Read about Libya, the situation in Tripoli and Benghazi, and about the background (oil revenues, unequal distribution, etc.) on [Juan Cole’s website, “Informed comment”](http://www.juancole.com). Much analysis and many links, for instance to Al-Jazeera (Arabic). Or go to [Al Jazeera English](http://english.aljazeera.net/). According to [this *NYT* article](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/world/africa/22libya.html?_r=1&hp), the Qaddafi regime has been hiring planeloads of mercenaries from other African nations for about ten days now, arming them, and using them for repression. Many victims, but no reliable count. The use of mercenaries is rampant in the modern world: see Bahrein also, and the US in Irak, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.