Lull before the storm. With the progressing unification of Europe, US will find tougher competition and eventual decline of the hegemonic position in the financial markets. Stopping that by peaceful means was virtually impossible. Iraq war was throwing a monkey wrench into the process in several ways: by kicking European interest out of Iraq, by tighter control of oil which would affect predominantly Europe and Japan, and by getting Europeans fighting amongst themselves again. That gave the empire a boost for a while - but it required drastic means. I do not think that Clinton or Gore would use such means, so they had to go.
Wojtek