Clinton, Gates (& Tom) discuss the limits of Libyan action on ‘Meet the Press’

I was on Meet the Press yesterday, following Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates. I was struck at how frequently they emphasized the short-term, limited nature of the U.S. action in Libya, and how they used the past tense to discuss it: 

Gates: "I think that the no fly zone aspect of the mission has been accomplished."

Clinton: "I think we’ve prevented a great humanitarian disaster."

Gates: "we see our commitment of resources actually beginning to — to decline."

Gates: "in terms of the military commitment, the president has put some very strict limitations in terms of what we are prepared to do."

Gates: "I don’t think it’s [Libya]  a vital interest for the United States. But we clearly have interests there.  And it’s a part of the region, which is a vital interest for the United States."

I also was struck at how much more assertive Clinton seemed than Gates. A friend of mine calls this "State’s War."