interesting in addressing this question, or looking seriously at what kind of Libya is likely to emerge if the rebels win. Those are important questions.

Either way it's pretty clear that the only possibility of a military victory by the rebels would lie with pretty massive military intervention that would go far beyond trying to prevent civilian casualties - and which would in fact, as in Iraq or Afghanistan, involve inflicting very sizeable civilian casualties. Even if that were seen as desirable, it isn't on the cards.

Some kind of stalemate ceasefire probably with a de facto partition seems to be the most likely outcome. Since the oil, and therefore the money, is in the East, that doesn't leave Gaddafi with a great deal to play with, and his prospects of holding on for very long do not seem that great.