The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Not Feeling Groovy: "The old cold warriors thought they could improve the national character by invading Iraq � in that way banishing post-Vietnam ambivalence about using force and toughening up what they saw as the Clintonesque 60's mentality � a weak, pinprick-bombing, if-it-feels-good-do-it attitude. Their new motto was: If it makes someone else feel bad, do it."

Once they returned to power, the Bush II team, dripping with contempt for Bill Clinton and oozing with "we know best" cockiness, thought they could use the sacking of Saddam to change the way Americans saw themselves and the way America was seen in the world