It is a blunt fact that Al Qaeda was recognized as a very serious threat to US security by the end of the Clinton administration, and that Bush Jr's own national security team had set out and strongly argued for action against bin Laden some 6 months before the World Trade Center Attacks.

Bush Jr missed that warning, as he was fully occupied with other matters. But as President, you don't get to pick and choose your issues, you have to take them as they come.

Bush Jr's performance since the attacks has been superb, with the exception of airport security. The National Guard should have been called out immediately, and improvement in airport security should not have been delayed solely because of concerns about creating a workforce which would form another federal employees union. These actions very seriously hurt some of my acquaintances in the aerospace industry in very direct ways, so the delays in improving airport security really irritate me.

But even given all of this, the key item for me is that as Bush Jr has called for the creation of a Palestinian state, I expect him to come under fierce attack by some. He is determined to finally resolve this conflict, and I will support him in doing so. I will work to remove from office any public official, Republican or Democrat, who attempts in any way to hinder him in this effort.

Bush Jr has correctly identified resolving this conflict as the key task in ensuring both US security and the health of the US economy.

If the candidates are equal in this regard, only then will I consider other issues, such fiscal policy.

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