Former Abu Ghraib commander says little done to prevent detainee abuse News
Former Abu Ghraib commander says little done to prevent detainee abuse

[JURIST] US Army Reserve Colonel Janis Karpinski [JURIST news archive], former US commander of Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive], said Friday that the US military has done little to ensure that abuses first exposed by the Abu Ghraib photos are not continuing in US-run facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. In an interview [recorded audio] with BBC's Today program, Karpinski also welcomed Thursday's federal court ruling [PDF text; JURIST report] that the government must release additional photographs and videotapes that depict detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib. Karpinski said that the release, which has been delayed for at least 20 days, will allow the "opportunity to get a more balanced view and certainly a fair assessment of where the blame belongs." Karpinski, who was relieved of her command [JURIST report] over the Abu Ghraib scandal and subsequently demoted for dereliction of duty [JURIST report], has consistently said that she was the only high-ranking officer that was dealt with harshly and that others implicated in the scandal "walked." AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Hitler and Nazis attempt failed coup in Beer Hall Putsch

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted an ill-faited coup in Munich, Germany on November 8, 1923. Instead of seizing power, the conspirators suffered 15 casualties and their leaders were arrested, including Hitler. The future dictator would spend a year in prison as a result, where he would write his infamous Mein Kampf. Learn more about the Beer Hall Putsch.

Oregon legalized physician-assisted suicide

On November 8, 1994, Oregon passed the Death With Dignity Act by voter initiative, becoming the first US state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Read the Death With Dignity Act,

France government opens the Louvre as a public museum

On November 8, 1793, the revolutionary government in France opened the Louvre for the first time as a public museum. Learn more about the history of the Louvre.