BP is largely an American company. It was merged with Amoco some years ago and ceased at that point to be known as British Petroleum. It's corporate world centre is in Huston, Texas I believe, trading out of the former address of Amoco. BP employs 26,000 people in the USA, far more than in Britain and shares are held in joint liability 40% in British pension funds and 39% in US funds. Not a good day for anyone I'm afraid if president Obama has his way. He has been ill advised in latching onto what he thinks BP stands for and has as you've all commented, referred to BP as a British company. Not so and also, not wholely liable for the mess in the gulf.

Taking nothing away from the loss of life, livelyhood and ecologigical disater that this spillage is, president Obama's culture of blame is speculative at best and the facts need to be presented as they are to determine liability. Doubt if the American people even realise that this is not a British company any more, but that we have as much interest in it as anywhere else in the globe where BP trades.