Overview

The last line of defense for our institutions, and our democracy Inspectors general may be the most important public servants you’ve never heard of. In Watchdogs, Glenn Fine—who served as the inspector general of the Department of Justice from 2000 to 2011 and the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense from 2016 to 2020—explains why all Americans should be familiar with this critical pillar of our democracy. Drawing on his own experiences in numerous high-profile investigations over two decades, from 9/11 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Fine provides a fascinating insider’s view of government at the highest levels, illuminating how federal officials spend our tax dollars and how inspector general oversight seeks to make government more honest and accountable. Full of revealing stories—from the FBI’s handling of evidence in the Timothy McVeigh trial to the treatment of post-9/11 detainees to investigating the US Navy’s most infamous corruption scandal—Watchdogs illustrates the mission of inspectors general in improving government operations, deterring wasteful spending, and curtailing corruption, and the ways they work every day in America’s unique system of oversight.

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9780813952468

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Reviews

"Americans’ faith in institutions continues to be historically low. We do not have public confidence to spare, and Inspectors General are on the front lines of protecting what remains. It is more important than ever that the guardians of our public integrity do their jobs well. Glenn Fine is among the finest examples of this breed of noble sentinels who watch over our government and help restore trust. Watchdogs gives the reader a master class on the importance of the often unheralded work done by the unsung heroes known as IGs. His book is an invaluable account of why this work so important."" — (From the foreword by General Jim Mattis (USMC – Retired), former United States Secretary of Defense) ""Anyone seeking to understand—and perhaps improve—the system of checks and balances crucial to a healthy, functioning democracy will find [Watchdogs] useful. . . . An illuminating look at an overlooked but crucial element of American governance."" — Kirkus Reviews"

"Americans' faith in institutions continues to be historically low. We do not have public confidence to spare, and Inspectors General are on the front lines of protecting what remains. It is more important than ever that the guardians of our public integrity do their jobs well. Glenn Fine is among the finest examples of this breed of noble sentinels who watch over our government and help restore trust. Watchdogs gives the reader a master class on the importance of the often unheralded work done by the unsung heroes known as IGs. His book is an invaluable account of why this work so important.-- ""From the foreword by General Jim Mattis (USMC - Retired), former United States Secretary of Defense"" Anyone seeking to understand--and perhaps improve--the system of checks and balances crucial to a healthy, functioning democracy will find [Watchdogs] useful. An illuminating look at an overlooked but crucial element of American governance.-- ""Kirkus Reviews"""

"Anyone seeking to understand--and perhaps improve--the system of checks and balances crucial to a healthy, functioning democracy will find [Watchdogs] useful. . . . An illuminating look at an overlooked but crucial element of American governance.-- ""Kirkus Reviews"" Americans' faith in institutions continues to be historically low. We do not have public confidence to spare, and Inspectors General are on the front lines of protecting what remains. It is more important than ever that the guardians of our public integrity do their jobs well. Glenn Fine is among the finest examples of this breed of noble sentinels who watch over our government and help restore trust. Watchdogs gives the reader a master class on the importance of the often unheralded work done by the unsung heroes known as IGs. His book is an invaluable account of why this work so important.-- ""From the foreword by General Jim Mattis (USMC - Retired), former United States Secretary of Defense"""

Author Information

Glenn A. Fine formerly served as the acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense and as the Inspector General of the Department of Justice. He is a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution and an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School.

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