Admiral Allen...Just some things I've noticed...

First, this is an honest man, and he knows what he's talking about. Rarely have I seem someone so apolitical in a situation like this. He sticks to the facts as they are known at the time and he's extremely adept at not being corralled by some of the incredibly stupid questions the media seems to come up with.

I watched him on Tweety last night, and he almost had Tweety in tears because he couldn't get Allen to commit to what Tweety wanted to hear. He stood by facts and was as open as I've ever seen any officer of high rank. He explained, (for what seems to be the 1000th time), what is happening, how it is being approached, and what the CG is doing...it's job is to coordinate efforts, not do the actual clean up.

In Q/A sessions that would break a normal individual, Admiral Allen has stuck to facts, not brought up insane situations, not gone into hyperbolic mode nor has he blamed anyone, other than those known to have made obvious errors in judgment. This is precisely the type of individual to have in charge of a situation of this magnitude.

Like all individuals, he is not Superman, he doesn't have all the answers, what he does do is seek out answers to a serious problem, and realizes that this will take time and extraordinary effort. There is no magic involved, it is science, and some of that science is new to a degree...the thing is, he's willing to try anything that seems to be viable, and then tell the public what is happening. No hedging and hawing, just right off the site updates w/o the frills and fireworks.

For the record, I'm an Army vet, and we always kind of looked at the CG as a bunch of, well, "misfits"...(interservice rivalry and all that, we'd call the USMC, "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children"...the usual stuff), but I'll tip my hat to Admiral Allen's CG. Considering the problems they face, getting honest and straight forward updates from Allen, and knowing these men and women are working tirelessly in an environment that is extremely hostile and basically unknown, and even though this disaster is almost beyond comprehension, I'm glad this man is in charge of the effort.

:patriot:

There are still a few honorable Admirals/Generals left in the military.

some I can recall the names, some I can't. Shalishkavelli was one; Clark is another; Schwartzkopff.

The 4th Div had an ADC, BG Drummer. This guy really cared about the troops. In Germany, he stopped me and some others and asked how things were going during an "Operation Freeze Your Ass", and we told him we walked to town because we had not fuel or food. Gave him an 8 digit grid, and when we got back to the M113, it was being fueled and there was hot chow...this was within 20 minutes! (Found out later the Bn Cdr and Co Cdr were both reamed out for "losing" us in the wilds of Winter in Central Germany...:D ).

out of his ears because he couldn't get Allen in a compromising position. The man was cool, calm, and collected, though I can just imagine what he was thinking about that inane interview.

He serves us well, and I too am proud of him and the CG in their efforts to carry out this task. (I have a lot of Coasties in my family, so I'm doubly proud!)

:patriot:

He unmasked his full tilt anti-democrat bullshit agenda. Calling democrats "liars" over and over. Why was it he never called Bush and Cheney LIARS? EVER?

Is he trying to get a raise out of Jack Welch/NBC/GE?

I don't find that a) He is necessarily honest, or that b) he sticks to the facts. I think he speaks like a PR person for BP.

On several occasions he has laid the blame firmly at BP's feet...he's giving us up to date real info, and as near as I can figure, he doesn't take kindly to ignorance or BS...:hi:

It seems obvious that he's in BP's pocket.

Thank you.

had worked? Is this the same guy whose people are working on board BP boats that turn back the media under orders of the CG? Is this the same guy who has had them deploy the booms they way they are deployed and who took 10 days of so to call for skimmers from the Atlantic stations? (FYI all Coast Guard vessels available are not being used - its fleet week after all, that's important to be at.)

compatible with the situation.

The job of the CG is to coordinate the various functions, not do the actual cleanup. I think some people don't realize that. Just as when Tweety pushed the "skimmer" scenario, Allen explained that there were several hundred vessels in the areas, and it might not be wise to bring in tankers, (if they are even available), at this time. He was concise in his explanation, and being on site, with a constant barrage of updating info coming in his direction, I believe he is doing a darn good job, especially in keeping us up to date on what is happening.

