Gaddafi now Mayor of Tripoli--Not For Long

Yesterday began Operation Mermaid Dawn when Nato aircraft covered for the Libyan opposition fighters as they headed for the final showdown in Tripoli. As of now, the opposition forces have entered Green Square in the center of the capital city. As the forces began coming in from the West, thousands of Libyans poured into the streets to greet them. This is the difficult end-game as the strategy was always to make Gaddafi the mayor of Tripoli and end his 41-year rule.

Qaddafi's close confidente and recent defector, ex-Prime Minister Abdes Salam Jalloud told the Italian press this morning that it was too late for Qaddafi to make a deal. It would all end when Qaddafi is killed. "The regime has a week left,10days at most," he said.

Qaddafi's version of Baghdad Bob, the head of intelligence, cried that the attack on Tripoli was "NATO being led by Al Qaeda."

Meanwhile Mu-ammar himself speaking in English or maybe through an interpreter said," I am with you in this battle,I am among you now, I am there with my weapon. We shall never give up."

While clashes have erupted between opposition forces and Gaddafi's militia, it appears that regular army soldiers are laying down their arms and surrendering their bases. On-the-ground observers believe that there will be severe fighting in the hours and days ahead as neighborhoods are liberated and the noose tightens.

The end will come none too soon as the NATO operations are scheduled to end shortly and for any extension it would then take another vote of the NATO partners to continue. Conditions in Tripoli itself have steadily worsened over the last few months as food prices have skyrocketed and oil has been rationed.

Al Jazeera deserves kudos for their live-blog and Michigan professor Juan Cole wins the tweet award for his coverage of the Libyan revolution. The Guardian did an excellent job but I found the BBC seemed to lag behind events.

Cobbling together a transition government will be difficult because the opposition in the last few weeks has experienced in-fighting and the eruption of tribal conflicts.

Assad next!