Exactly. There are a million rotten strands to pull in this horror story, but CBA is a clear up-down, yes-no type of litmus test. Provable either ways. If he granted CBA, there is ready proof. Show the orders. No orders, no CBA, no rescue, and it came only from the POTUS, since he and he alone “owns” CBA.
I posted this comment on the PJ Media thread, and I think it bears posting here:
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The current “blame CIA” story linked above by Scandia Recluse is part of the White House’s obfuscation effort. More smoke. (I am counting Hillary as being part of the Obama/Jarrett/Axlerod/Michelle team that is actually directing the nation.)
The point is not the percent of CIA compared to State Dept in Benghazi, or how soon they went from the annex to the consulate on the initial rescue attempt. Or how soon the guys from Tripoli got there. Putting the spotlight on the CIA for a few days buys the White House more time, a few days, an eternity just days before an election.
But don’t go for the Magician’s feint: “Look at the bad CIA!” Keep your eye on the ball, which is the lack of outside military rescue, which was waiting to go in Sigonella for many hours of the seven hour battle of Benghazi. At any time Obama could have granted CBA and the rescue force would be inbound. It’s important to note that the flying time from either Tripoli or Sigonella to Benghazi are the same. So why make a big issue of when the CIA contractors left Tripoli on a chartered flight? (As we know, they were already “in country” and not bound by CBA rules.)
By the time the six CIA “shooters” from Tripoli finally arrived at the annex in Benghazi, they should have been met by a hundred Force Recon Marines, who already had the situation well in hand, with USN and USAF assets controlling the high ground clear up to space and satellites.
Getting side-showed by the CIA’s puny ad-hoc and chartered “rescue assets” in Tripoli is ridiculous. Keep your eye on the main thing, the rescue that didn’t happen, by the entire U.S. military that was ready, willing and able to go, on a moment’s notice, the minute the POTUS granted an execute order including CBA.
If he had done it, we would know it, because the White House could produce the orders. If they existed. No execute order, no CBA, no rescue mission.
Is there a legitimate (i.e., non-political in a domestic/election sense) reason NOT to issue the CBA? Granted, I'm having a hard time coming up with one myself, but strategically, is there any reason the CIA cats out of Tripoli might have been better to handle this operation than our guys out of Sigonella?