Then who directed General Ham to not deploy those assets?
I believe that turned out to be a rumor.
Does anyone at his level or below have the authority to act?
My bet is NO ONE DID. He requested it, and was told to stand by , stand by , stand by.... soon he made the judgement that it would be dereliction of duty not to act, he did and was immediately relieved of command for it. As soon as it is revealed he was relieved of command for acting in the absence of orders. Obama is done for. It will show that Obama acted to fire a general in the time of crisis for taking action in the best interest in america and Obama was acting in the best interest of his campaign.