We wasted our military Capital on defending Muslims and getting involved in intra-Arab squabbles, like Iraq-Kuwait.
We generated a lot of capital when we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Lots of pissing and moaning, but a recognition that we would follow through was important. The reputation that Clinton had built that we would not stand up in broken agreements was a major part of why the various Islamist groups were hitting us big year after year - though even he showed he would at least hit back from time to time.
After we removed Hussein, Gaddafi was more than willing to believe he could be next and turned over the multi-national nuclear and chemicals programs being run in his nation - despite the medias disinterest that was a HUGE thing.
We began to lose it in the aftermath.