Panetta: Obama Absent Night of Benghazi

◼ Panetta said, though he did meet with Obama at a 5 o'clock prescheduled gathering, the president left operational details, including knowledge of what resources were available to help the Americans under siege, "up to us." - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard

In fact, Panetta says that the night of 9/11, he did not communicate with a single person at the White House. The attack resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Obama did not call or communicate in anyway with the defense secretary that night. There were no calls about what was going on in Benghazi. He never called to check-in.

...As Bill Kristol wrote in the month after the attack, "Panetta's position is untenable: The Defense Department doesn't get to unilaterally decide whether it's too risky or not to try to rescue CIA operators, or to violate another country's air space. In any case, it’s inconceivable Panetta didn't raise the question of what to do when he met with the national security adviser and the president at 5 p.m. on the evening of September 11 for an hour. And it's beyond inconceivable he didn't then stay in touch with the White House after he returned to the Pentagon."

◼ Petraeus and Panetta Speak—But Not the President - Bill Kristol/Weekly Standard

Seven weeks later, the White House still hasn't explained what President Obama did and didn't do during the seven hours of the attack on Benghazi on September 11. And there's been no response from the White House to questions ◼ linkasked by senators or ◼ linkTHE WEEKLY STANDARD or ◼ David Ignatius in the Washington Post.

We have, to be sure, heard from some government officials. But the information they've provided raises still more questions.

◼ Lingering questions about Benghazi - David Ignatius/Washington Post (Oct. 30)

◼ "Panetta said that Obama left operational details, including knowledge of what resources were available to help the Americans under seize, 'up to us.'" - Althouse

◼ Panetta: no one to blame for Benghazi - neoneocon

◼ Panetta Testifies that Obama Was Not Engaged During Benghazi Attack - Bryan Preston/PJM

...The attack went on for several more hours. Many have questioned why there have been no photos released of Obama monitoring the attack from the White House situation room. The answer appears to be that he never went to the situation room, and was not monitoring the attack.

◼ Obama Campaign: Vegas Fundraiser on Day After Benghazi Massacre was "Appropriate" - Guy Benson/Townhall (Oct.1)