Speculation:
What would have happened if any of the following were in the chain of command receiving the calls for help from Ambassador Stevens:
GS Patton, DW Eisenhower, W Churchill, T Roosevelt, HS Truman.
My bet is that they would have taken action before asking permission.
I think 1 general - africacom; one admiral - in the med on a carrier; and general petraeus all lost their commands over Benghazi.
All of them would go for blood. Patton or TR would personally lead the assualt on Benghazi.