“Who ordered the stand down?”.....Only one person could have ordered the Stand Down as it goes across multiple agencies/departments including CIA, DOD and State. That would be the President!
The question is.... does not saying "YES" mean "NO"?
i.e. It would seem that Standing Down is the default if the President is 'unavailable'. Is this correct ?
Correct!
See this link:
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2012/10/bigger-than-watergate-proof-that-the-president-is-lying-about-benghazi.html