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.
Steinberg emphasizes the importance of supporting democratic forces in Libya.
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More from James B. Steinberg
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.
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.
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.