Libya had the highest standard of life (gdp per capita) in Africa
Lower than Gabon.
Libya had 40% more oil production per capita than Oman, yet 80% less GPD per capita!
That shows that your beloved Ghadafi was piece of a shyt of a ruler.
Don't compare Libya with Syria.
Your friends compared. They say that
Compare Gaddafi (pre war) Libya with post (war) Gaddafi Libya.
I compare civil war with Ghaddafi and situation after Ghaddafi was ousted. Its million times better now.
Thus I conclude that if we kick Assad situation will drastically improve in Syria.
The choice is obvious. It is better to live under dictatorship than in a war zone. The Libyans, Syrians and Iraqis can attest that.
Lets check 4 Arab spring countries:
Tunisia: Dictator fled immediately - virtually no bloodshed, country is fine
Egypt: Dictator used police, but no army - over thousand killed, many disturbances
,eventually country is fine.
Libya: Dictator used army, but was ousted after half year - tens of thousands killed, country split into two, economic crisis, but now is relatively calm and most of the refugees returned.
Syria: dictator used army, no action against him - 300,000 killed, 10,000,000 refugees, country is destroyed, 5 years of slaughter.