You may think differently, that is your right...but I'd like to ask, like Admiral Allen did, if you have better ideas, please contact the CG through their emergency website...:hi:

with better solutions.

They have been ignored.

The snarky use of the smiley doesn't alter the facts.

And your post hardly responds to the points in my post.

Do the people who are making suggestions understand the logistics? Do they understand the depth of the problem?

Experts from around the world are on this...but a few armchair hydrologists have all of the answers?

For the record, Allen stated on several occasions that some of the ideas have been utilized, some failed, some are still being used. The CG has been very open about this.

to have discussions with you and then you won't be posting responses to me that do not reply to my posts.

Dealing with containing and controlling the leak is one issue.

Stopping the leak(s), plugging the well is another.

CG is in charge of coordinating the containment, stopping the oil from making landfall. They do have the vessels and/or the ability to get the vessels.

They are the ones responsible for protecting our shores.

The good admiral you have been defending is the one that proudly announced yesterday that the "top kill" worked and the well was plugged.

Hell, just looking at the images one could tell the leaks were not plugged, the mud isn't supposed to spew from them any more than the oil is. Once the mud spew out and is no more the oil follows. Slowing the flow for a short time is not plugging the hole or stopping the leak.

Plenty of folks have told the CG that the way the booms are being used is not the proper way to use the booms. Legitimate methods of extracting the oil have been presented to the CG and have been ignored. Hell, the CG turned vessels away the first week. You may want to check the videos from the first days and see how much effort was being made to contain the "spill".

What is their expertise?

We can see mud spewing...not oil. It has been admitted, by this Admiral, that things are not going as well as could be hoped for. What is your answer?

try to follow the threads posted here and you will find out "who these people" are and what experience they have.

The Admiral only admitted that things were not going well after BP had reported that his "all is good, they done it" report was wrong.

My answer is, get rid of the goddamn admiral who keeps screwing up (and looks to be retiring soon and needs a kosh job with BP to be their liason with the CG after he retires) and find someone who is willing to protect the shoreline and the citizens and to hell with BP's concerns.

BP needs to plug the well - the Coast Guard needs to do their job, they need to protect the citizens and the shores.

my oh my.

Very frustrating

You would think folks could understand that the two tasks are separate. I don't expect Obama to go to the bottom and plug the hole.

I do expect him to have made available all the resources available to clean this crap up, to save our gulf.

That hasn't happened and if he is relying on the admiral he should know by now that the admiral is not doing him justice. I'd look to court martial that fellow, he has wholly failed in his mission.

No one could reasonably expect BP is not doing all they can to cap the gusher or that the government could find others to do better on it. But it does appear BP is more concerned with cosmetic coverup than vigorous efforts at cleanup. I see their priority in this area as limiting their costs.

What does the CG have that could do the job? The Navy, the AF, the Army, the Marines...?

As far as I know, they gathered the resource they could, minds, to deal with the problem, that is what the administration is obliged to do. Thing are moving forward, regardless of all of the complaining. The logistics of this is beyond most people's expertise, this is not just something that a few booms will stop, or will a few skimmers. Things are not going quickly enough for me either, but I also understand the logistics involved.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x469209

Aside from what they are saying about the gusher we're being shown not being the only leak, they talk about effort which should be employed for removing the oil from the water. The one on the left is named Pozzi. He successfully cleaned the 800 million gallon spill in the Arabian Gulf in 1993. I am convinced Pozzi understands the logistics involved.

He has talked about calling BP at the beginning to offer his assistance and getting a royal runaroud. In one interview with him that I read a while back, he was asked why he thought BP was not doing what he was indicating was needed. His response was, "Cash."

