[Paul R.]

A little more far out speculation: As the attack unfolded, the CIA or other intelligence discovered or reasoned that the attack was in fact bait, designed to bring in U.S. support aircraft. An AC-130 shot down in Libya would sure blow Obama’s foreign policy narrative!!!

(By no means do I accept that this excuses the lack of action. But I do think that this bunch at the top is likely to be too incompetent and / or locked into their own view of things to respond to such a situation.)

[uncbob]

Yeah Panneta said as much
After BSing that they didn’t respond because they trying get a picture of what was happening he said the terrorists had missiles that could bring down rescue flights
I think that is the real reason
They didn’t want a military loss added to the mixture
Wonder how he knew they had the missiles when they were only protesting a movie

[PieterCasparzen]

A little more far out speculation: As the attack unfolded, the CIA or other intelligence discovered or reasoned that the attack was in fact bait, designed to bring in U.S. support aircraft. An AC-130 shot down in Libya would sure blow Obama’s foreign policy narrative!!!

That's been floated around. But once again, the dead or kidnapped Ambassador trumps that. To lose military forces in battle is tragic but part of military operations (think about it, we've lost thousands over the past decade). To have an Ambassador murdered, or taken hostage, that is the real embarassment politically. The Ambassador is the President's personal representative.

There simply is no logical answer as to why a sitting President or Cabinet official would not give the order to attempt a rescue of a consulate under attack.

The idea of risk outwaying reward for a rescue is not a factor with diplomatic rescues, for the most part, because they are not very large battles that endanger thousands of lives. The risk is born by members of the military - but that is their mission.

The risk/reward idea comes into play in military rescues of other members of the military during wartime, such as the rescue of downed pilots. The military channel had one such situation during the Viet Nam War where men were being lost to save a downed pilot.

This is an entirely different situation with a civilian diplomat being rescued - or not, in this case.

The question is did the President order rescue operations or did he order the military to stand down.