USA Africa Dialogue Series - Did the West Engineer the Fall of Gaddafi?

I keep coming across claims that the West engineered the fall of Libya's Gaddafi but I recall things differently.

My own memory is that Gaddafi was a victim of his own stubbornness in his determination to spend his life as a dictator in Libya.

The Arab Spring was brewing, ignited by the self immolation of Muhammad Boazizi in Algeria over govt oppression.

Mubarak in Egypt tried to use the army against protesters.

The army eventually refused. Mubarak stepped down.

One or two other Arab/North African leaders did the same thing.

Saudi Arabia responded by bribing its own people with cash gifts to forestall demonstrations possibly demanding democratic rule and it worked.

The demonstrations reached Libya.

The demonstrators wanted a democratic govt.

Gaddafi had spent decades on the throne and seemed set to create a dynastic succession. 

He fought the demonstrators and civil war broke out.

There was no evidence of Western involvement to the best of my knowledge.

The West became involved when the tide turned against the rebels and Gaddafi was matching towards their last stronghold when the West struck, leading Gaddafi to take refuge in a safe house, from where he tried to escape upon which a Western fighter plane took out the vehicle he was escaping in upon which the Libyan rebels set upon him.

I see Gaddafi as incorrectly reading the tides of history against his own interests and that of his country.

Thanks 

Toyin 

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