Meanwhile, over at the latest New York Times piece, by Louise Story, After Stumbling, Mattel Cracks Down In China, yet another Mattel executive, executive vice president for worldwide operations, Thomas Debrowski, blames someone else:

"I think it's the fault of the vendor who didn't follow the procedures that we've been living with for a long time," Mr. Debrowski said.

Well, as long as they keep saying things like that, they're a long way from solving the problem. Here's a suggested restatement:

"It was our fault at Mattel because we trusted, but we did not verify. Squeezing safety to meet low-cost price points, we failed to require independent third-party testing to assure that U.S. quality and safety standards were being met by our suppliers before we put the Mattel/Fisher-Price brands on the toys from China we entered into commerce in America to sell for small children to play with. So, we take full responsibility."

I am sure some corporate damage control-crisis management consultant-flack is being paid hundreds of dollars an hour to provide that same advice, Mr. Debrowski. Here it is, no charge.