HONG KONG — Bosses of Big Oil have solemnly assured a U.S. congressional inquiry that they would never, ever, be as reckless or negligent as BP in causing the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In chorus they have claimed they all follow ultra-careful drilling procedures and have cleanup plans in the unthinkable event of an accident. Congressman Ed Markey pointed that they were the selfsame plans that BP had, even down to the promises to look after the walruses — creatures that have not lived in the Gulf of Mexico for 3 million years.
President Barack Obama has boldly kicked BP's ass and extracted an apology and an initial $20 billion for an escrow account to pay for the damage, including looking after people whose lives and livelihoods have been ruined by the spilling oil. He's made it plain that this is only a down payment and that BP will cough up every last cent until the spill is stopped and the beaches and wetlands restored to pristine health.