Stop blaming UK for BP oil spill disaster:

[Still Waters]

Vince Cable has hit out at the 'extreme and unhelpful' anti-British rhetoric from the U.S. over BP's handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The Business Secretary stopped short of criticising President Barack Obama personally, and declared that Britain should not use ' gunboat diplomacy'.

Some MPs, however, have said Mr Obama was wrong to blame Britain for the problem.

The comments, which came yesterday as BP announced that a plan to funnel the oil away had partially worked, risked provoking a trans-Atlantic rift.

American politicians and broadcasters have laid the blame for the accident on the Deepwater Horizon rig at the feet of the UK - despite BP being a multinational company.

Mr Obama has continually referred to the company as 'British Petroleum' although it changed its name to BP more than a decade ago.

Mr Cable said yesterday: 'It's clear that some of the rhetoric in the U.S. is extreme and unhelpful.'

He added that the fury being levelled at the company was 'a reaction to big oil'.

Read more...

[Fernand0]

I expect reparations will be made. Americans will demand they be made, especially Floridians who depend on tourism and fishing.

Edited June 6, 2010 by Fernand0

[Agent X]

What? America will go to war with the UK over this incident?

[DevilCatGirl]

I have never loathed American politicians as much as I do now - even before the BP disaster. Both parties have become virtually ineffective in resolving ANYTHING lately, and this BP incident makes that very apparent.

Agent X - we will go to war on June 12 in South Africa! England vs. the U.S., baby!

[Fernand0]

What? America will go to war with the UK over this incident?

Great Scott, I think he's got it!

edit

/sarcasm

I have never loathed American politicians as much as I do now

My tolerance for them reached the event horizon a long time ago. It's getting spaghettified. Obama must be a supermassive black hole. Edited June 6, 2010 by Fernand0

[Agent X]

I have never loathed American politicians as much as I do now - even before the BP disaster. Both parties have become virtually ineffective in resolving ANYTHING lately, and this BP incident makes that very apparent.

Agent X - we will go to war on June 12 in South Africa! England vs. the U.S., baby!

You're not the only one. Many rational people in America loathe American politics because all they want to do is play the blame game for points.

And what's June 12th?

[keithisco]

You're not the only one. Many rational people in America loathe American politics because all they want to do is play the blame game for points.

And what's June 12th?

The World Cup!!! Football, UK v USA....

[DevilCatGirl]

You're not the only one. Many rational people in America loathe American politics because all they want to do is play the blame game for points.

And what's June 12th?

I hope the upcoming elections gives us a congressional enema. And you are SOOO right, FernandO. Grrrrr

The World Cup!!!!! I LOVE soccer (and American football too).

[Agent X]

I hope the upcoming elections gives us a congressional enema. And you are SOOO right, FernandO. Grrrrr

The World Cup!!!!! I LOVE soccer (and American football too).

Oh.

GO USA!

USA KICKS ****!

[Fernand0]

You're not the only one. Many rational people in America loathe American politics because all they want to do is play the blame game for points.

And what's June 12th?

Everything starting going downhill politically after Ronald Reagan's term. Many people blame him for the problems that followed his presidency, it is the fault of his enormously incompetent successors however.

[Samael]

supermassive black hole

Pffft...tee-hee...

...Ahem...

All crises have a scapegoat. All we have to do is wait until the USA screws up, or someone connected to the USA, or that one guy who visited America for an hour once when his plane stopped off in Atlanta to refuel, and then we blame them. Ha haha ha ha ha. Or just wait for the invention of time travel, go back to the 1770s and give the British army a few tips...

[danielost]

I have never loathed American politicians as much as I do now - even before the BP disaster. Both parties have become virtually ineffective in resolving ANYTHING lately, and this BP incident makes that very apparent.

Agent X - we will go to war on June 12 in South Africa! England vs. the U.S., baby!

you really dont buy that they dont know how to and cant stop this oil leak. i am speaking about both the government, you choose which one, or the company.

[DevilCatGirl]

The World Cup!!! Football, UK v USA....

YESSSSS!!!!!!!! The battle of the "infidels", lol. I'm sure you'd love to see Spain win again!

