I know it doesn't happen often but Richard Bridge on this is totally correct.

Another couple of things from the way Barack Obama has "grandstanded" this one he has been reported as saying he will keep his foot on the neck of BP; he has been extremely vocal in insisting and making sure that BP will pay.

Now from what I have seen, heard and read:

BP has always accepted responsibility as the Operator Company, it has never said anything else.

Now whether through contractual means or through insurances BP can in turn recoup some of those costs from Transocean and halliburton that is a completely separate matter. But Obama does not have to keep his foot on anybodys neck, as he first must remove it from his mouth.

BP has always stated very clearly that it will pay any legitimate claim for compensation and for the clean up, it has never said anything to the contrary

Oh Kendall as one of the oldest international oil companies in the world and the independent that produces more oil than any of the others, BP's safety record is pretty good considering the scale of its operations. Its other claim to fame is that no other oil company is better at finding oil than BP, in its history it has found more "Elephants" than any other oil company.