An earlier instance where the US picked a counterpoint to an undesireable regime and learned later, much to our chagrin, that the alternative came with baggage.
I think our own history is illustrative - the articles of confederation were politically acceptable to the new states until evidence showed their flaws, and even then the new constitution was a palatable surrender of power only because of the assumption who would be the new executive. The world has many more Aaron Burrs than it has George Washingtons; despite this we don't seem to use a hedging strategy but rather plunge in to the strong central model with strong executive powers. While it might appear to be the quickest way to sew up the involvement it too often ends up as a oozing sore.