He's a retread--a broken record. The world has seen him before and the world has been warned of him long before 2008. Each of the monsters before him were able to do accomplish goals before the killing started in earnest.
He just hasn't crossed the line where it's necessary to do the evil things. He will soon though--he keeps trying and pushing.
Not just with the common enemy (us) but in the world as well. All of the Middle East is now a powder keg. China is poised to be the new Old Japan. Europe's financial woes, unresolved by US taxpayer bailouts and back door IMF funding, are resurrecting old grievances.