Fighters in the early news stories out of Libya were wearing heavy jackets; now it's T-Shirts in the searing sun. But finally Gaddaffi's fate appears more certain. Tripoli is surrounded. Government ministers and military are defecting, each undoubtedly bringing new intelligence to the insurgents and deepening fear in Gaddaffi's circle.

Think of how Bashir Assad, in Damascus, must be viewing the news of Gaddaffi's peril. When Libya's prospective liberation is realized as fact, Syrian rebels will take fresh courage and determination. More arms from Iran and goons from Hezbollah in Lebanon won't change the calculus then.

If Syria goes, how long can Hezbollah hold on in Lebanon?

Pessimism is in vogue in the West today, given the economy and the seeming intractability of the Taliban. But as the tenth anniversay of 9/11 approaches, think of all the positive changes that have taken place in the MIddle East. Even the situation of Israel may be improving, thanks to its decade-long boom and an increasing technological prowess that--among other things--is allowing the tiny dynamo to create new defenses against the Iranians as well as Hamas. Bin Laden is dead. Saddam Hussen is gone and a democratic government operates in Iraq. Gaddaffi is failling fast. The end of the duplicitous Assad family would be an excellent new development.