Libyan opposition in Los Angeles

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Idris Traina is a long-time member of the Libyan opposition. He was jailed by Muammar Gaddafi as a young student in Libya, and he has been fighting back ever since.

Traina now lives in Los Angeles with his family, but he still considers himself an active member of the opposition.

"[Gaddafi] is clinically insane. He is just threatening people on TV, publicly in front of everyone. Saying that either I rule you for the rest of my life and the rest of my son's lives and forever, or I'm going to kill each and every one of you. And our people are just sick and tired of it," said Traina. "I'm sure of one thing, that he can never rule the Libyan people. I hope someone just shoots him or he shoots himself. I don't care," said Traina.

Now Traina's children are following in his footsteps. Traina's son is flying to Egypt this afternoon, then plans to cross the eastern border into Libya. Traina's daughter is already there.

"They are not alone. Many Libyans here and elsewhere, they are willing to sacrifice for this because they see the future of Libya. They want to end the suffering of the Libyan people under this regime."

Idris Traina's son, Mahmoud, is traveling to Libya with his friend, Tarik Ali. They are both doctors hoping to aid the victims of the rebellion.

Ali lost contact with his family living in the country's capitol, Tripoli, a week ago.

"It's scary. I know Libya on the east side, they're saying it's basically safe to go through the border, but we'll see. Its risky, but hopefully we'll be fine," said Ali.

Traina says the Libyan protesters were inspired by the demonstrations in Libya and Tunisia.

Middle East expert Laurie Brand says the rebellions across Northern Africa are tied together by deep political and economic dissatisfaction.

"In the case of Libya, you have a country that has tremendous oil wealth, and yet a lot of wealth has been squandered on foreign adventures or it has gone into the pockets of Gaddafi, his family, and a few people around him," said Brand. "Libya should be a rich country."

But the demonstrations in Libya have taken a different form than in the other Arab nations.

"It's much bloodier, much bloodier. And the fact that he's been willing to murder his own population suggests desperation, I mean he just unleashed lethal force from the beginning and we haven't seen anything like that in the region," said Brand.

Although the Gaddafi regime has already lost control over the Eastern part of the country, he still holds Tripoli.

"His days are numbered, but until Tripoli falls, the regime can't be said to be finished. I think in the end, the death toll will be in the thousands," said Brand.

The 68-year-old leader has been trying to cut off communication within the opposition, but Ali says he will try and stay in contact with Annenberg Radio News once he's on the ground.