"The greater disaster in America's Iraq venture would have been something plausibly resembling a quick and decisive success."

So the author is saying that if Iraq is a painful failure for the US then that will be a good thing? He's more or less saying if the US gets bogged down in Iraq an loses 10's of thousands of soldiers then that would be good because it would teach the US not to bully around 2-bit dictators anymore.

Well, I suppose he would be correct assuming one liked the idea of many potential Sadam Hussains running amok in all corners of the world unchecked by the threat of ruthless American aggression.

Take away the US and who is going to check such potential dictators? the French? the Chineese? the Austrailians?

Well one day in the Middle East, it will be the Iraqi's who check such dictators in their region (Which must really strike fear in many of the region's capitals...But thats another story).

The author's bias (or even hatred) against the US showing through with such a ridiculous statement...