Thursday News Quickies

I'm posting this quick roundup because the service that hosts my site, Blogger, is experiencing server problems and I don't know how stable it will be today.

* Representative John Conyers reminds those interested that he, along with Lewis Lapham, Michael Ratner (president of the Center for Constitutional Rights), John Dean and Liz Holtzman will participate on a panel about the case for impeachment on Mar 2 at 8pm ET in New York City. (See link for details - where he also reiterates his case). This will be aired live on Air America Radio and will be recorded for future viewing by C-SPAN. I would encourage anyone who is interested in the impeachment of George W Bush to listen and/or watch.

* In the midst of increasing violence and civil strife in Iraq, Juan Cole outlines the gridlock involved in moving forward with democracy and how the US is trying to manipulate the situation.

* The Italian Parliament has concluded "beyond any reasonable doubt" that the former Soviet Union was responsible for the attempted 1981 assassination of Pope John Paul II.

* The US military says it's captured 61 "al Quaeda in Iraq" members.

* A vehicle accident in Afghanistan has claimed the life of one Canadian soldier and injured 7 others.

* Outgoing Canadian ambassador to the US, Frank McKenna, thinks we should have been nicer to Bushco during our recent election. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Frank.

* Alberta Premier Ralph Klein admits his proposed health care reforms may violate the Canada Health Act, but he doesn't really care.

Interested in learning more about the US/Mexican border and immigration problems? Visit my friend, Man Eegee's blog.