And to stay on topic, I live in the southern U.S. and many of my friends are reporting the devastation from the oil spill. The gulf wildlife and the shrimpers/fishing industries are in dire straits. It is so tragic.

[DevilCatGirl]

you really dont buy that they dont know how to and cant stop this oil leak. i am speaking about both the government, you choose which one, or the company.

The government AND the company are to blame. If they really know how to stop this leak, they would have done so by now. Think of the thousands of lawsuits that are going to arise from this disaster.

[rashore]

I don't see the point of blaming the UK for what's happening...

But for sure the companies involved in this tragedy should have to fork out to pay for the damages caused and cleanup needed. If that means lesser dividends for the shareholders, that's just part of the risk of holding stock.

[DevilCatGirl]

I don't see the point of blaming the UK for what's happening...

But for sure the companies involved in this tragedy should have to fork out to pay for the damages caused and cleanup needed. If that means lesser dividends for the shareholders, that's just part of the risk of holding stock.

Hi rashore...I hope you realize I'm talking about the American government - NOT the UK.

[hetrodoxly]

How can you blame Britain for what BP does? Obama's rhetoric reminds me of Bush more and more, only Bush wouldn't have blamed Britain.

Ownership statistics

Beneficial owners as at 31 December 2009

Percentage of shares in issue

UK 40%

US 39%

Rest of Europe 10%

Rest of World 7%

Miscellaneousc 4%

Edited June 6, 2010 by hetrodoxly

[GreyWeather]

I hope someone informs Obama that it's "Beyond Petrolium" and not "British Petrolium".

It's a gov't's stance to blame everyone, while sitting behind a desk thinking up new insults to throw. Rather than giving a helping hand - I haven't heard of any American gov't company joining up with BP to stem the oil flow, despite the Gov't declaring wildlife is in danger.

One day, politicians will get up out of their office and direct people on what to do in an efficient manner...

...Maybe.

Edited June 6, 2010 by GreyWeather

[rashore]

Hi rashore...I hope you realize I'm talking about the American government - NOT the UK.

Yeppers And like you, I think the US government has their fingers in this honey jar

[Princess Serenity]

I heard this morning when I got up that Obama has yelled at BP. For making an million dollar ad regarding the oil spill. I'm sorry but that's uncalled for! At least they said they're say and doing whatever it takes to stop it. Yelling at BP isn't going to stop the oil! Might make you feel good but isn't going to stop it. I've seen the ad on Friday (I think).

[DevilCatGirl]

Yeppers And like you, I think the US government has their fingers in this honey jar

Of course they do! I'm willing to bet in the months to come we'll see a few scandals start rearing their nasty little heads from past "transactions". At least with the Exxon Valdez disaster (horrific as it was), there was pretty much one man to blame. In this situation there is no telling how many greedy, soulless people have had their hands in this. It makes my stomach turn.

[Fernand0]

If that means lesser dividends for the shareholders, that's just part of the risk of holding stock.

The share holders need not worry, after some bribes and sexual favors from special interest groups in Washington the American taxpayers will cover the cost.

edit

Haven't you heard? There is no such thing as acceptable losses anymore, simply bill the American taxpayer for any mess or war as it polices the world. Problem solved.

Edited June 6, 2010 by Fernand0

[DevilCatGirl]

The share holders need not worry, after some bribes and sexual favors from special interest groups in Washington the American taxpayers will cover the cost.

edit

Haven't you heard? There is no such thing as acceptable losses anymore, simply bill the American taxpayer for any mess or war as it polices the world. Problem solved.

YES YES YES!!!!!! You know the routine all too well, as do I. I have paid dearly for other people's idiocy & greed. I suppose I will continue to do so since I'm a small business owner...in other words - a TARGET.

[itsnotoutthere]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/obama-starting-to-sound-like-a-bit-of-an-****-201006102804/

[supervike]

Give me a break, it WAS called BRITISH Petroleum. No one is blaming the UK for it, just BP. The term British Petroleum is still part of the parlance here, it doesn't mean that folks thing limeys came over and dumped oil in gulf.

Obama is guilty only of using an outdated term. I still call KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, but if I get sick eating there I don't blame Kentuckians!

Just another whiney blogger looking for attention.