Here's a hypothetical.
Iraq becomes a stable democracy, and an example to the entire region what can happen with demorcracy and freedom. Say it stays that way for 50 years...
History will be forced to look at GW Bush, as a hero, for not caving to political pressure, and sticking to his course, to make Iraq into what would make it work.
I don't think Bush is a hero... I think he has made some monumental errors. Even IF things turn out well from what he's done, I think it foolish to forget those errors.
But the reality is, this kind of thing happens throughout history. While events are occuring, they are not HISTORY... they are just the only barely non-chaotic thing that is life. When things are put into historical perspective, they look completely different... The original context is almost impossible to understand or recreate... even if you lived through it!
Don't really know what else to say about it...