Detainee Relocation: I'd like to correct an error constantly repeated on the news

The argument is being made continuously on TV news that the President is sworn to protect the people of the United States and so can not possibly bring these dangerous people to our shores.

This is the Presidential oath of office, notice that nowhere does the President swear to protect the people: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Why, you might (or possibly should) ask is the President not required by the basic law of the land to protect the people?*


*Yes, I have an answer/opinion, but I'm more interested in yours.

It is a comment that the President is not above the law.

It is an awfully high standard and one that is doomed to failure.
A president can't 'protect the people'. It is foolish to even think that.
Not even God can protect the people.

Where did all this come from? Bushco. Everything they said is, in reality, the opposite. But they made a lot of money saying it. "Protect the people." Well, they failed to protect on 9/11. But they looked mighty macho in their failure. Now Obama is trying to out macho Bush.