The real endgame Karzai is working toward is that of a nominal, Pashtun-nationalist government in Kabul overlaying a Taliban-dominated countryside. Together they function not only as a crime family capable of exploiting Afghanistan’s resources but also as a highly effective proxy for Pakistan’s interminable battle against Indian influence.

If the banks think they have it tough now with the swarms of Lilliputian pro se defendants standing up to them, think about how it’s going to be when sophisticated pension funds and their large law firms come after them. Oh, yeah, and let’s not forget those prosecutors with their open criminal investigations, yum.

In an “analysis” piece by the Times David Sanger, we learn the astonishing fact that Barack Obama is in danger of being perceived as overly hostile to large corporations like BP, because he wants them to pay for the damages they cause.

Some good news out of Congress about protecting workers involved in the BP oil disaster, as well as offshore oil workers. Rep. George Miller’s House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a hearing on oil worker safety on Wednesday.

Hillary Clinton let the cat out of the bag a bit early yesterday, speaking with a TV station in Ecuador, when she said that the federal government would file suit against the state of Arizona over their draconian immigration law, SB1070. But after the Justice Department issued no comment on the matter, today a senior Administration official confirmed Clinton’s comment.

Main Justice reports that Pat Leahy and DOJ’s Inspector General Glenn Fine have been chatting about further IG review of the FBI’s use of the several PATRIOT provisions that were contentious issues in last years attempt to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act. This means that Fine is going to do what the legislation would have mandated — conduct further reviews of these authorities — on his own. But I’m also interested in the scope Fine lays out for his review in his response to Leahy.

After Tony’s abysmal performance yesterday before the House Subcommittee on investigations, is anyone surprised that BP’s Chairman just announced Tony “I want my life back” Hayward may get his wish?

Yesterday, The New Republic’s Jonathan Chait wrote a rather odd post about how silly it is for progressives to be disappointed with Obama, since really, the President of the United States can’t do too much about policy.

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Stunning video is now available that suggests oil is now leaking from the sea floor around the well spilling oil into the Gulf. This could serve as confirmation that the well casing has been breached.