Witness testifies that dogs bit Abu Ghraib detainees News
Witness testifies that dogs bit Abu Ghraib detainees

[JURIST] A witness testified at a military Article 32 hearing [JAG backgrounder] Tuesday that dogs handled by two American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archives] bit and injured two Iraqi detainees. Pvt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick II, who in November was convicted of abusing Abu Ghraib detainees [JURIST report], alleged that the soldiers, Sgts. Santos A. Cardona and Michael J. Smith, were competing to see who could frighten the most Iraqi detainees with their dogs when the animals bit the two prisoners. Both soldiers face a multitude of charges for various counts of detainee abuse and prison sentences of up to 16 1/2 years for Cardona and 29 1/2 years for Smith. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.