New York Times: On the face of it, BP can easily afford to pay the short-term costs of the oil well that is leaking millions of gallons into the Gulf of Mexico. Last year, the company earned $17 billion, and it ended the year with more than $8 billion in cash. But concerns about BP’s ability to meet all its obligations over the long haul – or even survive the crisis intact – are rattling the government, Gulf Coast residents and investors. The ultimate cost of the disaster remains uncertain. …