Ten Questions for the White House

In view of all the speculation in the "new media" about what happened in Libya and why, Bill Kristol asks 10 important questions that should tell us what President Obama's role was.

Obama stated:

I gave three very clear directives. Number one, make sure that we are securing our personnel and doing whatever we need to.

Kristol asks:

1.) To whom did the president give the first of his "three very clear directives"—that is, "make sure that we are securing our personnel and doing whatever we need to?"

2.) How did he transmit this directive to the military and other agencies?

3.) During the time when Americans were under attack, did the president convene a formal or informal meeting of his national security council? Did the president go to the situation room?

4.) During this time, with which members of the national security team did the president speak directly?

5.) Did Obama speak by phone or teleconference with the combatant commanders who would have sent assistance to the men under attack?

6.) Did he speak with CIA director David Petraeus?

7.) Was the president made aware of the repeated requests for assistance from the men under attack? When and by whom?

8.) Did he issue any directives in response to these requests?

9.) Did the president refuse to authorize an armed drone strike on the attackers?

10.) Did the president refuse to authorize a AC-130 or MC-130 to enter Libyan airspace during the attack?

Do you recall that Obama was praised by his admirers for giving the go-ahead to kill Osama bin Laden? He was praised to the skies for making what was characterized as "a gutsy call." I always wondered why that should have been "gutsy," or even open to question.  Who would not order the raid once we knew where Osama was?  Perhaps I don't know Obama like his acolytes do. Perhaps he really didn't make that call, as others have claimed. Perhaps he's simply incapable of giving orders to kill bin Laden (and was told about it after the order to go was given), or to come to the aid of our personnel in Libya. Maybe when there is a need to make a decision like this he votes "present."  Perhaps we have an emotional or physical coward as President.