Qaddafi exit deal?

Here’s a FASCINATING DEVELOPMENT: Qaddafi trying to strike a deal for exit from the country and immunity from prosecution for himself and his family.

A few thoughts…

*He wouldn’t need the rebels’ permission to exit. He retains sufficient control of the airspace that he can go to Venezuela without their permission, if that’s his intention.

*Immunity from prosecution for himself and his family, that’s more serious. If the rebels agree to it and become the new government, then I suppose they’ll have to live by it.

*How much money does the family intend to spirit out of Libya? Will they be immune from embezzlement charges? Mubarak is not.

Let’s say all the details can be worked out. Would you make the deal? Just let Qaddafi stroll off into freedom with millions of dollars?

I probably would. A lot of lives can be saved, a potentially disastrous reversal averted, and Libya has enough regular oil revenue that the country can re-enrich itself fairly quickly, especially once that kleptocratic family is gone.

So yeah, at the moment I’d be inclined to accept the compromise and make a deal for him to leave.