WORLD NEWS: "Gaddafi's son takes role as defender of liberty: North Africa; Saif al-Islam has been cultivating his image as a champion of reform in autocratic Libya," by Heba Saleh, Financial Times, 23 April 2010.

The man is certainly getting out there--at least rhetorically.

Saif is the second eldest of the Colonel's seven male children (I myself am the 6th of 7, so I know from where he stands), but the only one getting himself a public profile in anticipation of the Old Man's passing. One older brother is considered his chief competition. That one heads the security service.

Hmm. Gotta like those odds.

So far, the external judgment is, the guy is real, as are his efforts. But so far his accomplishments are more cosmetic than structural, primarily because Gaddafi the Elder does not appear to back him whatsoever in his pursuits.

So we wait and wish him well.