Obama to Break Promise, Opt Out of Public Financing for General Election  —  In a web video to supporters — “the people who built this movement from the bottom up” — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, announced this morning that he will not enter into the public financing system, despite a previous pledge to do so.

Lawmakers Reach Deal To Expand Surveillance  —  WASHINGTON — After more than a year of partisan acrimony over government surveillance powers, Democratic and Republican leaders have agreed to a bipartisan deal that would be the most sweeping rewrite of spy powers in three decades.

Deals With Iraq Are Set to Bring Oil Giants Back  —  BAGHDAD — Four Western oil companies are in the final stages of negotiations this month on contracts that will return them to Iraq, 36 years after losing their oil concession to nationalization as Saddam Hussein rose to power.

Russert's Son Sounds a Theme of Unity at Funeral  —  WASHINGTON — In death, Tim Russert did on Wednesday what no living journalist has accomplished this campaign season: he got Barack Obama and John McCain to sit together and talk, quietly.  —  Specifically, it was Mr. Russert's son, Luke …

Sue OPEC  —  THE president of the United States has the power to attack, and perhaps destroy, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the illegal cartel that has driven the price of oil over $130 per barrel.  This can be accomplished without invasion or bombing.  No special legislation is needed.

Iran on Its Heels  —  In Tehran's Setbacks, an Opportunity in Iraq  —  For the first time since 2003, Iran has stumbled in Iraq.  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's decision to confront Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army in Basra and Sadr City last month caught Tehran off guard.

Not Over for Haditha Marine  —  I just spoke with Brian Rooney at the Thomas More Center, a public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor that has been defending the Haditha “massacre” marines  —  Yesterday's good news about the dismissal of all charges against Lt Colonel Jeffrey Chessani …

Rumsfeld repays McCain; declines to back candidate  —  Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently declined to answer whether he will support Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president.  —  McCain, the GOP presidential standard-bearer, has been one of Rumsfeld's harshest critics.

SUBPOENA BLITZ PUTS HEAT ON AL  —  IRS SEEKS INFO FROM TOP DONORS  —  The probe into the Rev. Al Sharpton's finances intensified this week, with the IRS sending out a flurry of subpoenas to his most generous corporate donors, The Post has learned.  —  Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Budweiser …