More like RC-135 and EP-3 SIGINT missions...they’ve been flying missions in the Med for years, out of RAF Mildenhall (USAF) and Souda Bay, Crete (USN). Just a matter of increasing the frequency of the missions.
Joint STARS would be marginally useful in this type of conflict, fought mostly by small units. AWACS could be used to monitor Libyan Air Force activity, although tracking attack helos at low altitude is more difficult. Global Hawk and U-2s are probably providing much of the tactical imagery coverage.
For those who are worried that we are getting a big flood of Libyans, don’t fret. Except possibly on the Tunisian border, most of those leaving are foreign contract workers, being returned to their home countries: 30,000 Chinese; many Bangladeshi; Egypt has about 1 million workers there, many trying to get out; Pakistanis; various African nationals who are suffering by being confused with the African mercenaries that Kaddafi is bringing in; etc.
Regarding the price of oil, here is an article recounting some of the nuances of that problem. Reading between the lines, I wonder if the affected oil companies are dithering to help drive up the price and their profits. I should think it would be fairly easy to set up some sort of escrow account for oil payments until there is actual stability, and use some for food and medicine to be brought in. With 1 or 2% of the world market and our own Cushing, OK overflowing with oil, the run up in price of gas seems excessive:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703386704576186361903201684.html?ru=MKTW&mod=MKTW