The story itself deserves a 5/5, which I would have given it. However, there was only really one level where you had to think, that and that anti-bush newspaper article pops this down to a 4. Needs to be more challenging.
Second was better, yeah. But, contrary to others, I like that you have to pay to level up, because it makes the choice between leveling or spamming units much harder, and thus makes it more tactical. However, I can't really think of any critisisms that haven't already been fixed in the second. A good game.