[ROCKLOBSTER]

What is the explanation for this? A covert team is held up at the airport for 3hrs? And nothing else is done?

The "Libyan Officials" were in on the WH's farcical charade.

[nuconvert]

“The “Libyan Officials” were in on the WH’s farcical charade.”

That’s not going to help explain later, why the WH didn’t order another course of action else in the meantime