Libya's Violent Rebellion & other ME revolutions

[Finnster]

I'm sure you all have watching the historic revolts in the ME, this the lastest wave of revolt in Libya. Gadhafi's has responded violently, but using airplanes, heavy weaponry, and african mercs to attack and kill protesters, in great contrast to what was seen in Tunisia and Egypt.

Should the rest of the world (really US/Europe) intervene to protect the protesters fighting and dying for freedom?

Personally not so hot into putting US troops on the ground (we have enough probs as is, and it's important for these revolutions domestic grassroots efforts) but seems like the west could/should enforce a no-fly zone and ramp up pressure on Libya. Italy is just across the Med, and likely in easy reach of western airbases. Two Libyian jets have already defected to Italy, as well as a number of Libyian diplomats are revolting.

I don't think we should intervene in the affairs of other countries, otoh we should hold to our ideals promoting freedom and democracy across the world, esp in the face of brutal dictators, with a history of terrorism (Lockerbie bombing) and WMD production.

We should be on the right side of history on this, and would seem a failure of western ideals to just stand by and let a murderer continue to plunder and repress his country when the entire region in on the cusp of a historic transformation (into what exactly we shall see.)