When the governance of a country implodes, diplomats have to tread with care, not least because it is hard to identify who has power. In Libya Col. Gaddafi is still there, but how much he controls and who accepts his orders is far from clear. What is clear is that his country is a major producer of oil, without the flow of which the shortages and price hikes would risk a double dip recession. Everywhere the eyes of the world are turned anxiously to that convulsed country to see what will happen next.
Everyone hopes, especially Libyans hope, for an outcome of liberation. Meanwhile there is terrible bloodshed. Many of the innocent have died. Many more are willing to give their lives to end a tyrannical form of government entrenched for nearly half a century. It is hard nowadays to recall that Gaddafi came to power as a socialist liberator.This time round the international community must act together to ensure that in the various revolutions now sweeping the Arab world, one form of despotism is not replaced with another.