The Road To Bahrain And Yemen Passes Through Libya

Simon Tisdall:

If Arab reform is to succeed, it needs more victories — and more scalps. Protesters in Bahrain, Algeria, Yemen, Oman and elsewhere who, like the opposition to Gaddafi, are pitted against intransigent and occasionally brutal regimes, must be watching Libya’s developing internal stalemate and the disjointed international response with dismay. The longer Gaddafi hangs on, the faster momentum behind the revolt across the rest of the Arab world may be lost.

In other words, if Gaddafi makes it and survives, he would be the first Arab dictator to find a successful formula against his people’s insurgence, and the rest will learn. Technically, he wouldn’t be the first; the Iranians have done it again and again, but I guess he’s referring to Arabs only..