I’ve been torn on this one from the start. I despise Gaddafi, but he’s the known entity in a very volatile place. We know how to keep him contained.
If he’s overthrown, however... the possibility of a hardline, Iranian-style regime coming to power there is very real.
In a turbulent world, with a horrendously weak “leader” in the WH, with too much American firepower tied down in other regions, the (very unfortunate, but) “best” bet is leaving Gaddafi where he is.
When Al Qaeda is calling for Qadaffi’s overthrow, look out.