Thursday, January 05, 2006

And to think I almost felt sorry for Sago mine CEO Hatfield!

Damn! I've really got to start thinking more like an empathy-impaired Republican!

From CNN:

Chaos broke out in the church and a fight started. About a dozen state troopers and a SWAT team were positioned along the road near the church because police were concerned about violence. Witnesses said one man had to be wrestled to the ground when he lunged for mining officials.

And here I was, feeling a bit sorry for the CEO, whom I imagined was trying to figure out how he was going to break the news to the families that the 12 miners were dead.

Now I want to know if Hatfield waited until the damned SWAT team was in place before he sent some poor schmuck to break the bad news to the families.

Oh, by the way...

Don't fall for that "Hatfield isn't responsible for the zillions of violations because he just took over" crap, either.

There was no "new" company.

"Last summer, his (WL Ross') group acquired Horizon Resources, the #7 US coal company, which had gone bankrupt for the second time in five years. And he has announced that he is on the lookout for other coal companies. The company is being combined with other, smaller WL Ross Group coal holdings Anker Coal and CoalQueest. The new entity will be called International Coal Group."

And there's also this CNN media "miscommunication"...

"ICG (International Coal Group) acquired the Sago mine only last year when it bought bankrupt Anker Coal Group Inc.," with the same Wilbur Ross at the head of both.

The company is only "new" on paper.

I can't believe I was actually considering Hatfield's feelings! Typical bleeding heart liberal reaction, I suppose.

I should've remembered and honored that other Hatfield...

And Matewan.

If anyone can think of any reason why I should feel sorry for the Sago mine management team, let me know. And if you can think of a good reason why a "new" company on paper means you can ignore so many serious violations, send your evidence my way, too.

It's not like Bennet Hatfield was "new" to the coal biz, either:

Bennett K. Hatfield

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Hatfield has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2005. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hatfield served as President, Eastern Operations of Arch Coal, Inc. from March 2003 until March 2005. Prior to joining Arch Coal, Inc., Mr. Hatfield was Executive Vice President of El Paso Energy's Coastal Coal Company from December 2001 through February 2003. That assignment was preceded by a lengthy career with Massey Energy Company where he last served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from June 1998 through December 2001. Mr. Hatfield has a B.S. in mining engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University.

Truly heavy sigh.


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