as Scott has described. At very least (until War Powers Act were to be revisited..) he was signifying that he *could* afford to wait in this case
--whereas in some.. next.. case, maybe not so much.
He didn't Have-to wait, and I expect that any other or next CIEIO would have phrased such a matter ~the same way. Nothing to do with 'BHO vacillating', IMO.