No, I'm not convinced they have all the best working on it and that they are using all the most effective strategies for cleanup. In fact, I'm convinced of the opposite. I'm convinced BP is more interested in a white wash of the extent of the damage (hence, the Corexit) and avoiding the expense of doing it properly. Please remember we are talking about a company who killed 11 men and risked the forseeable future of an entire region to avoid buying a half million dollar piece of equipment. I would not be taking their word for anything.

edited punctuation

Jindal is a jerk, he's got a legitimate beef...but the mission of the CG is to coordinate, not deploy booms. This is BP's responsibility. And that was before Allen made landfall in the area.

You remind me of Gene Taylor and Haley Barbour.

if you have the answers, or a large sponge, jump in and help with the cleanup.

This is BP's responsibility...that's all there is too it. Prodding them on is about the only option until the problem is resolved. Got a better idea?

this site. I would think purposely insulting members is not part of that promise you made to the admins.

I participated in the first training class held so that I could "pick up a sponge". I am here, I have tried to volunteer. BP would rather pay private companies that can pay poor folks minimum wage to clean up the areas than to use volunteers. That way BP gets to control the situation as much is humanly possible. They get to keep the press out (hazardous/toxic) and they get to dispose of the dead sea life/water fowls/mammals the way they want.



This is my home, my way of life that is in danger of being destroyed. All that we love and all that we cherish and that makes the coast special, all that we worked so hard to rebuild after Katrina, is at risk and no, the government hasn't done enough. 5 weeks and the oil is still spewing and the creatures and our gulf is dying.

I'd like to tell you what you could do with a large sponge or where you can jump, but I know insulting members is not looked at favorably here.

I have studied coastal wetlands environmental issues for 25 years. Merh (whom I don't know) knows what he's talking about, as does Swap Rat from Louisiana. I lived in Louisiana for 18 years before Katrina, was a member of Save Our Wetlands. I've also lived along the S.C. and GA coastal areas.

Many people are letting their politics trump the ugly truth about what's going on. If a moderator here does that, it's sad.

I asked a legitimate question after being insulted. Is there something in my post that is so egregious as to have this thrown my way. Several people have found interesting ways to negate any positive things that may be happening in the Gulf, with little more than an armchair education. I began this threads stating my opinion of an individual, and have been insulted in several places throughout it.

I was a member of Save our Wetlands for quite a few years, as well as many other organizations that help in environmental issues. I lived in LA for part of my military life, (although not on the coast), and have a great respect for nature and all it gives us.

For this, I have insults hurled at me, but others take offense at what is essentially a legitimate stand. I see people posting all over the place on DU with "answers", few, if any are viable. Most people do not understand the roles involved here, the equipment necessary of how to utilize it, capabilities or logistics. Can a deep water super tanker even maneuver in the relative shallows to be used as some have suggested?

I am heartbroken this even happened, but it did, and it is BP's obligation to clean it up and stop the spill. A couple of million "saved", will cost them billions, government action also needs to be focused on other wells that may prove to be problematic as well.

But, I still maintain that what I've seen from Admiral Allen, is something I have rarely seen in an official...an honest assessment of what he knows at the time, given to the public w/o a lot of dress up.

Rasputin, people who've lived in Louisiana and know coastal wetlands in fact do understand the issues and many of us do understand the logistics. It is my opinion that the government, including the Coast Guard, has not taken steps quickly enough to protect the wetlands. Prevention is more effective than 'clean-up'. At least 3 weeks ago was the time to have started building barriers to the intrusion.Jindal and all the parish presidents asked for the authorisation from the ACOE.

Whether or not Thad Allen is an authoritative seeming fellow, it does look like the Gov has let BP run the show.

and the backup box being down, both known problems, but BP overriding TransOcean engineers, I believe this moved from mere negligence to criminal negligence. I'm no legal eagle, but that's how I see it.

There are a couple of things here as far as holding BP accountable that should be noted. There is an investigation underway, so criminal charges, (if any), are a way off. It would also not be in our interest to arrest any one at this point. If one thinks BP is slow now, if they realize that criminal charges may be coming down, they will move at a snails pace instead of the tortoise like moves they are taking now.

