{"product_id":"benghazi-a-new-history-of-the-fiasco-that-pushed-america-and-its-world-to-the-brink-9780306829727","title":"Benghazi!: A New History of the Fiasco that Pushed America and its World to the Brink","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eTen years after the Benghazi attack, Ethan Chorin's book explores how it became a punchline, an empty word, or a code for controversy and political theatre. It reveals Benghazi as a watershed moment in American history, helping to create the world America lives in today. Chorin draws on his own experience and expertise to make clear why it still matters ten years later and why we can't afford to continue overlooking and misunderstanding it. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 432 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 29 September 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hachette Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTen years after the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, which resulted in the tragic loss of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, the cries of \"Benghazi!\" continue to reverberate across America. However, instead of being treated as a significant event worthy of serious attention, it has become a mere punchline, an empty word, or a code for controversy and political theater. In this captivating retelling, Ethan Chorin unveils Benghazi as a pivotal moment in American history, a turning point that shaped the world we inhabit today: a polarized, fearful, and dangerously unstable landscape.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBenghazi is not a story confined to a mere 13 hours but rather a decades-long saga that begins with the rise of Muammar Gaddafi, spans the aftermath of 9\/11, the War on Terror, and the Arab Spring, and continues to impact the present day. Chorin draws upon his own harrowing experience during the Benghazi attack, his expertise as a former diplomat and scholar of Libyan history, and extensive interviews with Libyan insiders, eyewitnesses, and key figures such as Hillary Clinton and Ben Rhodes. Through this ambitious and engaging narrative, Chorin aims to shed light on why Benghazi remains a matter of utmost importance ten years after the incident and why we must refrain from overlooking and misunderstanding it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi occurred on September 11, 2012, during the height of the Arab Spring protests in the Middle East. The consulate was besieged by a mob of angry protesters, who eventually stormed the building and set it ablaze. Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans, including Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty, were killed in the attack. The incident sparked a fierce political debate in the United States, with Republicans accusing President Barack Obama and his administration of failing to provide adequate security for the consulate and of downplaying the attack for political reasons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, as Chorin reveals in his book, the story of Benghazi is far more complex than a simple narrative of security failures. The attack was not just a result of inadequate security but also a culmination of a series of factors, including the rise of extremist groups in Libya, the instability of the country's political landscape, and the broader regional conflicts that were unfolding at the time. The consulate itself was located in a highly volatile area, and the US government had been warned of potential threats by both Libyan and American officials.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite these warnings, the US government did not take sufficient measures to protect the consulate. The State Department, in particular, was criticized for its lack of preparedness and its failure to respond quickly to the unfolding crisis. The response from the White House was also criticized for its initial denials that the attack was a terrorist act and for its attempts to shift the blame onto other parties.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe controversy surrounding Benghazi continued to grow over the years, with Republicans using the incident to attack President Obama's foreign policy and his administration's handling of the crisis. In 2016, a special committee was formed by the House of Representatives to investigate the attack, and the committee released a report that accused the Obama administration of misleading the public about the cause of the attack and of failing to respond adequately to the crisis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, the report also acknowledged that the US government had faced a complex and challenging situation in Libya and that there had been a lack of coordination and communication between different agencies. The report also noted that the attack had exposed deep divisions within the US government, with some officials seeking to downplay the incident for political reasons and others pushing for a more aggressive response.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, the attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi was a tragic event that had far-reaching consequences for American foreign policy and international relations. While the incident was initially treated as a political scandal, it has since been revealed as a complex and multifaceted story that involves a range of political, social, and economic factors. The controversy surrounding the attack continues to this day, but it is important to approach the issue with a critical eye and to seek to understand the broader context in which it occurred. By doing so, we can better appreciate the impact of the attack and the ongoing challenges that the United States faces in the Middle East and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 644g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 163 x 242 x 39 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780306829727\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ethan Chorin","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44099296559354,"sku":"9780306829727","price":18.3,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1664546706398_book.jpg?v=1664624235","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/benghazi-a-new-history-of-the-fiasco-that-pushed-america-and-its-world-to-the-brink-9780306829727","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}