The Mandela thing is difficult. I think he's a very nice guy. I'm not that sure he's a very great statesman. To be feted by Clinton, Blair, Bush, Brown et al is not necessarily a ringing endorsement. In my day we used to try to make sure whoever followed next was worse so the people would yearn for the days of the old ruler and remember our excesses more fondly. That's why pretty much why Tiberius got the gig after me. I sometimes think that Mandela (and I suppose you could include Yeltsin in this as well in his own way) was feted less for his political acumen and outstanding leadership and more for the fact he wasn't the lot that went before.