Yeah, they actually can move damned quick...when they don't have to deal with state and local governments, and coordinate between a multitude of federal agencies. If those oil fires were in California, with the city, county, and CA state governments as well as DOE, Interior, HHS, EPA, etc. involved, they'd still be burning.
It's a lot easier when the emir of a postage-stamp sized Middle Eastern country can call Red Adair and say "Git 'er done", and the US government isn't even involved.