U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself …

Obama: Gulf spill ‘echoes 9/11’  —  Sounding reflective as he heads into a bruising electoral season, President Barack Obama told POLITICO columnist Roger Simon that the Gulf disaster “echoes 9/11” because it will change the nation's psyche for years to come.

Sarah Palin, Forbesian — By: Jay Nordlinger  —  A few days ago, I did a post in which I linked to an article about Sarah Palin.  The article was published shortly after Palin was nominated for vice president.  My purpose in citing the article was to say something about Palin and Israel.

Vote Widens Divide Between Flemish- and French-Speaking Regions  —  BRUSSELS — The move to break up Belgium gathered pace on Sunday as a separatist won an emphatic election victory in Flanders, the more prosperous Dutch-speaking region of the divided nation.

Boehner: Lift the Cap  —  House Minority Leader John Boehner on This Week today said he's now in favor of lifting the cap on BP's liability in the Gulf oil spill.  Though currently law makes BP responsible for cleaning up the actual oil, it limits its liability to $75 million.

Students Instructed to Chant “I Am an Obama Scholar” (Video)  —  What is with these leftists?  —  Students are directed to chant “I am an Obama scholar.”  —  From Tom Ficklin in New Haven  —  Via P/Oed Patriot:  —  Obviously, that separation of church and state rule only applies to Christianity.

Isn't It Ironic?  —  It's funny how things work out sometimes.  —  The two men running the White House have very different relationships with the press; one is warm and one is frosty.  —  One's relationship is more JFK, and one's has self-pitying echoes of Nixon.

Obama wants BP escrow fund for spill damage  —  As more oil washes ashore, a letter from 54 senators calls for the company to set aside $20 billion.  —  Reporting from Washington and Atlanta — In an effort to seize greater control of the gulf oil catastrophe, President Obama is prepared …

Obama Plans First Oval Office Speech to Put Pressure on BP  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will use his first Oval Office speech Tuesday night to outline a plan to legally compel BP to create an escrow account to compensate businesses and individuals for their losses from the oil spill …