How did Libya get into this war situation?

The semi-informal, risque socialist dictator thing seemed to work until he reached a certain age, and either 'let his eye off the ball' or attracted the opprobrium that comes with seniority. True, he always did do bad, bad things, but not on a scale that the West could claim to be totally 'other' from that of some of our own hapless 'world policing' adventures - and he obviously knew this.