Another poster this thread, without irony, claimed it made “no difference where he was.” There’s an eerie ring to that.
My reply would be that here was a CINC in the WH who knew that in real time a terrorist attack was occurring on a US diplomatic facility and that lives were at risk, but he couldn’t be bothered to monitor events - as they happened - from the Situation Room and make decisions that could have at least made the effort to come to the aid of our men on the ground.
I cannot imagine any other president who would not have been in that room, even the hapless Jimmy Carter.
This is dereliction of duty, as you state. And of course, it begs the question: what was so important that Barry couldn’t be there.
Many on this thread, myself included, believe he was, shall we say, “amusing” himself. We’ll see if we ever get an answer to this question, but at least it’s being asked.
When a time sensitive situation like this occurs the decision maker (Read POTUS) must be available to give the order to go no go. In this case, the CDRAFRICOM could just stand by, continue to evaluate the situation, take necessary steps to have one or more of his component forces ready to launch or already enroute, and pray that Obama might take a decision on his way to Las Vegas or wherever the hell he was that night.
Air Force One has all the comms necessary to VTC with the Regional Combatant CDR, (Read: CDRAFRICOM) be briefed on a recommended COA, and (oh my God!!!!!)actually make a decision.
A never answered answer says it all. He doing something that will make him look REALLY bad. He as CIC would be the final word on military intervention there and he declined to help. Hope this all comes out.