Where are all the other oil companies during this catastrophic event?

[Control-Z]

I keep hearing that BP has to have absolute control over this gusher in the gulf because they are the only ones qualified to deal with it. They're not the only company making billion dollar quarterly profits off of oil.

I haven't heard word one about any other oil company helping out. Not one word. Why aren't "American" oil companies stepping up to offer their expertise to help save our precious waters, coastlines, wildlife, and fellow Americans?

I don't get it. Perhaps we don't do any drilling, just refining? I can't imagine that, but what do I khow?

[yodoobo]

1. #1 saying to themselves "thank god its them and not us"

#2 planning on how to capitalize on BP's mistake

#3 staying as far as away from it as possible so that they are not associated with the disaster.

[Control-Z]

16. You are probably right

on all three accounts, but one would think that the powers that be would want a more friendly (I use friendly very loosely) company and possibly one with American environmental and economic interests taking the lead.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Maybe they just don't want to be seen as part of the same industry..even though they are...

Guilt by association....they are trying to avoid it.

[Control-Z]

8. Imagine...

Imagine the goodwill these oil companies could generate if they would just step up as volunteers to help save our country's, possibly the world's, oceans?

Fucking greedy bastards.

I'm so angry right now I can't translate it to words.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. GREED! That is the linchpin to all this horror

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. Ten foot pole - Liability

No one wants to touch this.

[Control-Z]

9. They would be

heroes if they came forth without a price tag. Americans volunteer when there's a disaster. Oil companies??? They just keep counting their profits, I guess.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Indeed.

[gateley]

4. I think I heard that many reps from the other companies are being consulted,

don't know if BP let them get on board, but I believe the government has pulled in others as well.

[Control-Z]

13. BP should have no say.

None whatsoever. If there is an American company with the expertise they should be called in and paid all costs and any losses by BP. BP needs to pay for all the outside help they can get to help clean up their mess. And any vessel that can skim and clean the the waters should be allowed all rights to do so.

Fuck BP and all responsible for this disaster.

[scheming daemons]

5. They're sitting back and enjoying the fact that BP stock has lost 1/3 of its value

...

[Control-Z]

17. Only 1/3?

That must be based on this quarter's profit and loss. I hope they bankrupt after paying for the cleanup, losses, and damages. Their shareholders, the little guys with small investments, should be paid off as part of their losses. The major shareholders can go to hell.

[scheming daemons]

19. So far....

....

[OHdem10]

6. The other companies should send in empty tankers and line

them up along the spill and litterally vacuum up suck
up the oil. Yes it will have water. They can separate
the oil and water. Guess what they salvage oil while
clearing oil.

BP continue to Plug the darn hole and get the rig straightened
out.

[Control-Z]

14. Yep.

There is not a reason in the world to stop reputable American companies from cleaning/sucking up the oil if they have the capacity to. I don't understand why that didn't begin on day one.

I've heard they are worried about the quality of water that goes back into the ocean. My ass. BP is afraid someone might make money off of "their" oil.

[Pirate Smile]

7. At the Press Briefing Gibbs had with Allen and Browner yesterday, Allen made it clear that he had

talked with other oil companies and none of them said they would do anything different or had different ideas that weren't already being tried. That was why when he was asked if the Feds should replace BP his response was "and replace them with who?" We would have to contract out with other oil industry people - none of whom have said they would proceed any differently.

This is why I think it is actually interesting to hear from the people who know what is going on instead of just people spouting outrage on TV. People keep getting themselves convinced and outraged that there is some easy solution we just aren't using - there is no easy solution we aren't trying.

[Control-Z]

12. I think BP is working directly from the standpoint

of what they have to lose or gain. I don't believe they have a single concern for the environment, or life, if it is not directly connected to their wallet.

Outside oil companies could approach the problem with something other than profits in mind, imo.

[HuckleB]

15. Making money.

[Control-Z]

18. If this catastrophic disaster

were to teach any real lessons, every oil company would lose money. I would love to see the oil business completely out of business. We have the minds to create the technologies that would do that. But the greed. Oh, the greed, always seems to overpower.

[HopeHoops]

20. Hiding - so their names don't appear in any articles about the Gulf of Cheney.