Today is the golden anniversary of Egypt nationalizing the Suez Canal. The result: Lots of bad stuff, including what Arthur Herman calls “the biggest American foreign policy blunder since the War of 1812.” Here’s more Herman on the rotten legacy of Suez:

Suez destroyed the United Nations as well. By handing it over to Dag Hammarskjöld and his feckless ilk, Eisenhower turned the organization from the stout voice of international law and order into at best a meaningless charade; at worst, a Machiavellian cesspool. Instead of teaching Nasser and his fellow dictators that breaking international law does not pay, Suez taught them that every transgression will be forgotten and forgiven, especially if oil is at stake.