Most basic function of government is to defend our country

To the editor,

This morning I read the following: The August 6, 2001 daily security briefing to President Bush stating: "Bin Laden Determined to strike in U.S." was just the latest in a long string of direct warnings from the CIA to President Bush about al Qaeda attack on U.S. soil. These warnings included a May 1 report that "a group presently in the United States" was planning a terrorist operation, a June 22, daily brief report that Qaeda strikes could be "imminent," a June 29 report from operatives connected to bin Laden that the planned near-term attacks to have "dramatic consequences," including major casualties, and a July 1 brief that the operation had been delayed, but "will occur soon."

However, neoconservative leaders at the Pentagon told the White House that the C.I.A. had been fooled and that bin Laden was merely pretending to be planning an attack to distract the administration from Saddam Hussein, whom the neoconservatives saw as a greater threat. Although CIA officials protested that the idea of bin Laden, an Islamic fundamentalist, conspiring with Mr. Hussein, an Iraqi secularist, was ridiculous, the neoconservatives carried the day and the White House did not act on this intelligence.

(See: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/opinion/the-bush-white-house-was-deaf-to-9-11-warnings.html?smid=fb-share)

The most basic function of government is to defend the USA. President Obama has a proven track record. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan do not. And Mitt Romney is again surrounding himself with neocon advisors. That tells me a lot.

Elaine Warshell

Moultonborough