Without his leadership (imagine algor! Yikes!!), you're right. We'd still be scared.
I said on another thread that President Bush was a victim of his own success. He did such an amazing job of protecting us from evil that people forgot the threat that was there every day of his Presidency.
He's probably done more than any individual in history to shape the Middle East while taking slings and arrows from left and right.
Of course Obama is bumbling along trying to juggle events in the wake of what he did, but eventually millions (actually billions) will come to recognize that Bush's steady hand was a major force for peace.
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And because it was such a successful job, it looked easy, or inevitable. Ditto the teamwork of W and Laura. I am listening to Decision Points right now, and am reminded of her strong presence in all of his successes, through the governorship and on to the White House.
(Kind of reminds me of Todd Palin's presence!)