The QUESTION? "WHO ISSUED THE ORDER TO STAND DOWN?"
Here's General McInerney's take on that one.
Lt. General Thomas McInerney joined Lou Dobbs to discuss the Benghazi massacre and coverup.
McInerney told Dobbs, “There is only one person who can say stand down and that’s the president.” Via Lou Dobbs Tonight on FOX Business:
“Lt. General Mclnerney: There is only one person who can say, stand down. And that is the President of the United States. For us to deny forces to go to the aid or our people – we never leave people behind, Lou”, he continued. “And that’s where the dereliction of duty comes in and it permeates the whole command and control system. To say we couldn’t get the airplanes down there, we couldn’t get approval for air space….that doesn’t matter, Lou…you take action and you move out. I’m actually ashamed of the way our military responded – not the men and women, but our senior leaders – and it’s disgraceful.”
Video:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2013/05/lt-gen-mclnerney-on-benghazi-cover-up-there-is-only-one-person-who-can-say-stand-down-and-thats-the-president-video/
My service was a very long time ago, but it seems to me this is not actually accurate. Not to be defending the Administration, but unless a specific order from the President was given to move (which does not appear to be the case), is this accurate? When I was was in, a General or a Colonel could absolutely countermand the order or activity of a subordinate, and I highly doubt this has changed.