John Kerry actually said...

"we ought to at least acknowledge what would likely be happening in eastern Libya today, had Qadhafi's forces continued their march"

"They need help in setting up a justice system, courts, police, all of the elements of a functioning state."

"We must recognize that we face an all-too-familiar foreign policy conundrum: There is a large gap between the professed goals of the United States and the means we are prepared to devote to realizing ..."

"I would advise against taking this path. We cannot be confident of the agenda of the opposition toward either the Libyan people or various U.S. interests, including counterterrorism."