When Osama bin Laden was killed, President Obama and his top officials huddled before a video screen in the White House, releasing a photo depicting how deeply involved the commander-in-chief was. When video from a drone showed terrorists attacking the American legation in Bengahzi, Mr. Obama discussed the matter in the Oval Office with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and General Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, for 20 minutes. They then returned to the Pentagon. Mr. Obama never talked to them again….
When the senators questioned Mr. Panetta and General Dempsey today, both firmly testified that that was the unfortunate fact. As a Marine, I find that lack of concern — that un-involvement — hard to grasp and impossible to justify. If a PFC is missing in battle, the entire chain of command focuses its attention and resources like a laser upon his recovery. The commanding general doesn’t talk to his aides for 20 minutes and go to bed. Our ambassador holds a rank equivalent to a four-star general. More important, he represents our country. He isn’t a symbol of America; he is America. No wonder the White House has maintained a wall of silence about Benghazi. (National Review, Posted 9 Feb 13)
