'Anti-British' Obama Attacked Over BP
4:04am UK, Friday June 11, 2010
Damien Pearse, Sky News Online
Barack Obama has been labelled anti-British for his attack on BP in an open letter from the head of one of the country's leading companies.
In the astonishing letter - seen by Sky News - John Napier, chairman of insurance company RSA, said Mr Obama should act in a "more Statesman like way".
The attack comes as President Barack Obama invited BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg to meet him and senior administration officials at the White House next Wednesday.
Mr Napier appeared in an exclusive interview on Jeff Randall Live this evening and explained why he had written to the president.
He said: "I've just put on record my concerns about the tone that has developed, particularly about the personalisational issues, which is alien to us in our culture.
"And the fact it's being received over here as an anti-British rhetoric - that may not be his intent, but that is how it's reading."
Whilst we all recognise the seriousness of the situation there is a need to put some balance back into the situation.
John Napier, chairman of RSA
In the letter Mr Napier bluntly questions Mr Obama's ability to take "the heat when under pressure".
It follows the president's scathing attacks on BP and particularly its chief executive Tony Hayward in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil rig disaster.
Earlier this week Mr Obama said he wanted to know "whose ass to kick" over the massive spill and levelled yet more criticism at BP's handling of the leak.
Shares in the company have taken a battering since the comments. They have fallen nearly 45% or by £54.5bn since the explosion.
Mr Napier's no-holds barred letter to Mr Obama wastes no time in attacking the president over his handling of the case.
He writes: "Please forgive this open letter but your comments towards BP and its CEO as reported here are coming across as somewhat prejudicial and personal.
"There is no doubt that BP, as a UK PLC, is totally committed to do everything possible to contain the oil leak and meet all its obligations in the USA."
The comments are the most outspoken so far about the crisis by a leading British business figure and underline the growing concerns of British business over the White House’s anti-BP rhetoric.
He goes on: "There is a sense here that these attacks are being made because BP is British.
"If you compare the damage inflicted on the economies of the western world by polluted securities from the irresponsible, unchecked greed and avarice of leading USA international banks, there has not been the same personalised response in or from countries beyond the US.
"Perhaps a case of double standards?"
He continues: "The immediate issues are very challenging but are best solved working together in a more Statesman like way."
He ends the letter: "We can all agree that the first and absolute priority is to stem the leak.
"Perhaps the second one is to ensure the reputation of the Presidency outside the USA is seen as objective, balanced, able and capable of taking the heat when under pressure.
"We liked the Obama we saw at your election, can we have more of it please."
more here:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Article/201006115647312
Obama has never spoken to BP CEO
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