It may or may not be true that the Libyan Government is negotiating with the rebels. In some ways it is hard to believe since the Government has adopted a classic “loser” stance in its battle with the rebels. It knows it cannot win so it becomes more important to inflict damage on the other side then to try and negotiate a solution that would suit both sides.

That attitude is the product of the allies view towards Libya, which now seems resolved that Gaddafi should be removed by military force. The adoption of this attitude really leaves the Libyan Government with nowhere to go, because even if it tries to broker a peace with the rebels, the allies couldn’t stand by and allow a deal to be created which would somehow leave Gaddafi in power of some or all of the country. That would contradict all the military effort and expense of trying to remove him, and their very public statements about the need for Gaddafi to go.

So, as in day-to-day deal-making, the adoption of a very public “no compromise” approach, as the allies have adopted here, makes it hard for either side to negotiate a compromise in which they both get something out of a deal…