Bill Clinton stole the headlines today, as newspapers and media outlets across the country heralded his success in securing the release of two American journalists from a North Korean jail, following a personal visit by the former president to the rogue nation. The two reporters, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, had been sentenced to twelve years in prison for writing defamatory articles against the government. Both worked for Current TV, the award-winning network co-founded by Al Gore, who spent considerable time working the back channels to help arrange the meeting between Clinton and ailing North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il.

About 18 months ago, no one would have thought that Clinton, then campaigning to help his wife win the Democratic presidential nomination, could have upstaged Obama, especially on the world stage. Despite the 42nd president's widespread popularity abroad when he left office in 2000, Obama's young face and fresh message took the international community by surprise. During trips overseas, Obama drew record crowds soaring into the millions, a feat achieved by few American political leaders in recent history.

And while Clinton has spent the first seven months of Obama's presidency- as well as his wife's tenure as Secretary of State- largely out of the spotlight, his triumphant emergence today has done more for Obama than any goodwill ambassador so far. If nothing else, Clinton pushes the doom and gloom off of the front page, and replaces it with a story that makes Americans feel proud of their country and their leaders.

Clinton's victory is especially important in rebuilding America's image on the foreign stage. World renowned for his diplomatic efforts while in office, he saw much of the goodwill he built over eight years as president- from establishing tighter relations with Russia to halting genocide in the Balkans- squandered as his successor, George W. Bush, adopted what was at times a cavalier approach to foreign relations, from his withdrawal from strategic arms treaties that soothed tensions during the Cold War to his pursuit of military action in Iraq without waiting for any semblance of international support.

Obama swept into office with a commitment to do just what Clinton did, to restore America to the grand position it once held as a beacon of peace, diplomacy, and human rights among nations. And even while the turbulent economic climate has pushed him against the wall here at home, he was able to bring that campaign promise to fruition with Clinton's help.

The news also ends a long period of speculation as to just what kind of role Clinton would play in Obama's administration. If Obama continues to use Clinton as he has thus far, the former president can act as a closer on the world stage, a one-two punch alongside the younger Obama, whose image internationally is considerable in its own right.