I can see getting a lot of the stuff in the water being cleaned up, how they can clean the wetland is beyond me. The loss of life is disturbing to me, and it the wetlands go, there goes Southern LA. I'll be perfectly honest, I wish I knew a way to deal with this w/o serious problems, and I hope those that are far more knowledgeable than I.

I think what we who've lived in the coastal environments have been upset about is that government moves too slowly when urgent preventative actions would have helped.

BP has been given too much leeway. I believe partly it's because they have the money and the government doesn't. Secondly President Obama's people fear him looking like a dictator. Maybe he should have declared a national Emergency.

I'm not sure why he didn't. By declaring an area a disaster, it opens up a huge amount of resources. Some should be of help.

I can't say why he did not declare this a disaster, perhaps he will shortly, but I readily admit, that would be a bit late to say the least. Better late tahn never though.

We know how to clean beaches, birds and other wildlife...the wetlands are a whole different story. If that stuff gets into the root system...The only thing I can imagine is a massive uprooting and replanting, but that can't be done until the threat of more stuff washing in.

:applause:

Know that most of the country is trying to understand the pain yall feel down there.

Always honest, always facts, reality, honest human element applied. merh is a real DU treasure, well, except to those who would throw sand up in hopes of confusing issues.

Thad "Rip-and-read" Allen.

Yeah, if I want the official BP position, he's my go-to guy.

it's 15000/22000 now, he did not stick w/the 5000 bbl figure. Everyone thought the 5000 bbl/day figure was legit until more info cam out.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
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If by "everyone", you mean Thad Allen and Tony Hayward, you're right.

it, like everything else changed when they could get somewhat better info after the frame by frame was analyzed.

For all I know, it may go to 50,000 bbls...did you have info no one else had?

WASHINGTON — The latest video footage of the leaking Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico show that oil is escaping at the rate of 95,000 barrels — 4 million gallons — a day, nearly 20 times greater than the 5,000 barrel a day estimate BP and government scientists have been citing for nearly three weeks, an engineering professor told a congressional hearing Wednesday.

The figure of 5,000 barrels a day or 210,000 gallons that BP and the federal government have been using for weeks is based on satellite observations of the surface. But NASA’s best satellite-based instruments can’t see deep into the waters of the Gulf, where much of the oil from the gusher 5,000 feet below the surface seems to be floating.

Federal officials testified in hearings on Tuesday that they were putting together a crack team to get to the bottom of big the spill really is. That effort comes a month after the April 20 explosion that triggered the unprecedented oil spill in deep waters of the United States. Experts say knowing that amount is crucial for efforts to cap the broken wellhead and to monitor and clean up the oil.

Steve Wereley, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, earlier this month made simple calculations from a video BP released on May 12 and came up with a flow of 70,000 barrels a day, NPR reported last week. Werely on Wednesday told a House Commerce and Energy Committee subcommittee that his calculations of two leaks that show up on videos BP released on Tuesday showed 70,000 barrels from one leak and 25,000 from the other.

He said the calculation could be off by 20 percent — meaning the spill could range from between 76,000 to 104,000 barrels a day. But Wereley said he would need to see videos that were not compressed and showed the flow over a longer period so that it would be possible to get a better calculation of the mix of oil and gas from the wellhead.

...

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/19/94467/engineer-oil-spill-videos-show.html#ixzz0pEaT6Dlk

the initial 5000 bbls was taken as legit. Things change, as I've said through out this thread.

The amount of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico may be at least 10 times the size of official estimates, according to an exclusive analysis conducted for NPR.

At NPR's request, experts examined video that BP released Wednesday. Their findings suggest the BP spill is already far larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska, which spilled at least 250,000 barrels of oil.

BP has said repeatedly that there is no reliable way to measure the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by looking at the oil gushing out of the pipe. But scientists say there are actually many proven techniques for doing just that.

Steven Wereley, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, analyzed videotape of the seafloor gusher using a technique called particle image velocimetry.

The method is accurate to a degree of plus or minus 20 percent.

