WASHINGTON---Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, mulling a 2012 GOP presidential run, said Wednesday he would "not have intervened" in Libya. And the White House muddled message on the outcome U.S. really wants with murderous Libyan Leader Muammar Qadhafi---stay or go---makes it easy for critics.

Gingrich, interviewed by Matt Lauer on NBC's "The Today Show" on Wednesday was asked if a goal of the military attacks should be to throw Qadhafi from power.

Said Gingrich, "i think that now the -- let me draw a distinction. I would not have intervened. I think there were a lot of other ways to affect Qadhafi. I think there are a lot of allies in the region that we could have worked with. I would not have used American and European forces --

"....Having decided to go there, if Qadhafi does not leave power, it will be a defeat for the United States. It will lengthen our engagement. It will increase our costs. And notice, by the way, at least according to this morning's papers, the White House refuses to even tell Congress whether they're going to ask for a supplemental to pay for the war."