Just wanted to make sure you’re clear on that. Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, madman. That’s the take in the Arab world, as well, or certainly the part of it that is Abu Dhabi and the UAE … and certainly those who have been speaking out on Libya.

Everyone in this country seems pretty much convinced Qaddai is crazy as a bed bug.

After that speech the other day, which was described as a “rambling, 75-minute diatribe” in the pages of The National, perhaps the first speech of Qaddafi’s that much of the world actually paid attention to, I am fairly comfortable in asserting he has almost no supporters in this town.

Or, you could go to the Libyan embassy or consulate and see for yourself.

This week, demonstrators have turned up both at the embassy here in the capital, and also at the consulate in Dubai. Most of them appeared to be Libyans who, of course, are unhappy with the maniac who has ruled Libya since 1969. Yes: He’s had Libya under his thumb for 41-plus years, or 11 years more than Hosni Mubarak’s seemingly eternal rule over Egypt.

We continue to be fascinated and often moved by the People Power revolutions going on across North Africa and the Middle East. In Libya, especially, where we always knew the regime would fire on its own people without compunction, to rise against the government is certainly an act that can get a person killed. When a guy is OK with bringing in foreign mercenaries to keep himself in power, well, you can’t stoop lower.

We continue to see and read about Libyans wondering why “the world” isn’t helping them, perhaps not clear on the concept that a country that doesn’t allow anyone in is beyond the help of regular folks. The alternatives would be foreign intervention, and I don’t think anyone is up for that at the moment … though I would think Egypt’s military could roll over Libya in a couple of days … and then there’s always the taint that outside help leaves on any revolution.

I can’t speak for the UAE government, but the government has spoken for itself in a statement issued by the state news agency. “The UAE strongly condemns violence against civilians in Libya and demands that the Libyan authorities immediately stop using violence.”

So, even here the sense is we are in favor of regime change in Libya, even if we don’t know what direction it might take. With a guy like Qaddafi, a madman with guns, we’ll take our chances with anyone who isn’t him.