Given that uncertainty, the amount of material spewing from the pipe could range from 56,000 barrels to 84,000 barrels a day. It is important to note that it's not all oil. The short video BP released starts out with a shot of methane, but at the end it seems to be mostly oil.


"There's potentially some fluctuation back and forth between methane and oil," Wereley said.

But assuming that the lion's share of the material coming out of the pipe is oil, Wereley's calculations show that the official estimates are too low.

"We're talking more than a factor-of-10 difference between what I calculate and the number that's being thrown around," he said.


Timothy Crone, an associate research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, used another well-accepted method to calculate fluid flows. Crone arrived at a similar figure, but he said he'd like better video from BP before drawing a firm conclusion.

Eugene Chiang, a professor of astrophysics at the University of California, Berkeley, also got a similar answer, using just pencil and paper.

Without even having a sense of scale from the BP video, he correctly deduced that the diameter of the pipe was about 20 inches. And though his calculation is less precise than Wereley's, it is in the same ballpark.

"I would peg it at around 20,000 to 100,000 barrels per day," he said.

Chiang called the current estimate of 5,000 barrels a day "almost certainly incorrect."

Given this flow rate, it seems this is a spill of unprecedented proportions in U.S. waters.

"It would just take a few days, at most a week, for it to exceed the Exxon Valdez's record," Chiang said.

...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126809525

Why wasn't Allen looking for independent assessment and sources of information beyond BP (a company with a vest interest in lying)?

Cushy jobs to good little lap dogs on the federal payroll not that all uncommon a method for assuring a comfy old age.

BP will need an experienced and trusted liaison to help them work with the Coast Guard and other federal agencies. I bet that pays well.

edited to add: can't help but notice what appears to be an audition instead of the continuation of a commendable career.

but actions speak louder than words.

The point is, someone who is adept is on site, doing his job. There is no magical "Mr. Clean Wipe", that will deal with this. It has to be done methodically and w/o a lot of prior experience for the specific problems this leak has produced.

Trust me, I'd wished this never happened, I wish I knew a way to deal with it in one fell swoop...but I don't, and since this is a new problem, neither does anyone else. There are people on the ground and at sea working on this, they'll get it under control, they are trying to find the best way...unfortunately, that takes time.

How many straw men can you set up and knock down in one post? You just completely destroyed any credibility your OP may have had.

No one is looking for a magical "Mr. Clean Wipe."

No one is saying that things should not be "done methodically."

No one says that a "lot of prior experience" is not needed.

No one is asking that that anyone "deal with it in one fell swoop."

No one has said that this will not "take time."

In addition to your various straw man arguments, you offer a number of unsupported assertions:

"Since this is a new problem, neither does anyone else" (know how to deal with it.)

"There are people on the ground and at sea working on this, they'll get it under control, they are trying to find the best way."

"Someone who is adept is on site, doing his job."

Then you defend yourself from accusations no one made:

No one suspected anything other than that you "wish this never happened."

No one expected you to know how to fix things - "I wish I knew a way to deal with it in one fell swoop."

I also liked when Allen told him he reported to Napolitano and Tweety followed up with, "so you report to Interior..." Allen just sort of grinned and corrected him.

pretty short chain there.

Tweety was also wrong about the Joint Chiefs, they are not in the Chain of Command. The Joint Chiefs are more advisory/coordinating than anything else. Theater Commanders report to their respective Chief's of Staff, who report to their Secretary's, who report to the Sec of Defense, who reports to the President.


ETS: The CG is under the Treasury, unless in a time of war they are placed under the Dept of the Navy. Tweety is a goomer...:hi:

Please note date of this news flash:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/25/homeland.security/index.html



And the admiral is a tool of Oil

edited to add link and text from it

Thought it was still Treasury.

He has been a straight shooter since he popped up in the public consciousness. Would that the leaders of the other services were as forthcoming.

suddenly, he's in the light, and he handles it very well.

