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After the U.S. invasion of Iraq Qaddafi agreed to give up his WMD programs and sponsorship of terrorism. This happened not just because Qaddafi feared George Bush but also because the Libyan economy was on the skids. This was due in part from years of economic sanctions and the pariah image.

In 2005 Qaddafi invited Western oil companies back into Libya and they responded. These include ConocoPhillips, Marathon, Hess, Occidental, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and others. Since then Libya has been going through a slow transformation from socialism to a free market economy. European and U.S. businessmen have helped in creating a real estate and development industry based around miles of Mediterranean beaches and mild climate.

This has boosted the Libyan entrepreneur class. It was reported at the beginning of the insurrection that it was being financed in part by Libyan businessmen engaged in the illegal transportation of African migrants to Europe. When Qaddafi tilted to the West he agreed to crack down on this trade to placate the UN and EU.

I think the revolt was also spurred on by British Petroleum who was secretly negotiating with an ad hoc group of Libyan dissident groups to get cheaper oil if Qaddafi was overthrown.

So I think there is a large group of Libyans who want a capitalistic, secular society as opposed to a theocracy. They just elected a moderate government. And one way for the rabid dogs to attack the new government happened of Sept. 11.