In the June 23rd paper the Editor commented it was time for the Federal Govt to take over the BP oil spill.
I’ve heard this comment from others also . My question is; “And do what”? Isn’t it obvious by now the Federal Govt has no expertise in this area?
The sad part is both BP and the Feds were supposed to have an action plan in place. How many are aware (certainly not the press) that the CIA has a terrorist scenario that exactly mimics this very same BP oil well blowout.
The only difference is it’s caused by terrorists who blow up an oil platform and the oil flow cannot be stopped. Now who is supposed to develop action plans for these scenarios?
Hmmm; do you suppose it’s the Federal Govt. Our very own Department of Homeland Security and the CIA, in conjunction with the Coast Guard, were supposed to have an action plan for this very event. Unfortunately other things took priority (politics, lobbyists, etc) and no real action plan was ever developed.
Let’s recap. The Feds were supposed to have an action plan but didn’t.
The Feds have stopped or delayed every plan that any Gulf Coast State has come up with to prevent on-shore oil fouling.
The Feds have admitted that with all their hiring sprees in past few years that “gee they forgot to hire some real experts” and made same foolish mistake Bush did; hire political appointees (buddies) to run technical departments like the Energy Department and other Departments that are supposed to be qualified to respond to national disasters.
Yes the Feds can hire consultants but when the consultants move their lips the Federal political employees have no idea what the consultants are talking about so it’s all a big waste of time anywise.
I will give the White House credit for browbeating BP into giving up $20b for cleanup but I lived in Alaska for a number of years; I’ll believe that $20b when the Gulf Coast sees all of it. I suspect they’ll be lucky to see $5b of real money actually flow to the Gulf Coast.
I hope I’m wrong because oil spills do leave a big expensive mess behind and it takes years for the environment to recover but eventually it does if the Alaska Valdez area is any judge.
George Roser, Climax Springs
Climax Springs, Mo. —
