The aspect of the war on terror having had a detrimental affect on the West, in terms of limitation of civil, political rights has been around since the beginning, even during the time when governments deemed questioning their authority was being on the side of the terrorists.
I can't see how America can take this blight off their record. I think it'll always be there, it isn't about to disappear. None the less, Obama, has a big job in restoring any sort of faith that people outside of America has, to ensure that this never happens again.
I think, Bush single handedly has certainly cost a lot of the reputation that past Presidents have been building since the escalation of interventions in Vietnam.
