An email was sent by then-Department of Defense Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash to State Department leadership that offered "forces that could move to Benghazi" during the terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission Compound in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012.
In an email sent to top Department of State officials, at 7:19 p.m. ET, only hours after the attack had begun, Bash says, "we have identified the forces that could move to Benghazi. They are spinning up as we speak." The Obama administration redacted the details of the military forces available, oddly citing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption that allows the withholding of "deliberative process" information.
Bash's email seems to directly contradict testimony given by then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February 2013. Defending the Obama administration's lack of military response to the nearly six-hour-long attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Panetta claimed that "time, distance, the lack of an adequate warning, events that moved very quickly on the ground prevented a more immediate response."
Panetta said the 130 gunships or fixed wing fighters -- which would have required refueling abilities, armaments, targeting and support facilities -- "were not in the vicinity of Benghazi."
"During NEOs (Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations), the US Ambassador is the senior authority for the evacuation and is ultimately responsible for the successful completion of the NEO and the safety of the evacuees. The Ambassador speaks with the authority of the President and serves as direct representative on site." LINK
In the absence of the chargé d'affaires, NEO and/or 'In-Extremis Force' decision making recommendations rest with the Country Team, Foggy Bottom, with POTUS as final decision maker. We were lied to at the time and we continue to be lied to about Benghazi.