THE GUARDIAN: Fishing fleet on standby for attempt to block slick as administration preempts 'slow to react' charge
Barack Obama stepped into the crisis over the oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, amid growing criticism that the US administration and BP were failing to get a grip on the potential catastrophe.
The president flew to New Orleans and travelled on by road to Venice, a small fishing town at the mouth of the Mississippi which has become the command post for the rapidly escalating rescue preparations.
As rain poured down upon him, Obama gave his assessment of what he called the "massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster" caused by three leaks still uncapped on a BP oilrig south of the Louisiana coast.
He warned that it could take days to stop the leaks, and said he recognised that "people are understandably frustrated and frightened, particularly as people in this region have already been through more disasters than anybody should have to bear."
And he issued a stern message to the British oil giant: "BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying the bill." >>> Ed Pilkington in Louisiana | Sunday, May 02, 2010
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Oil spill threatens to sink Obama's energy plan: Political damage will be hard to contain, not least because the slick could shatter the President's shaky compromise on offshore drilling >>> Konrad Yakabuski, Washington | Sunday, May 02, 2010
WATCH AP VIDEO: BP's reaction to clean-up criticism: BP reacts as federal officials and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal say they're worried that the company isn't doing enough to get ready for a fast cleanup. | Saturday, May 01, 2010
