James B. Steinberg

Qadhafi had lost the legitimacy to lead, and he had to go to allow the Libyan people to reclaim their own future.

The international community is increasingly united around a shared insistence that Qadhafi must go.

Qadhafi, his family and his regime have lost all legitimacy. They must go so that the Libyan people can determine their own future.

The clear message was that a democratic, inclusive transition had to take place.

I think the more we engage and are seen to support their legitimate aspirations and to work with the progressive and tolerant democratic forces, the better chance that what emerges in the post-Qadhafi era will embody those things.

I think, going on to your broader question, part of the reason we've done this as an international coalition is that we don't have the full burden and responsibility for this.

I think there is an opportunity here for us to shape this, to engage with the constructive elements that are there that want to be associated, that want to embrace the values that were in the Transnational National Council's statement.

We have made clear that we thought that the election was not conducted fairly, openly, that we spoke out against the oppression, we spoke out against the violence.

We will support and encourage governments that meet the basic tests of tolerance, inclusiveness and openness.

We think it has been an enormously helpful tool, and it has had enormous impact in helping us to galvanize the international community to take steps to put additional pressure on Iran.

I feel very confident that the voices in the streets in Tahrir Square are not voices that are--voices that are looking to al-Qaeda as their salvation.