[Travis McGee]

The shuck and drive won't work this time, because millions of Americans already understand the deal, that POTUS and only POTUS can authorize or refuse an international rescue mission. He can't punt this off on shuck and jive, we all knkow the deal. The prizzy is like Caesar on this one, thumbs up or down. Only the prizzy. Rescue, or no rescue, since it crosses international borders, we must ask, so what say you Mr. President, rescue them, or let them go?

He let them go. He let them go.

[greeneyes]

Two more points that I read on other threads:

1. The alert would have gone out on the highest priority network. It would have been immediately received in DC. The Ambassador in danger requires that the message is immediately delivered to the President.

2. The contingency plans for the military are to scramble immediately and head out to protect the Ambassador and the others. Should they fail to get a response, they are to follow preestablished plans for rescue. Which means that a NO GO from the President was needed to stop the operation.

[GeronL]

On November 4, NatGeo is going to air a propaganda fictionalized movie about the bin Laden Raid that will make Obama the hero. That movie reinforces the idea that only the President can give that go/no go order.

ironic really