And so from the moment he took the oath Bill Clinton became a wartime president - exactly as he knew he would.
The reality that he would preside over a country at war, which Clinton knew before he was elected, has escaped the public and battalions of politicians and commentators.They keep saying, oh, what a pity that this man who wanted to concentrate on home affairs suddenly finds his country in a state of war.
Nothing sudden about it. Even Bush long ago realized that having left Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in power, the United States would be fighting him as long as he ruled.
All that has happened is that Saddam chose to remind America and Clinton that the war had never ended.
Clinton must soon tell his countrymen what he knows: Leaving Saddam in power was a mistake and that however long it takes, he has to go.
Saddam's ouster, by rebellion or bullet, would not end the troubles of the Mideast or even Iraq. But without it, there is no real beginning, just an endless cycle of provocation, retaliation, danger and death.
Help Saddam's enemies and hurt his friends - that should be the determined and consistent Clinton policy.
Saddam's enemies are all around him, millions of his countrymen. Many of them are Kurds, non-Arab Muslims who have fought him for decades. Now they live in a northern "safe haven" - under Sad-dam's constant military pressure and block-ade.
The Kurds, and anti-Saddam Arabs in the south, should be better armed. Saddam's tightening blockade and eternal armed harassment should be shattered by aerial bombardment.
Other Iraqis whose relatives have been arrested, tortured or murdered by Saddam long for his end. If the intelligence operations of the West, Saddam-fearing Arab nations and Israel are ordered to help them secretly, it can be done.
Saddam has no magic shield. He is protected by special security troops, his very own SS. Their various headquarters and barracks should be attacked regularly - not when Saddam chooses to get us riled up and expects attack, but when he does not.
Forbidding Iraqi flights over the entire country would be Clinton's best way of sending his presidential calling card to Saddam's generals. The message would be: Men, the game is ending; our goal is Saddam's ouster; to save your neck tomorrow, head for the door today.
Every inauguration really is a new morning for America. So Clinton has the blessed chance to talk clearly about the conduct and goal of the war that is now his - exactly as he has known it would be all along.