A desperate Tunisian fruit and vegetable vendor immolated himself on Dec. 17, 2010, setting off a chain of demands for dignity and a better life. The past four years in the Arab world have seen vast turmoil, and the end is not yet clear.

Libyan popular and political support for engaging the international community offers the U.S. and Western partners an opportunity to help stabilize a North African energy producer and encourage orderly political change.