CIA torture report: On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released a report on the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation techniques.” Detailed in the report is information about the agency’s extensive use of torture methods such as waterboarding, forced hypothermia, rectal feeding, rectal rehydration, food deprivation, sleep deprivation, nonstop interrogations, and threats of physical and sexual violence against detainees and their families. The report reveals a lack of oversight and accountability. The report also refutes the importance of the information obtained through these interrogations, claiming that its role in stopping terrorist plots was repeatedly overstated. Many Senate Republicans and current and former CIA members have disputed the findings of the report. However, its gruesome details have drawn outrage and disgust from across the aisle, the country and around the world. The report took more than half a decade and $40 million to produce.
Police brutality decisions: On Wednesday, Dec. 3, a Staten Island grand jury chose not to indict Officer Daniel Panteleo in the choking death of 43-year-old Eric Garner. Garner died in July after being put in a chokehold by Pantaleo during an attempted arrest. A video of the incident was recorded. The Garner decision further ignited national outrage and massive protests against police brutality and systemic racism following the non-indictment of Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown the week before. The Department of Justice (DOJ) will open a criminal civil rights investigation into Garner’s death.
On Thursday, Dec. 4, the DOJ released the findings of their investigation into the use of excessive force in the Cleveland Police Department (CPD). The investigation concluded that “there is reasonable cause to believe that CDP engages in a pattern or practice of using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” This included “unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force,” “unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including tasers, chemical spray and fists,” and “excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis.” The report also details a severe lack of accountability. The release of these findings comes after the shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann.
Palestinian minister death: The UN has called for “maximum restraint” from Israelis and Palestinians following the death of 55-year-old Palestinian Authority Minister and Fatah’s Revolutionary Council member Ziad Abu Ein. He died Wednesday, Dec. 10, following a confrontation with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. Palestinian medics have reported that his death is the result of complications from tear gas, but some eyewitnesses say that Abu Ein was struck by the soldiers. Abu Ein was en route to plant olive trees with a group of about 100 activists when the confrontation occurred. Israel claims it will set up a joint Israeli-Palestinian investigation into the death. The EU has called for an independent investigation into the use of excessive force by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Hansler is a member of
the class of 2015.
