Robert Reich: Why the United States Still Can’t Get BP to Do What’s Necessary

[marmar]

Why the United States Still Can’t Get BP to Do What’s Necessary
Saturday, June 12, 2010


Here’s what Coast Guard Rear Adm. James A. Watson wrote to BP’s chief operating officer on Friday:

“Recognizing the complexity of this challenge, every effort must be expended to speed up the process.” BP’s plans don’t “go far enough to mobilize redundant resources” in the event of an equipment failure or another problem. “BP must identify in the next 48 hours additional leak containment capacity that could be operationalized and expedited to avoid the continued discharge of oil.”

Translated: You’re dragging your heels and aren’t even using all the equipment you have, damn it. You better, or I’ll … I’ll … .

BP spokesman Jon Pack said the company received Watson’s letter and would respond to it as soon as possible.

Translated: Too bad. Have a nice weekend.

The Administration has not used legal authority to order BP to do a thing, because it hasn’t asserted any legal authority. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://robertreich.org/post/691559649/why-the-united-states-still-cant-get-bp-to-do-whats

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Just like BP listened to the EPA when they were told to stop using Corexit

:grr: :nuke: :banghead:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. where are the teeth and claws Congress?

[blindpig]

3. What this shows is that Capital is superior to Government

How else is it that established authority is not invoked?

It is because there is a greater authority in our society.

[KharmaTrain]

4. So What Can The Government Do?

BP knows it's got this country and government by the short hairs. They were allowed to go beyond what technology and their own capabilities could handle and the government said all was good. Now when its gone bad, the government deregulated itself out of much, if any, ability to control this situation.

Sorry kids, there's no magic bullet here and the damage is just beginning. Even if the well is shut down today, the flow of oil will continue for months to come and the damage will get worse. We're learning how unprepared BP and our government were for such a calamity and all the hollaring and blaming isn't going to make things get any better anytime soon. Sure, we can send an Armada to try to skim all the oil or thousands of unemployed oil workers and fisherman to try to clean up the beaches and marshes, but it's too little too late.

BP owns this disaster but as a multinational corporation can tell the US government to go hang. What can they do? Try to seize assets? There's no political will in this country to do it...watch the uproar on faux noise and in the Congress. The only leverage I see is pulling BP's contract with the military and deny them any future permits. Otherwise what other options are there? I mean realistic ones that won't become a political football.

[90-percent]

5. Hypothetical

If BP conducted a surprise morning air raid on Pearl Harbor America would know what to do.

-90% Jimmy

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8552277

[snot]

7. Let's declare BP "enemy combatants."