When our pilot was shot down, how come the rebels served him tea instead of chopping off his head?
Maybe because the rebels are not al-qaeda?
The same reason that the Arab League supported the Taliban, which used al Qaeda as its Praetorian Guard, and provided training grounds for aspiring jihadists - as long as it's not within their respective countries, it's not their problem. There's also the possibility that the Saudi King Abdullah (who likely nurses a grudge against Gaddafi because Gaddafi tried to have him assassinated in 2003) has bought off all the other Arab League members with large gifts of cash.
When our pilot was shot down, how come the rebels served him tea instead of chopping off his head?
For the same reason that Stalin accepted Lend Lease aid in WWII. Our adversaries are always glad to accept our help against their adversaries.
Note that the Saudi King Abdullah is 87 this year and is rumored to have recently suffered a stroke. I would suspect the guy’s not thinking too clearly. Maybe his last wish is to have Gaddafi killed, no matter what the long term consequences are for the al Saud family.