Sowing the Spring

What happened to the 'Arab spring' ?

Was it a pure invention of the media as it made a nice story ? - the lovely idea of the 'people' overthrowing their autocratic rulers and establishing a British style democracy and then everyone getting on like a house on fire!

In Libya - our bombs - did they establish the fertile ground for this utopian vision while eradicating the dictator?
Maybe the bloody factional chaos between tribal/religious/ political/criminal groups is just a transitory stage with Isis the cherry on the cake soon to eat or be eaten!

Surely our government knew what it was doing? They see the big picture. They must do.