It’s hard to know where to start with the uprising in Libya.

Since the Libyan”day of rage” last week (February 17), tensions have dramatically escalated in the North African nation (which shares its eastern border with Egypt).

After 42 years under the regime of Colonel Gaddafi (or Kadaffi, Quadafi, Gaddaffi, Kaddifi, Qaddafi… see our post on that matter here), the Libyan people have grown restless.

Why? Because of (what else?) government corruption, extremely high unemployment (like, 30%), and Libyan oil money that doesn’t find its way to the nation’s people or  infrastructure.

Libya  also has a very young population, and these guys have lost faith in their government. (I mean, democracy would help with that, but Gaddafi isn’t such a fan.)

The mainstream media was slow to embrace this story. The fact that the Libyan government has blacked out channels of communication didn’t help.

When Gaddafi started using mercenaries and the air force to attack demonstrators, the Internet started bursting at the seams with tweets, blog posts, and video of the massacre. (That word is not an overstatement!)

While Egypt and Tunisia’s uprisings brought about regime change, there is reason to be concerned that Libya’s leadership won’t go down so quickly.

Gaddafi’s son, Seif Gaddafi, took to the airwaves (as reported here by The Atlantic) to give an alarming indication of the relentless assault the government will wage against its protesting people:

“We will not lose one inch of this land,” he warned. “We will flight to the last man and woman and bullet.” His father, he said is “leading the battle” and will hold on to power “by any means necessary.” He echoed the same vague, hollow promises made by Egypt’s Mubarak and Tunisia’s Ben Ali, adding, in the dramatic and menacing flair his father has honed for decades, a threat. “We will tomorrow create a new Libya. We can agree on a new national anthem, new flag, new Libya. Or be prepared for civil war.”

Gaddafi is flaunting his continued presence in the nation’s capital, Tripoli, calling news stations reporting that he has fled “dogs.”

Gaddafi in Tripoli. Courtesy of Libyan state TV.

No word yet on what the U.S. will do in response, except that Secretary Clinton has joined in the international conversation condemning Gaddafi and his treatment of the people.

The Washington Post reports that the U.S. must step carefully here, because it does not have the “leverage” of a strong relationship with Libya to influence the outcome.

The situation in Libya is changing by the hour and you can keep up-to-date on the goings-on at Al Jazeera English’s live blog or with the UN Dispatch’s recommended Twitter accounts for reliable news. This great Mother Jones article has helped keep us in the loop on the background of the conflict and is updating regularly as well.

We will keep you informed.