That starts on the steps of city hall in the office of the mayor. We speak to a retired nypd detective about the killings, the recent protests against Police Brutality and policecommunity relations. Then to the hacking of sony films. I dont think it was an act of war, i think it was cybervandalism that was very costly and expensive. We take it very seriously. We will respond proportionately. The United States is accusing north korea of hacking into Sony Pictures prompting sony to withdraw its comedy, the interview, about fictional assassination of north Korean Leader kim jongun. As the u. S. Is now considering putting north korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, many cyber experts question if north korea could have pulled off the massive hacking operation. All that and more, coming up. Welcome to democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. New york city is grappling with the aftermath of the first targeted killings of Police Officers in years. Officers wenjian liu and rafael ramos were ambushed in broad daylight while sitting in their patrol car in brooklyn on saturday. The shooter, 28yearold Ismaaiyl Brinsley, fled to a nearby subway station where he turned the gun on himself. Shotg from a single gun wound. Earlier in the day, brinsley had shot his former girlfriend in maryland. He later used her Instagram Account to make antipolice statements suggesting he would kill officers to avenge the deaths of eric garner and Michael Brown. New york city mayor bill de blasio condemned the shootings. This was an assassination. These officers were shot execution style, particularly despicable act which goes at the very heart of our society and our democracy when a Police Officer is murdered, it tears at the foundation of our society. Us. S an attack on all of it is an attack on everything we hold dear. Criminal records show brinsley had a troubled history with the law, with multiple arrests and at least two years behind bars. His family says he had mental issues, including a reported Suicide Attempt a year ago. The officers doublekilling was condemned by the families of unarmed africanamericans recently killed by police and the protest groups that have sprung up in response. On sunday, eric garners mother gwen carr, and his widow, esaw gardner, said the killings have no connection to their quest for justice. We are going in peace. And anyone who is standing with us, we want you to not use eric garners name for violence, because were not about that. These two Police Officers lost senselessly. Our condolence to the family and we stand with the family. I want to express my condolences and heartfelt sadness for these two officers and their family. I know what theyre going through to lose a loved one right before the holidays and every thing. It is so sad. I would ask everyone that is protesting with us, please protest in a nonviolent way. My husband was not a violent man, so we dont want any violence connected to his name. The officers murders have highlighted police animosity toward new york city mayor bill de blasio over his response to issues of Police Brutality, racial profiling, and the recent protests. Some officers turned their backs on de blasio on saturday evening when he walked through the hospital where the slain pair was taken. The head of the patrolmens Benevolent Association, the citys Biggest Police union, said de blasio has blood on his hands. The group later denied issuing a widelycirculated statement that claimed we have become a Wartime Police department [and] will act accordingly. Protests against Police Brutality and racial profiling continued over the weekend, with actions including a sitin at brooklyns Atlantic Center mall on saturday and a silent march in harlem on sunday. Protests were also held across the country this weekend. Over 1,500 demonstrators shut down minnesotas mall of america for several hours on saturday afternoon, calling for justice in the cases of eric garner and Michael Brown. At least 25 people were arrested. One day earlier, dozens of protesters were arrested in milwaukee after blocking traffic on a major highway for over an hour. The action centered on the case of dontre hamilton, an unarmed mentally disabled black man shot dead during a confrontation with a Police Officer on april 30. Milwaukee Governor ScottWalker WisconsinGovernor Scott walker has called up the National Guard to be on standby to be on standby. The prosecutor who oversaw the Michael Brown grand jury has acknowledged knowingly calling witnesses who werent telling the truth. In his first interview since announcing the nonindictment of officer Darren Wilson last month, Bob Mccullough told a st. Louis Radio Station he decided to call all potential witnesses, even those who lied. Early on, i decided that anyone who claimed to have witnessed anything was going to be presented to the grand jury. And i knew that no matter how i handle this, there will be criticism of it. So if i did not put those witnesses on, then we would be discussing now why did not put those witnesses on, even though their statements were not accurate. I thought was much more important to present anybody and everybody. Some, clearly, were not