Exactly.
I can't find anywhere that President Trump actually signed an order or stated he signed an order for a limited strike.
I saw opinions and "reportedly…"
But I saw no actual authorization and the President has not yet said he did or didn't authorize a strike.
What I want to know - is whose plans were the various generals and admirals/captains staging themselves according to, and what is the proper chain of command for initiating SAPs or contingency plans.
In other words - was there a set of SAPs all too conveniently drafted to fit this scenario - and was anyone exceeding their authority in staging? As well as who drafted those SAPs.
Sum of all fears.
I suspect there was no authorization given and that people were preparing themselves based on news reports in anticipation of receiving an official command. I also suspect that this was not at all accidental and represents a pattern that has been used in the past to leverage Presidents and/or administrations into actions they are either unsure of or opposed to.
"We are already prepared to give them a bop on the nose, Mr. President." Some of it being well-intentioned… Other parts of it being far more sinister.