Chile mine rescue leader: Obama 'not correct'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Chile mine rescue leader: Obama 'not correct'
Updated: January 27, 2011, 5:09 PM


SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - The leader of Chile's remarkable mine rescue says President Barack Obama exaggerated the role of an American drilling engineer.

Obama said during his State of the Union speech Tuesday that when Brandon Fisher saw the news that 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine last year, "no one knew how to save them," and that Fisher "designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B."

The Plan B drill, using Fisher's unique piston-driven hammers, did provide the miners with a way out. But Chilean engineer Andre Sougarret, who began planning the rescue three days into the 69-day ordeal, says it's "not correct" to suggest that Fisher and other Americans "were the only participants in the success."

Sougarret noted in an interview with Chile's El Mercurio newspaper that Fisher's drilling company, Center Rock Inc. of Berlin, Pa., got paid $100,000 for its equipment, and was one of many companies involved.

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/business/24-hour-business-news/article325691.ece

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Broderick]

2. Give Chile some credit...... ;)

[SharonAnn]

4. Yes, they have a lot of experience in mining and though the Americans

were able to help, there were many other players.

This idea of "American Exceptionalism", that somehow we're the only ones who know something or are good at it, is a really bad idea for us to believe in. It prevents us form seeing what is going on outside the United States and what policies, solutions, techniques, etc. are available in other countries.

For example, I have had to get emergency medical care in Chile, Germany, and Israel. They were all outstanding! Absolutely outstanding! We're not the only place with some success stories nor the only place with talented and experienced people.

[Broderick]

6. +1

[Cleita]

7. I lived in Chile among Americans and they have

always been unwilling to admit that the Chileans were smart, inventive and had good ideas too. Quell surprise that they would take all the credit for what was really an international effort to put together a plan. I was taken aback too when Obama said this.

[rabs]

9. Mercurio interview

and what the AP left out.

http://www.cooperativa.cl/sougarret-corrigio-a-obama-contratistas-de-ee-uu-no-fueron-los-unicos-ni-tampoco-fue-gratis/prontus_nots/2011-01-27/091226.html

:hi:

[Cleita]

10. Gracias!

La verdad es una cuenta diferente, no?

[Ex Lurker]

3. I didn't infer from the Presiden't remarks that Americans were the only ones involved

There's nothing to this.

[humbled_opinion]

5. Well then their President should talk about that at

Their SOTU.... This was the State of the Union in the USA.... I didn't infer that America was the only country helping the trapped miners either. In fact it was publically broadcast that many nations helped .... but who cares..... This was our state of the union the story was meant to broadcast hope to American businesses not Chilean or Costa Rican, or Scotish businesses, American businesses....

Some People and Context don't mix well...

[bread_and_roses]

8. Got that right - SOTU "to broadcast hope to American businesses "

...now...the American people...not so much....