telling the truth. Mccollough claims the lying went both ways. He acknowledged that one witness who testified in officer wilsons favor clearly wasnt present, at the scene, an apparent reference to witness 40, a woman with a history of mental issues, racist comments, and fabricated claims. In a letter, Missouri State lawmaker karla may to investigate mcculloch for prosecutorial misconduct, saying there is at least some evidence to suggest that mcculloch manipulated the grand jury process from the beginning to ensure that officer wilson would not be indicted. President obama says the u. S. Is considering putting north korea back on its list of terrorism sponsors after the hacking of Sony Pictures. Last week, the movie studio nixed the release of the comedy film the interview about a plot to kill north Korean Leader kim jongun. The cancellation followed threats against theaters and a hack of corporate data which Officials Say was ordered by the north korean government. Speaking to cnn, president obama said the u. S. Would respond proportionately, but said he doesnt consider the hacking an act of war. I dont think it was an act of war. I think it was an act of cybervandalism that was very costly, very expensive. We taken very seriously. We will respond proportionately. North korea has denied involvement and proposed a joint investigation with the u. S. Government to prove it. In a statement, a north korean official said we have a way to prove that we have nothing to do with the case without resorting to torture, as the cia does. The official also warned the u. S. Of serious consequences if the u. S. Rejects the proposal and launches countermeasures. Well have more on this story later in the broadcast. President obama delivered his final News Conference of the year friday at the white house. Obama addressed last recs historic agreement to restore full diplomatic relations with cuba, saying he will call on congress to end the longrunning embargo. We cannot literally unilaterally bring down the embargo. Hat is codified what i do think is going to happen, though, there is going to be a process where congress digests it and ill certainly weigh in. I think, ultimately, we need to go ahead and pull down the embargo, which i think has been selfdefeating in advancing the aims we are interested in. Speaking the next day in havana, cuban president castro pledged to improve the nations economy in the wake of the agreement. Castro also called on the west to respect cubas political system after decades of meddling. In the same way that we have never demanded that the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for hours. Cannot attend by an improving ties with the United States cuba will announce its ideas for which it has fought for more than a century, for which his people have shut a lot of blood and have run the biggest of risks. On friday, Jersey Governor Chris Christie as president obama to demand extradition of black panther ashada shakur. He was pulled over on the new jersey turnpike. And that both the officer and a fellow black panther dead. Ssata was sentenced to life imprisonment managed to escape and flee to cuba where she has lived since 1984. In a letter to president obama, Chris Christie said shakur should be returned to new jersey before any diplomatic ties are restored. At his wifes house news hiserence, president at white house News Conference, president obama addresseds pending decision on the keystone xl pipeline. He said the pipeline would not even have nominal benefit to u. S. Consumers, and although it knowledge acknowledging it would create temporary jobs, said the u. S. Could create far more by investing in public infrastructure. There is a Global Oil Market that is very good for Canadian Oil Companies and good for the canadian oil industry, but it is not going to be a huge benefit to u. S. Consumers. It is not going to even be of nominal benefit to u. S. Consumers. Those arent completely insignificant, you know, it is just like any other project, but when you consider what we could rebuilding we were our roads and bridges around the country, something that congress could authorize, we could probably create hundreds of thousands of jobs were a million jobs. President obama only took questions from female reporters at his News Conference. A decision the white house says was deliberate. New figures show the official death toll from ebola in west africa has topped 7300 out of more than 19,000 known infections. The World Health Organization says Western Sierra Leone is currently the hot spot of the continued outbreak, though the most victims have died in liberia. And the u. S. Has released four afghan prisoners from guantanamo bay. All four will return to afghanistan where theyll apparently be able to live without restriction. Speaking to cnn, president obama said he will do everything he can to close guantanamo. Im going to be doing everything i can to close it. It is something that continues to inspire jihadists and extremists around the world, the fact these folks are being held is contrary to our values and wildly expensive. You want them in a super max . I would think it does not make sense for us to spend millions of dollars for