Reply #17: I suspect NATO was the only reason the rebels seemed to have triumphed

[TomClash]

The ragtag rebel units were being routed when Britain, US and France went to the UNSC to get Resolution 173, claiming a humanitarian disaster was unfolding in Benghazi. Without the 20,000 sorties, significant MI6 and CIA forces on the ground and other material support, it is doubtful that the rebels win.

As an aside, the CIA intervention is not "intelligence" work as it is in other places. It is ex-SF guys on the ground, experienced in ground tactics, in several different locations. If the US and Brits had less than a company committed, I'd be surprised. I would wager the US force alone was battalion strength.

There will be one or more NATO bases in Libya but they will be under nominal LIbyan command, just like the rebel forces.

41 billion barrels of mostly light sweet crude, the largest oil reserves in Africa, are now back in the hands of the Empire. Libyan oil production was 1.6-1.8m b/d and will exceed prewar totals within a months when Schlumberger, OPS and others carve up the Libyan oil services market. Only fresh dollars smell better than light sweet crude.

Note how none of this will ever happen in Palestine.