Fire Alarm: The Investigation of the U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi

The book "Fire Alarm: The Investigation of the U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi" examines the legislative-executive friction,partisanship,and Congress' attempt to recount events surrounding the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Beghazi, Libya. It argues that both Republicans and Democrats use taxpayer-funded investigations for political advantage, with Speaker Boehner's selection of party loyalists and over emphasis on Hillary Clinton minimizing the examination of White House, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community responses.

Format: Hardback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

The Investigation of the U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi is a comprehensive examination of the complex dynamics between the legislative and executive branches, as well as the influence of partisanship on Congress' efforts to recount the events surrounding the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Beghazi, Libya. In his detailed study, Bradley F. Podliska explores the history of congressional investigations, highlighting how both Republicans and Democrats utilize taxpayer-funded investigations as a platform for political attacks, regardless of the potential consequences.

Podliska meticulously traces the events of September 11, 2012, and applies a novel partisan model to analyze the roles of Speakers of the House John Boehner and Paul Ryan in investigating the Obama administration's response to the attack and shaping the post-attack narrative. By employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, Podliska delves into the divisive nature of the investigation, shedding light on Speaker Boehner's selection of party loyalists for the committee, the placement of vetted staff in critical investigative assignments to ensure the execution of party strategy, and the excessive focus on former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which limited the examination of responses from the White House, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community.

The outcome of this investigation was disappointing, as it failed to establish responsibility for U.S. policy in Libya, provide an accurate post-attack narrative, and explain why the military failed to execute a timely rescue. This study serves as a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex interplay between legislative-executive friction, partisanship, and congressional investigations, offering insights into the challenges and complexities of conducting impartial inquiries in a politically charged environment.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666906165