“Were the former seals told to stand down, and not save those in the mission at any time?”
The former SEALS were told to stand down.
“Who issued that order?”
They were working for a private contractor. The order would have been given by the contractor and both the military and the cia could technically say neither had issued an order to stand down.
Per AP radio (consider the source) The general said his testimony was not effected by the affair back in Sept. So he caved.
Now off to Princeton I bet, Thanks General.