Somehow, Qaddafi valiantly fighting against Al Qaeda backed rebels smells ludicrous ...

The fact that one person is associated with Al Qaeda and also the "Rebels" in Libya may be possible but I wouldn't draw an overall conclusion based upon one report.

It's well known that bin Laden and the Al Qaeda organization was invented and supported by the Carter Administration to defeat the Soviet Army in Afghanistan — it was a success too, a success that returned as our enemy.

My enemy's enemy is my friend — don't expect this to change anytime soon ...