Colin Powell: Oil Spill Is 'Beyond The Capacity' Of BP To Solve, Military Might Have Role

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell suggested on Sunday that the United States military has a role to play in helping contain the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, saying that the problem now was "beyond the capacity" of BP to stop.

"The president has to get involved as quickly as possible," Powell told ABC's This Week. "If you don't, then public opinion starts to drag you in the media, and pushes you. And so when something like this clearly is going to get beyond the capacity of whoever caused it, get beyond the capacity of local authorities, I think the federal government has to move in quickly and move in with, to use my favorite expression, decisive force and demonstrate that it's doing everything that it can do."
<snip>
"I think the president directly said the other day that he'd been monitoring it, following it, and ... been on top of it from the beginning," he said. "But that impression was not conveyed to the American people. And the comprehensive speech he gave the other day, I think he would have been better served -- and the nation would have been better served -- if he had given it a few weeks earlier. But I think the federal government is now fully engaged."
<snip>
"What we would do in my time," he added, "we would assign it to one of our army commanders, a second army would go in on Hurricane Andrew and take charge of things. But whether that's the right combination of assets now I'll have to leave to others to decide.

First we have to figure out what do we need? Do we need people to clean the beaches or put out skimmers? we have lots of fishermen and others down there who are available who want the work and know the water a lot better than an army unit coming in, but whether it's army, coast guard, local forces, it is time for a comprehensive total attack on this problem."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/30/colin-powell-oil-spill-is_n_594779.html

The military might have a role, but they better be careful on how they bring it in. That could set off another huge storm. I'm not sure if anybody will believe anything anymore.

I still don't understand why there isn't a massive cleanup of some type going on. If it's because of the hazardous nature of the oil, make BP pay for whatever equipment is needed and hire people.

They seem to be spending their efforts on trying to control access to the area. If they are hiring people, once again it's not on a scale that seems to be sufficient. In addition, hiring prisoners isn't exactly the best idea. Have then been told of the possible danger to their health? I'm sure if they think it's just a messy cleanup, they will go for it. Even if told, they might ignore the warnings. BP should provide equipment to anybody who is cleaning up this mess.

If all this is going on, it sure isn't readily apparent. People have to see what the efforts are and not just lists of assets involved. If they can't find anybody with the organizational skills and the knowledge of what would be needed to organize, then put two people together to work out something now. More than that will lead to conflicts galore. Give them the authority to cut through bullshit and red tape to bring what is needed together. If there is somebody available, they are being held incommunicado or something.

Stop ASKING BP to do things such as provide suits that are needed. When they defied the government on using Corexit, they should have been stomped publicly. They can't openly defy the government, and then be punished in private. That really leaves a bad image and sets a horrible precedent.

Hit them on the bottom line with the control over their rigs and leases. BP has doubled down on the government and dared them too. They probably have threatened to take their crap home. Federalize it and keep them from doing that.

As far as for the assurance that they will be made to pay, don't bet on it. They will litigate this to death. The logs of what happened right around the explosion have disappeared. (Was Rosemary Woods on that rig?) the use of corexit will further muddy the waters. Until it was used in massive quantities to what positive effect who knows, the oil was the problem. Adding that made both trouble. I'll bet BP will claim that it's impossible to tell what really did the damage. They will also say that Corexit was on the approved EPA list. Every time that has been brought up they point this out. They will try use that as an excuse.

He should sit down and shut up. He's done quite enough damage to this country.

I know its a bad habit, but my brain really hasn't gotten over the whole "imminent threat" speech and waving around that little vial of something-er-other at the UN, right before his boss started a war.

Whatever.

the President of the USA knows what has to be done. When we get that through our heads then we will understand the big picture. This is an experiment and our world is the subject.

I agree with everything that is written above in the OP. Every goddammed point.

I would start by seizing BP's operations in the Gulf as this is a National Emergency. I would then take charge of those assets. Next I would get two mothballed CV's towed to the Gulf to scuttle on top of the wellhead. It would be tough to get them to end up where you want them certainly but as BP seems to be able to reach it, I don't think it impossible.

Neither do I. Surely this isn't one of those areas that BP and only BP are qualified to manage?

Somebody get the fucking cleanup effort going on a scale proportionate to the disaster!

He needs to go back to his rocking chair and STFU. He's not privy to what's happening between BP, the White House and Congress anymore if he ever was even when he was SOS.

That's the problem. Nobody sees any large scale action to even clean up this mess. You may not like what he is seeing and saying about it. However, I don't think what he sees and says is much different than what a lot of American people are beginning to see and say.

I'm not talking specifically about putting the military in charge. I am talking about the general perception. Defending President Obama about any issue here on DU is one thing. Those of us who have criticized him for some actions are not the majority of the ones who will need to have their minds changed or moved in a more positive direction.

The American people are the ones who are also watching. Try arguing with them over some of the same points with your rationale. If they can't see anything being done such as the cleanup, no amount of assurances and lists will help.

People say it is just symbolism. Well, that does matter. I'm not talking about some gesture that is made just to appease or hide something. I am talking about the President as an 'in their face' symbol of handling this problem instead of Tony 'I need my life back' Hayward.

If the administration cannot get away from standing by or behind that man and his minions very soon, they will forever be joined at the hip with BP and this mess.

Yes, it is Cheney and Bush who deserve to be stomped on the most. That isn't the immediate problem in the news. That argument won't divert the American people now when Obama is President.

Also, he lied to the UN about the WMD labs in the lead up to the war with Iraq. The man is a liar and a member of the BFEE an international oil crime family. He has no credibility to criticize this President whatsoever even if what he says right now appears to be true.

They will decide who has credibility when they vote. Powell won't be on the ballot but his perceptions probably will be. Leave Powell out of the argument for a moment.

Try to argue the case with the public as their perception grows more negative. They are looking probably more than listening. One picture is worth a thousand words and maybe more. As long as BP is mainly in the frame with the government, that will say a lot to them.

:thumbsup:

Oh but they were cartoons, weren't they?