Now I was only on active duty in NavSpecWar for 5 years, but it was imprinted deeply upon my brain that ONLY the POTUS can give cross-border permission. Probably a million living ex-military officers know this like they know 2+2=4. So this Benghazi fiasco is Obama’s baby 100% and there is no way for him to wiggle out.
The system is designed to ENSURE that when a crisis is happening, (and a missing ambassador with a consulate under attack in Libya is “Crisis Level Infinity”), and military assets are already charging in to the rescue, the president must be in the loop to grant the the cross-border authorization. Nobody else can do this. This one formality must be followed, “just put your intitials here, Mr. President, for history,” so to speak. Boiler plate, but it must be done.
The POTUS has to tell the Sec. State and JCS, “Yes, do it, execute the rescue, cross the borders.” Then it WILL happen, without delay, since the military is already on the way, flying in from all directions toward Benghazi.
(Can you imagine Reagan or either Bush saying “No. Cross border permission not granted. Stop the rescue. Stand down.”)
But if POTUS says at 5pm DC time, “No military action, no cross border,” and then he becomes “unavailable,” then his last standing order stands until he changes it. So if he went to bed, for example, nobody could change his standing orders.
I imagine that a lot of extreme military, CIA and State Dept. craziness was going down while Obama was sleeping. Aircraft must be told proceed, or return to base, or they fall from the sky. I imagine many HEATED arguments around the globe on phone, text and email, subject, “Well wake the damn president up!” Followed by, “I can’t! You MUST stand down the mission!”
Just imagine dozens of inbound planes, jets and helos. Ships moving at full speed into position to be “lilypads” for long-range over-water helo refueling. Airborne refueling tankers all head to the area. It’s a complicated ballet. The Pentagon is wide awake, the military is on full alert. The rescue is in process, from the first minutes after the alarm.
Everybody in all the planes and involved HQs knows how many minutes/miles to the Libyan border, Benghazi, and their “bingo fuel” moment, when they must turn around or run dry and crash. Ships can “loiter,” but planes fall from the sky.
So you can imagine why General Ham of Africom was (if true) relieved for refusing to stand down. He probably KNEW Obama was “unavailable,” and was screaming over the phone, “Well, wake him up, dammit!!”
Planes and jets and helicopters and ships and commando teams are zooming all around the central Med, keying in on Benghazi——
And in that environment, OBAMA WAS ASLEEP AND UNREACHABLE!!!!!
Resting up for Las Vegas! With a MISSING AMBASSADOR, in Al-Queadatown!
No wonder General Ham didn’t want to stop the rescue. He knew the derelict captain was not on the bridge of the ship of state.
Good GOD Travis, I knew it was possible, but now we know how it happened..
You are right, I was involved in the Bay Of Pigs, although it was so long ago, I remember the officers where furious about JFK loosing his nerve at the last moment, and calling off the air cover.. It was a bloodbath on the beach, no one had a prayer..
After it went down all Hell broke out, so eventually he had to fess up, but it wasn’t in the aftermath, it was later when they had time to soothe the media with a story that was coordinated, which they gladly complied with..
This is the same as it was with the Camelot President as it is for The Messiah.. COWARD BA$TARDS.. Heaven Help us if we don’t EXORCIZE the evil SAND FLEA, from our White House..
I've noticed you have posted this on several threads. Keep Going!
What you have stated.....I agree totally.... Now regarding General Ham, his XO relieved him of his command within a minute... I’ll say it again...”WITHIN A MINUTE”.... This smells of a preplanned action... The WH knew Gen Ham would deploy forces, so the WH had the XO ready to execute the stand down orders.