Admitting that we have done some evil in the world as well as good is "self flagillating crap"? What the hell kind of logic is that?
We create these shitty situations, then we go in to clean them up and brag about cleaning them up.
Saddam never would have invaded Kuwait if our ambassador hadn't told him that we don't care what he does.
Dean Acheson made the same mistake regarding Korea. "The USA has no interest in Korea" (paraphrased) they took it as a green light, just as Saddam did.

How can you know where you are going if you don't know where you've been?

If Iraq is so much better off without Saddam, why is our Army and Marine corp getting the shit kicked out of them every day? Simple...they want him back.