Every leader is surrounded by 300-1000 core supporters. In dictatorships, these are the key people who hold high level positions, such as head of security, senior general of the army, etc. Their positions of power and wealth depend on their collective support leader. There is an outer circle, men whose wealth depends on the leader.
Any “leader” can be toppled when their core support ends. When their circle sees more advantage for themselves by abandoning the leader. This maxim was shown in Nixon; in Haiti; in Egypt; in Tunisia.
Qaddifi will be gone in two hours if every villa along the Mediterranean coast of his supporters is attacked. Actually, it has more impact if every third villa gets a missile (less expensive, and greater worry).
The key concept is that his inner and outer circles have to see that their best choice is with a different leader. A vacuum is never a viable alternative. But Quaddaffi wil leave only when his supporters see their best options somewhere else.
Excellent analysis!
Qaddifi will be gone in two hours if every villa along the Mediterranean coast of his supporters is attacked. Actually, it has more impact if every third villa gets a missile (less expensive, and greater worry).So waging war on civilians is now our culture? When did we resign from Christendom?