The problem in taking sides in a civil war is that the US doesn't really know who they are supporting. The so-called rebels might be just as dictatorial and authoritarian as Gaddafi.

The trouble is that when you try to resolve differences with weaponry, the risk is run
of an out-of-control outcome.

There are hawks who religiously subscribe to this mode of solving political problems but they create as many or more problems as they solve.

The biggest mistake they made in Egypt is to trust their military to make decisions.

The Egyptian military love to check that all their women are virgins.

What about the Second World War? Could it have been resolved differently?
Evidence is coming out now that says that it could have with a greater understanding of peaceful non-violent resistance. I refer everyone to Gene Sharp. He can be obtained by search engines.