By Robin Oakley CNN.com European Political Editor

The extraordinary events that have led to George W. Bush taking the White House have not added to the authority of the 43rd president of the United States.

With the Mideast in turmoil, Japan suffering a political crisis, the EU obsessed with reforms and Russia's president struggling to restore order, the world could do with a strong U.S. leader.

But the closeness of the Bush-Gore contest, the legal wrangles and the length of time taken to determine a result have further damaged a presidency already weakened by the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton.