Geez, I'm trying to stay out, but I just can't!!!
My own rant follows. You've been forewarned.
I don't see any foreign policy miscues. All I see is highly successful foreign policy jujitsu.
Sorry, but I think it's pragmatically VERY useful to have everyone's interests so clearly exposed, and I credit Bush with that. Old Europe v. New Europe - seriously, I think that's a VERY helpful construct with respect to American interests. Good to have that portion of Europe that is strategically significant and economically vigorous with us. As for the others, what do we have? Withering stagnant nations that have socialized on the backs of American security for 50 years, that's what. The anti-war crowd wants to puff up the obstructionists of Iraqi liberation as the moral force in the world, but the emperor has no clothes. If that's morality, then you can have it. France, with dreams of EU dominance and billions in Iraqi oil contracts through TotalFinaElf, seems to have as its motto "No Blood, For Oil." Also, if you want to see REAL profits from Iraqi arms sales, check the books of French defense contractors. But at the end of the day, what's a little suffering by Iraqi wogs if French treasure and prestige can be built up, right? Germany is just as bad. With equal EU aspirations, it's got a Chancellor who's only hope for political survival seems to be to throw principal, the Iraqi people, and a staunch ally to whom his country's very existence today is owed, over the side - "Hey, I can't govern, but at least I'm not a 'simple cowboy.'" Old Europe would like to think they're indispensible, but I'd remind them that one of their own, DeGaulle, noted that "the graveyards are full of indispensible men."
Outside Europe, what? Russia? Toothless, clawless bear with the same arms deals that France has, and the very energy infrastructure contracts with Saddam, that the US is accused of lusting after. China? The biggest worry, with more energy infrastructure contracts, no natural oil reserves of their own, and every reason to want to do business with another dictator (the dictatorships seem very clubby, you know?). But they have a nuclear nut next door they don't care to do anything about and no moral leg to stand on either. [Message to China: Ever hear of Kim Jong Il? Clean up your own damn neighborhood before you crap on our plans to clean up what is arguably our own mess.] By the way, I read in Jane's and the Paki press that China also seems to be on the verge of winning a contract to build that pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. So much for Halliburton having an inside man.
At the same time, both sadly and thankfully - the UN has now been fully exposed as an ass. I'm with those who think that it will have been helpful to Tony Blair for us to have tried, even if we fail, the UN route. But that doesn't change the fact that the UN has turned into nothing more than an image-laundering and shakedown scheme for dictators with dreams of world power, and run-down former colonial overlords pining away for their former vassals and their former glory. Seriously, c'mon - Iraq as chairman of the UN's International Conference on Disarmanent (even IRAQ saw the irony, and bowed out before the UN grew the balls to demand it)? Libya as chair of the UN's International Committee on Human Rights? France, screaming "unilateralism," threatening veto on the Security Council, as it shoves a Quai d'Orsay brokered "peace" down the throats of a justifiably unthankful and skeptical Cote d'Ivoire? I'm supposed to take this body seriously? I don't think so.
Arguing that leaving Iraq alone right now promotes stability in the Middle East doesn't move me much. It's a selfish stability that comes at the price of writing off a whole generation of a whole region of the world to squalor, oppression, and fanatacism. I say, bring down Saddam, and watch Iran follow. Then watch Syria snap into line. Then others. Those people who are going to hate us there, hate us already. Those there who crave freedom will only hate us if we do nothing.
The scales should be off any open-minded persons eyes now, IMHO (and it's just an opinion), and it's all thanks to this administration.
As for what the rest of the world thinks of us - JUST FOR NOW, mind you - who gives a flip? Winning the war and liberating Iraq from oppression - even for a CHANCE at democracy there, succeed or fail - is worth it all, and everyone will be clamoring for credit after it's over. Every time somebody questions Bush's foreign policy acumen, or more likely just straight up calls him a moron, I'm reminded of Q. Fabius Maximus (who was fighting Hannibal - another "popular" brutal dictator - along with a dubious roman public at the same time) who said "it is better that a wise enemy should fear you, than that foolish friends should praise."
Whew. Rant over. Sorry...