AT:
'It is perhaps instructive that the headline entry regarding his military career on Wikipedia is a specialist knowledge of the disposal policy for US Army typewriters.'
That is a very, very naughty bit of spin.
What the guy did was point out that some very important documents had clearly been forged on an electric typewriter of atype that was not available to the National Guard.
If you're going to diss the guy do so for his stupid optimism and lack of understanding of Middle Eastern Politics and Muslim fundamentalism, his overtly political posturing and unrealistic expectations of the capabilities of his government.
Unfortunately the rissole is also an opinion informer and in answer to Lazer Hounds original question yes it reflect the way the world (and for the most part, the population of this country) see us now, and unfortunately it is going to happen again 'cos Iran WILL get away with this, they are experts at humiliating powers large or small, sorry, but there it is. Because this sorry situation was allowed to happen we're stuffed if we do, and stuffed if we don't.