Was his adoption engineered to look like a rescue - or at least blur the line to head off criticism that the Obamas had picked a purebred from a breeder?

Still, economists warn if Washington does not draw a line in its rescue of faulty lenders, it could lose credibility in preaching tough free market medicine abroad in the future.

For hours, this AD hoc rescue team formed a line and passed along bricks or chunks of concrete in an attempt to clear debris.