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AT THE moment, the popular verdict is clear: Mr George W. Bush's presidency was a failure. But history may prove to be kinder on America's 43rd president.
Here is a look back at the Bush White House years, its clear failures and its often forgotten successes.
War on terror
His 'Global War on Terror' had a catchy title but no strategic thinking. It offended Muslims everywhere. It produced the horrible images of Abu Ghraib and the Guantanamo detention camp. And it ultimately lost America the goodwill of even its traditional friends. Mr Bush did not seem to understand that terrorism cannot be 'defeated'; it can only be diminished, through global action which the United States can lead, but cannot control.
New-old boys
As the President once remarked with his curious ability of saying a lot without saying much: 'I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right.'
And, to start with, his administration was certainly one of strong beliefs. It divided the world into two camps: enemies who needed to be crushed, and allies who, because they are wimps, have to be told what to do.
Mr Bush's top advisers, the neo-conservatives, or 'neocons', were neither young nor very original. They enjoyed their moment of glory, but ultimately came to a sticky end.
Mr Paul Wolfowitz, who knew nothing of economics, ran the World Bank until he lost his job because he became too friendly with one of the female employees.
Mr John Bolton was sent to represent America in the United Nations, an organisation he despised - Congress rejected his nomination.
And there was Vice-President Dick Cheney who elevated neocon ideology to a higher level by shooting both enemies and friends; he pumped a few pellets into the backside of a colleague during a hunting expedition.
But the top prize in this category must surely go to Mr Donald Rumsfeld, the 76-year-old bruiser who ran the Iraq war as a quick 'in-and-out' operation and had no idea how to deal with the subsequent guerilla warfare.
In one of his more thoughtful moments, he summarised the Bush administration's strategic thinking:
'As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know.
'We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
'But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know.'
The US economy
The administration's housekeeping record is no better. Mr Bush was the most fiscally irresponsible president in recent American history. He inherited a budget surplus that equalled 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product and transformed it into a deficit of 3 per cent. And that's before an additional US$700 billion (S$1 trillion) had to be spent on bailing out US banks last month.
North Korea
When Mr Bush entered the Oval Office, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was regarded as a founding member of the 'axis of evil'.
But since July 2005, Mr Bush has conducted an intelligent diplomatic effort which involved China and other Asian regional players. A major crisis was averted; Washington proved much more flexible than anyone imagined.
China
'Xiao Bush' - as the Chinese call the current US President - came to power believing that China was America's chief competitor.
Unlike 'Lao Bush' - his father, the Old Bush whom the Chinese have long admired - the younger Bush quickly got embroiled in a confrontation: In April 2001, an American reconnaissance aircraft collided with a Chinese fighter plane.
But this was just one sour episode in what became a flourishing relationship.
On the most important issue to Beijing - that of Taiwan - Mr Bush not only sided with the Chinese, but has also done so in a more direct manner than any previous president.
And, unlike some heads of government in Europe, Mr Bush never wavered in his determination to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Iran
At various times, a military clash between the US and Iran appeared inevitable. But the Bush administration never veered from diplomacy. It worked with other governments to tighten economic sanctions against Iran.
As Mr Bush leaves office, the US will open its new representation in Iran, the first thaw in direct diplomatic links.
America and Iran may yet come to blows. But this radioactive hot potato is now left to President-elect Barack Obama.
India
When Mr Bush came to power, India was still subjected to US military sanctions. All this is gone.
In a controversial but brave move, the administration accepted India's nuclear power status and forged ahead with the creation of a long-lasting strategic link.
This will surely be considered as one of Mr Bush's most historic achievements.
Trade
The Doha Round of global trade negotiations has yet to be concluded. But this is hardly Mr Bush's fault, for the US President did more than all his predecessors in cutting agricultural subsidies and other measures which distort trade.
And he withstood pressure to adopt protectionist measures; free trade agreements were concluded with South Korea and Singapore, as well as many other key countries.
Poverty and disaster relief
For a man often accused of boorishness and unilateralist policies, Mr Bush has been surprisingly generous in doling out foreign aid.
He may have got Hurricane Katrina wrong, but he got the Indian Ocean tsunami right.
An astonishing one-third of all US households donated US$700 million to this relief effort; Mr Bush matched it with a further US$950 million of federal money.
American aid to Africa was tripled on his watch. And much of this was spent sensibly, on practical things such as mosquito nets or anti-viral drugs to treat Aids.
Race relations
President-elect Obama may have broken America's racial barriers, but it was Mr Bush who started the process.
His two secretaries of state were African-American; the current one is also a woman.
He appointed many Hispanics. And his Labour Secretary Elaine Chao became the first Asian-American woman to enter the Cabinet.
He also stood up against the xenophobic tendencies of his party, coming out with a sensible plan for dealing with America's illegal immigrants.
The President was never very familiar with geography - he once claimed that 'border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better' - but his heart was in the right place on race.
As he once admitted, in his characteristic mangled way: 'Sometimes we've got an all-right president, sometimes not all right. But the presidency, itself, exists.'
At least on this score, there's no argument.
