“did everything positioned to do” - panetta. With that quote Panetta is telling us all that there was no cross border authority granted by the only person that can grant it POTUS.
The only help that went to Benghazi was already in-country. The special forces well-trained for this mission were held back in Sigonella. they were held because the POTUS did not issue a cross-border authority order. The military cannot cross a border with hostile intent without approval from the president.
Potus said do everything possible - but did not grant cross border authority.
“Armed UAVs, AC-130 gunships, or fixed-wing fighters with the associated tanking, armaments, targeting and support capabilities were not in the vicinity of Libya nor postured to an effective operational option during the timeframe of this attack,” he said.
So what does that mean? Double speak for nothing was in the vicinity because we didn't move it there, and no platforms were armed because we didn't arm them? I think this is all a show. R's probably approve of what Obama was doing. McCain and Graham after all were in favor of this intervention. It seems you could find out what was available out there outside of channels and then just ask Panetta point blank was there not x gunship or x drone at x location with x hellfire missles. They'll all walk.