I haven't seen anyone post about this...last night Nat Geo did a special on the early hours of this disaster...focusing on what happened when the platform exploded and the efforts to put the fire out and save those who remained aboard. It showed the Coast Guard on the scene at the outset and in control of the rescue efforts. Then they showed some ships that were out there scooping up the oil through siphons, but how the gusher has overwhelemed all resources...making this disaster hard to handle and even harder to predict.

Tweety and the chattering class are into symbolism...pretense and verbage. He wants a "bullhorn moment" that feels good, but as we saw with the previous regime, was a hollow gesture. They feel its their "right" to show "outrage" as if their opinions matter more than anyone elses and their questions are the only ones that are worth asking. Yes, it generally leads to confrontational and generally unproductive information...only to find a scapegoat.

I also have been impressed with General Allen's poise in this situation. The jury is out on how well he's performing, but the meme that the Coast Guard is sitting by is part of the ongoing right wing meme that is desperate to make this catastrophe as "Obama's Katrina" with little understanding of what's happening nor patience...they want what they want...and set in their minds that this is a political football and its their job to push the "blame game".

Shameful...

everyone else gets a question, a chance to utter two words then a "talk over". If I am ever on his show, I'd lean over and slap him, just to shut him up for 10 seconds. He thinks he's being coy, but he's little more than a rude jerk. I only watch him when there is someone interesting on, like Katrina vanden Heuvel or a joke like some GOP clodhopper.

The CG is doing what it was trained to do, and doing it well. They are on a learning curve as well...but some people just want a Magic Wand scenario.

What happened to the idiot that overrode the TransOcean engineers? He should have been pilloried, yet we hear nothing about him?

It's a disaster, a serious disaster, we can only move ahead with understanding the catastrophe at hand. There is little known about the "plumes" under the surface, and there is a slow down on the dispersant because of other serious problems that have arisen. One size does not fit all, what worked in one place, may not work here; what didn't work someplace, might work here.

Under the circumstances, they are doing what they can under extremely difficult circumstances. "Blame" can be dealt with after this under control...till then, shut down the leak, clean up what can be cleaned up, and ensure this won't happen again.

A lot of us on the left are not pleased with ADMIRAL Allen's behavior in this matter.

Another shameful thing: Dems trying to brand other DEMS; legitimate questions as part of RW effort just because of differing opinions on aspects of some issues. No less shameful than bush's 'yer either with us or with the terrarits' crap.

What answers do you have?

and that lack of info is partly because he has been shilling for BP

I know for a fact, I wouldn't be doing THAT. Since I believe democracy is served by an informed public, I would NOT be standing by, or letting my people stand by while oil contractors go about shooing reporters from getting facts.

and I lay the blame for the impression that BP is 'in charge' and running our government at his feet. I am glad the President clarified it for us yesterday but without Allen's bumbling of the message, it would not have gotten so out of hand.

BP is responsible for plugging the leak, as well as cleanup operations. The CG is responsible for logistics, command and control.

For instance, how bad does it look when the government orders BP to quit dumping Corexit and they tell the government to fuck off. Then Allen has a hard time answering when asked who was in charge. It looked bad and it sat out there for days leaving the impression that BP was being allowed to pwn our government. I am glad the President cleared it up in his presser yesterday. Allen could be doing a bang up job for all I know but his messaging needs work.

He'll get a nice $500,000/year consultant gig and that'll be money well spent after being a shill for BP.

Allen parroted the BP numbers from the beginning when the FACTS and independent scientists where saying BP's estimates were to be bullshit. When that facade crumbled due to other external assessments, first BP admitted new number, THEN Allen repeated BP's new numbers. This pattern has now been repeated, what? Four times? Never once was Allen ahead of BP.

Allen knows the BP booming and protection efforts are show pieces and won't do shit. Does he say that? Nope. He repeats almost verbatim the BP line that everything that can be done is being done.

Allen is using the CG to run interference for BP against the media, and independent scientists to keep them from certain areas.

Sorry, Allen strikes me as anything but an honest man.

