[Biggirl]

You forget that Americans are armed to the teeth.

[GonzoGOP]

You forget that Americans are armed to the teeth.

Armed to the teeth is a relative measure. Against union thugs or gang bangers the American people could hold their own. Against and M1A2 Abrams, AH-64 Apaches or just squadron level saturation bombardments by B-52s not so much. Unless you have a patriot missile system parked in your garage next to a battery of 155mm howitzers you are decidedly underarmed.

The key is the military. In Egypt the military sat it out, so the mob won. If the military sides with the dictator, you have what the Chinese did at Tienanmen square. If the military splits, as they apparently have done in Libya, you get a civil war.

If Qaddafi can retake the coastline he will have the country back in six months. If you control the oil you control the country. And if the rebels can't sell oil they can't resupply.