• U.S. Senate Releases Report on CIA Torture Tactics Post-9/11 as U.S. Fears Retaliation Overseas

    Earlier this morning the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee released a 500-page report that is a summary of the CIA's post-9/11 torture program, which was intended to make prisoners of war give up crucial information. It has been widely reported that the Central Intelligence Agency took extreme measures in order to unsuccessfully make al-Qaida members talk in the years following 9/11. President Barack Obama supported the public release of the five-year investigation in the hopes that the American government will use it as a future example of what not to do. What we are learning from this report is that the people who worked in the "enhanced interrogation program" basically resorted to torture such as waterboarding, mock executions and threatened sexual violence under inhumane conditions for detainees — many of whom were later revealed to have no terrorism ties whatsoever. The U.S. government has confirmed that the program was more horrific than most Americans knew and that it went against our country's code of behavior. Obama quickly banned "enhanced interrogation techniques" once taking office after his 2009 inauguration. Of course, there is a dangerous downside to this full report being made public, and some lawmakers believe it was a "reckless" move because it can ultimately light a fire under those who are already wishing to bring harm to U.S. business at home and overseas. Embassies are under heavy guard and U.S. government buildings are at a heightened security as everyone waits for the international rage and backlash that is inevitably coming.

  • While GOP Swept Midterms, Political Canvas Will Likely Swing to Democrats in 2016

    The Republican Party was hopeful heading into yesterday's midterm election — with good reason. President Barack Obama's approval rating has hit an all-time low with even those who voted him into a second term often wondering if it was a mistake. Americans tend to favor making big, sweeping changes, and by late last night, as the numbers across the country were tallied, the Republican sweep was being referred to as a "wave." The GOP was able to seize control of the U.S. Senate by picking up at least seven seats previously held by Democrats, a wishful goal that had previously eluded them since 2006. The Republican Party also won 13 U.S. House of Representatives races, expanding its already sizable majority to at least 241 seats. That is the most seats the party has held since the days of President Herbert Hoover. The number of Republican governors will also greatly outnumber that of Democrats when Inauguration Day rolls around. People wanted change, and for now they will have it. Here's the thing: Since Americans like change so much, and it is going to take more than two years for our nation to feel different, there is a good chance that for every seat a Republican flipped last night, a Democrat will flip it back in 2016. Basically, the GOP has two years to pull off a miracle or people's rallying for change will actually put the Democrats in great shape for having serious control.
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