The initial indecision and later the dithering of Barack Obama which resulted in the lack of any strategy regarding Libya has achieved what many thought would happen: a stalemate and a potential prolonged civil war.  It is becoming increasingly likely, short of voluntarily leaving for money and guarantees, that Moammar Gadhafi will not be removed.

The front is Libya is barely moving as the country remains split between rebels and Gadhafi's troops.  The rebels are complaining of not receiving enough air support, but NATO is hardly in a position to ramp it up after the withdrawals of US fighter jets.

Within NATO, there is also increasing frustration at the slow progress on the ground.  The seemingly rudderless attacking and fleeing of the untrained fighters in the face of government soldiers is causing Western allies to despair.  And this mutual disillusionment suggests that the second phase of the civil war is now beginning.  The situation which critics had feared from the start has now seemingly occurred: a stalemate.

"Libya appears to be sliding into a prolonged conflict with no light at the end of the tunnel" [per Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics]

Every day that Gadhafi remains in power, pressure is growing on Western politicians and military leaders.  The question of how long the intervention will last is increasingly being asked out loud.

No one has so far come up with an effective formula for ending the Libyan stalemate.  The Western-Arab alliance is hoping steadfastly for one of two outcomes: Either the rebels win a military conflict against all escalations, or Gadhafi voluntarily steps down.  Ether event would come as a surprise.

[Not getting rid of Gadhafi] would mean a loss of face, which no Western government wants.  The crucial question is:  Who has more patience, NATO or Gadhafi?