Can’t imagine that the 6th Fleet didn’t monitor the situation from the beginning and the Commander in area did not rapidly submit to the DoD a credible intervention plan, no doubt planned and ready to be launched within an hour. Would have loved to have seen Panetta asked under oath why the 6th Fleet did not intervene.
Being questioned under oath won’t matter, he’ll lie and get away with it, and Congress won’t pursue the matter any further.