Getting rid of Saddam Hussein's regime was a great blessing, but the war and its aftermath have had important unintended consequences for the Bush administration.

Preemption policy toward "rogue states" has been eroded.

The United Nations' importance on security issues has been elevated.

And in creating enormous new obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the president has probably eliminated further serious use of an indispensable tool -- nation-building -- although, to be sure, it was a tool he never much cared for.

Does it bother anyone that these last three statements are the exact opposite of the truth? Does anyone really think we have not impressed "rogue states" with our actions? The leaders of North Korea, despite their bluster, are terrified. The United Nations, especially after it was shown to be raking in the cash from Iraq, has lost a lot of credibility. And "nation building" is going pretty good, thanks.

I don't suppose the reason people don't like Bill Clinton's "negotiating approach" is simply because it blew goats? To put it a bit more precisely, the North Koreans were planning to violate the agreement as they were signing it.