John Kerry actually said...

"We are also--and I emphasize this--we are not starting from scratch."

"With our support, after several weeks of complex negotiations, President Masum nominated Haider al-Abadi to serve as Prime Minister."

"We must not repeat the mistakes of the past, given the nature of the threat we face."

"We must be clear-eyed about the risks before providing our enduring support for this operation."