Could Bush have been better prepared? Maybe.
Was our intelligence community in shambles? Yes. Why?
Not because of Dubya, but becasue of the previous eight years of neglect, mismanagement, and double-minded hand wringing. Clinton and the Leftists brought on 9/11 because, as always, the Left's lack of purpose and conviction emboldened our enemies.
In usual Leftist fashion, Clinton failed to act in our defense when action was called for. Multiple times when the U.S. was attacked by al-Qaeda Clinton instead did nothing, sending out a message of weakness. Clinton DID act however, also in Leftist fashion, to weaken our own defenses by crippling our intelligence community and putting artificial barriers to prevent communication between the FBI and the CIA.
The story of 9/11 was a story of CLINTON's utter failure of intelligence and proper response to threats and attacks. Al-Qaeda just didn't realize that the new guy in the WH wasn't going to not do anything. Bush's unequivocal and swift response took al-Qaeda by complete surprise.
And AFTER 9/11? Borders...still open. Visas...still granted. Chop the heads off those that failed to do their JOBS....nada.
They couldn’t even open ANWAR to start getting us off the Sauds teat.
Face it, gov’t doesn’t work, especially for We the People. Big gov’t FAILS MISERABLY.