The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[oldberkeley]

Again, it's all about air power. Benghazi is currently emptying out; the rebels and all who supported them (and that's a whole other story, the reprisals will be horrifying) have only two choices: leave the city or see it leveled, which Gadhafi will not hesitate to do.

From the WSJ article, IMO this has been the key behind-the-scenes factor (bolding mine):

China, facing its own civil unrest, has been cool to a military measure that would support antigovernment rebels in a region in widespread tumult. China, this month's Security Council president, also wouldn't want to jeopardize construction and oil contracts with the Gadhafi government...