Would Gadhafi's son be any better than his father?

Moammar Gadhafi's sons have proposed a peace plan for Libya that would push their father out of power, and initiate a transition to democracy under the dictator's second-oldest son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi. Saif has reportedly sent his top aide on a secret trip to London to discuss a possible deal with Western leaders. In the past, Saif, 38, has called for Western-style political and economic reforms, but since the rebellion broke out he has vowed to fight the opposition to the "last bullet." Would replacing the elder Gadhafi with his son help Libya heal, or would it merely prolong the war-torn nation's troubles?

Like father, like son: It is dangerously naive to suggest that Saif Gadhafi would be any better than his bloodthirsty dad, says Bryan Preston at Pajamas Media. Some media organizations may fawningly note that Saif prefers Western business suits to the distinctive tribal dress his father likes, and has devoted much of his attention to running a charity, Gadhafi Foundation. But don't be fooled. Saif has also been helping his dictator dad by using money stolen from the Libyan people to make his despicable regime "look good to a gullible world."

"CNN asks, 'Who is Saif Gadhafi?'"

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Saif would actually be an improvement: Don't focus too much on Saif's "bloodcurdling rhetoric" during the rebellion, says Tony Karon in TIME. He apparently realizes "the game is up," and the regime will never recover its old power. He and his siblings, "being a lot younger and more worldly than their father," might be looking to salvage what they can. "If so, that could present an opening, albeit fraught with peril, to bring a speedier end to the fighting."

"Is Gadhafi's regime seeking an exit strategy?"

It doesn't matter — Saif's plan won't fly: Saif proposal is "probably unworkable," says Simon Tisdall in The Guardian. The Western coalition is almost certain to reject a national unity government that includes any of Gadhafi's seven sons. They're simply "too tainted" to distance themselves from their father's regime now.

"Gadhafi's sons show psychological warfare is not all on the western side"