He was placed in charge of search-and-rescue and recovery efforts during Katrina. After Brownie resigned, he did some of the onsite relief efforts.

Makes his recent behavior all the more heartbreaking.

But then, closer to retirement and shilling for a company that may well open doors to a better retirement. Gotta wonder if 'hey, why should Congressmen and DOD brass get all the cushy jobs after they leave government service?' is a consideration.

I am sympathetic to the situation and annoyance of seeing people move from public to private employment and enjoying much better pay, but it is a heartbreak. I have long been a supporter of the USCG. I know they do amazing things with very limited resource. This admiral breaks my heart.

after this or will be connected to big oil in any way later on? There is none.

Not saying that's the case here, but by the same token, it is foolish not to consider all the possibilities when looking at how he has been shilling for BP

Hi9s Command of the CG is under regulation, usually 4 years, unless asked to stay by the president.

He has stated he wants to retire, b ut will not until this is resolved. Where he goes after that is unknown, "pattern" or otherwise.

nothing more

If he hasn't already privately lined up a job with BP after this blows over, he sure is doing a great job of interviewing for one later. BP couldn't have hand picked a better rep for the Coast Guard if they choose one from their own boardroom.

We'll know soon and if I had to bet the mortgage, I know what outcome I'd bet on.

And I'm not happy about it.

No reporters will follow up. Too hard, iykwim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_enCDXmVj0

He is covering up for BP and should be imprisoned. Your trust is highly misguided.

you are entitled to it, but most people are not on the same sheet.

All of this BP "conspiracy" stuff is a little too hyperbolic to me.

I try to base mine on the opinions of industry expert and observable facts interpreted by experts. The fact is that Allen oversaw the improper booming operations along the Gulf. Thus, he is culpable. You don't get to just call everything you don't like "a conspiracy" because it doesn't emotionally resonate with your belief systems. What's your argument? "He seems trustworthy!" How compelling! :eyes:

In this disaster, I don't really care about your emotions and the silly allegiances you form because someone seems like "a nice guy." I'm going with independent experts and researchers, thanks.

cite your observable facts interpreted by experts.

Do you think this man does not have access to experts?

How do you know so much more than everyone else, and since you do, why aren't you down there fixing the problem?

I observed a man making statements on various venues, that was my OP. You have a different view, but to call my view bullshit, and offer nothing but what you think is pretty absurd.

Interviewed in this article:

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/could-cleanup-fix-for-gulf-oil-spill-lie-in-secret-saudi-disaster/19476863

and in my mind doing quite the impossible job.

And having been in charge of an incident, much smaller than this, I get an appreciation for this one.

Mine had the usual, medical, refugee, finance, food, logistics, communications.

His has a few more (like a lot more) spots in the chart... which means far more children to keep working together, and prevent the bickering...

Or rather, prevent it as much as possible.

+1

:thumbsup:

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12488915

Excerpt:

"We're not going quick enough," said Honore. "Taking any measurement tens of thousands of oil in the ocean every day. We've lost this campaign."

Politics, Honore says is in a large way responsible for what he calls a slow and disappointing cleanup process. BP officials have said, more than once, that the company will pay the bill for the efforts here, but Honore says the federal government is tying up resources that could help speed up the process.

"There's a difference between being in charge and accept responsibility," he said. "I think it's not good for the American people when they start pointing fingers at each other. At the end of the day it's America's government that's going to have to take charge of this."

This meaning supplying state and parish officials with the means necessary to recover and helping industry workers who have lost jobs pay rent and put food on their tables.

"This is much more long term effect on our economy and way of life and culture," he said.

As BP workers struggle to find a successful way to plug the leak threatening the coast, the situation here only gets worse. Honore suggests perhaps putting a little pressure on BP execs will do the trick.

"Start fining BP, freeze their assets and fine them about a half billion dollars a day until the oil is turned off," Honore said.

but that is just me...

Honore has made it a job of his (he does have political aspirations of course) to become a critic of anything DC does these days...

But that is just me.

Hope is propaganda.