#Libya Stalemate? As Demonstrations Spread to Middle East

The "Battle of Tripoli", which seemed all but certain only a few days ago, hasn't happened. Gaddafi offers to negotiate with the opposition, as the Western journalists are treated by the regime to a tour of sunny Tripoli, where foods are abundant in the market, streets are clean, and people cheering for Gaddafi.

Will Gaddafi succeed in convincing the West that everything is under HIS control, that some minor skirmishes are unfortunate but nothing to worry about, yes he's been bad sometimes, but C'mon, he's been like that for 42 years and the West know it?

Maybe. Whether he can convince Libyans is totally another matter.

The images from Al Jazeera Libya Blog 2/28/11:

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