[hummingbird]

You are more than right that "every country has laws effecting these companies." "...US congress is no more qualified to manage an oil company than they are to manage education..." OR themselves. (tax laws, social security, etc.) But, oil and gas is big, big, big in Africa, the Middle East and Russia on greasing skids to "get-r-done." I laugh every time I see a MSM article or hear something on TV and everyone is "shocked, shocked, shocked" about a US company involved in "bribes" with O & G producing countries. It isn't called "bribes" in the O & G world but it amounts to the same thing. Money changes hands and if you want to play ball, you pay back door, from the lowest bureaucrat to the highest level. I can't give you specifics because I don't have any; I just know that it happens. <8^\

It's like the gambling in Casablanca at Rick's Place....

[PretzeLogic]

You're right, it isn't called a bribe; it is called a "grease payment".