PAPER: US gov't chartered boat too small to rescue stranded Americans

'What took you so long':

• Stricken Libyan rescue boat finally leaves Tripoli, but why did they take so long to depart?

• Experts ask why a bigger boat wasn't used like the Greeks and Turkish

Hundreds of Americans trapped aboard a rescue ship that was too small to sail in rough weather have finally left Libya this morning.

The 167 stranded U.S. citizens have been holed up on the Maria Dolores since Wednesday, as rough weather has prevented the ship from leaving…

President Obama has been under intense criticism for his muted response to the bloodshed in Libya, with speculation that Colonel Gaddafi had intimidated the White House into silence by blocking the evacuation of U.S. citizens.

And last night, while the Dolores remained stranded, the president enjoyed a White House pop concert in celebration of Black History month.