Tunisia and Egypt have huge protests in order to gain freedom and democracy.
Both succeed in throwing out their leaders.
Libya tries the same and, so far, fails.
Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians and Tunisians flee Libya and ask their governments to repatriate them.
But there are no governments.
They have been overthrown.
So thousands die.
Oh well, at least they die free.

Homer Simpson, where are you when we need you?

Doh.

So - say 60% of Libyans support Gaddafi whilst 40% protest against him; why should the west gang up against him? Because the media tells them too of course. It's a good story.

I do wonder whether, if we now offer large sums from our taxes to support the poor downtrodden Libyans to overthrow their beastly leader, some Brits might start to question the wisdom of always doing what the media says (of course, with great skill the media will reverse and join in the howls of protest against the vile Libyan scroungers).