individual per when we have a way of solving this problem that is more consistent with our values. With the latest release, there are 132 prisoners left at guantanamo. And those are some of the headlines this is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. New york city continues to mourn two Police Officers killed in broad daylight on saturday when a gunman ambushed them. Officers wenjian liu and rafael ramos were sitting in their patrol car in brooklyn when 28yearold Ismaaiyl Brinsley approached the car and shot them dead. Brinsley then fled the scene, eventually turning the gun on himself as Police Closed in. Earlier in the day, he shot his former girlfriend in maryland. She survived and called police. You later used her Instagram Account to make antipolice statements for suggesting he would kill officers to avenge the deaths of eric garner and Michael Brown. He announced online im putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, lets take 2 of theirs. Criminal records show brinsley had a troubled history. He was arrested 15 times in georgia, four times in ohio, and served two years in prison on charges that included robbery, shoplifting, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of a Law Enforcement officer. On sunday, mass was held at st. Patricks cathedral and mourners gathered at a makeshift memorial to remember the life and service of the officers. At a News Conference, officer rafael ramos aunt lucy ramos thanked the community. I would like to thank all of those who have shared their sympathy and support for our beloved Family Member rafael ramos, who will always be loved and missed by many. I hope and pray that we can reflect on this tragic loss of life that has occurred so that we can move forward and find an amicable half to a peaceful coexistence. We would like to extend our condolences to the liu family. On sunday, president obama issued a statement that said i unconditionally condemn todays murder of two Police Officers in new york city. Two brave men wont be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification. And, new york city mayor bill de blasio said the attack on the officers is an attack on all of us. Although were still learning the details, it is good this was an assassination. These officers were shot execution style, particularly despicable act which goes at the very heart of our society and our democracy when a Police Officer is murdered, it tears at the foundation of our society. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on everything we hold dear. Todepend on our Police Protect us against forces of criminality and evil. Foundation of our society. And when they are attacked, it is an attack on the very concept of decency. Therefore, every new yorker should feel they ,too, were also attacked. Our entire city was attacked by this heinous visual individual. Meanwhile, some Police Officers have criticized new york city mayor bill de blasio, accusing him of unfairly siding with protesters rather than Police Killings of eric garner and some Police Officers turned their backs to mayor de blasio on saturday evening when he walked through the hospital where the slain officers had been taken. The president of the Police Officers union, Patrick Lynch said the Mayors Office should be held accountable. There is blood on many hands tonight. Those that incited violence on the streets under the guise of protests that try to tear down what new york city Police Officers did every day. Not god to warn it must on, it cannot be tolerated. That is blood on the hands that starts on the steps of city hall in the office of the mayor. That was the president of the Police Officers union, Patrick Lynch. Well, for more, were joined now by two guests here in new york. Graham weatherspoon is a retired detective with the new york city Police Department. Hes also a board member of the amadou diallo foundation. And Steven Thrasher is a weekly columnist for the guardian u. S. His most recent piece is called, two nypd cops get killed and Wartime Police blame the protesters. Have we learned nothing . Graham weatherspoon and Steven Thrasher, welcome to democracy now lets start with Graham Weatherspoon. Your response to what happened and response of the Patrolmans Benevolent Association to what happened . Flashbacks. E had i came into policing during a in new york period city in the mid1970s when crime was off the hook and guns were found everywhere. And Police Officers at that time were being killed at the rate of no less than one a month in new york city. I was on the funeral detail with transit police. I attended funerals routinely. We rehearsed at the brooklyn casket company, doing the procedures. My partner was shot in the face in 1978. He was off duty, going out to dinner with his mother. He saw something that didnt look right anyone to check it out. It was a robbery of an elderly woman. He was shot pointblank in the face. Kenny survived, thank and. The call came over the radio that a member had been shot. Transit police had poor radio communication. I called command and we were working in the village, and when spoon,d, a fellow said, it was kenny. At the station. Imagine what the families are going th