The Government knew of BP problems beforehand

By: Anthony M. Davis

President Obama would have you to believe that the oil rig explosion and subsequent catastrophic (and continuing) oil spill was an unexpected and sudden accident.  Yet Bloomberg reported that BP recognized issues with the Rig and filed a report with the Minerals Management Service on February 13, 2010:

It took 10 days to plug the first cracks, according to reports BP filed with the Minerals Management Service that were later delivered to congressional investigators. Cracks in the surrounding rock continued to complicate the drilling operation during the ensuing weeks. Left unsealed, they can allow explosive natural gas to rush up the shaft.

“Once they realized they had oil down there, all the decisions they made were designed to get that oil at the lowest cost,” said Peter Galvin of the Center for Biological Diversity, which has been working with congressional investigators probing the disaster. “It’s been a doomed voyage from the beginning.”

Speaking of the Minerals Management Service…These are the folks that are tasked with conducting inspections of the oil rigs to ensure they are operating in compliance with federal safety regulations. Yet, a report by the Department of Interior Inspector General released on May 25th reveals the government agency has serious problems.  According to the FederalDaily, MMS Inspectors admitted to the use of crystal methamphetamine while on the job. The IG auditors discovered that the oil companies being inspected were in fact, providing incentives to the inspectors.  The inspectors received:

“…tickets to sporting events, sponsored teams, and inundated employees with free lunches and miscellaneous gifts—such as an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2005 Peach Bowl.”

In addition to the drugs and gifts, IG auditors discovered:

“…314 instances in which seven employees received or forwarded pornographic images and links to Internet Web sites to other federal employees and individuals outside of the office using their government e-mail accounts.”

So here we are more than two months after the rig explosion killed eleven workers and possibly the future economic viability of thousands of small businessmen and citizens throughout the gulf region.  Supporting industries and tourism, all leading to much-needed jobs during an economic crisis are impacted.  The environment and indigenous aquaculture damaged and there’s the chance of long-lasting effect of pollutants, benzene and heavy metals inhaled by citizens.  This comes at a time when the government claims they will manage health care.  How are they to manage health care when this administration is unable to manage the truth?  Obama pretended that this was a surprise event. Yet, we now know that he lied. Then, it took him 39 days to even get to the scene.  This is the same guy who sat on the sidelines criticizing President Bush about hurricane Katrina.

Many years ago I lived in Louisiana. At the time, the state was under the control of another smooth-talker and eventual convicted criminal:  Governor Edwin Edwards.  Even though he was a crook, he did love his state.  When the state was in financial distress, he opted to relinquish all pay while in office.  Maybe our current smooth-talking, truth-avoiding president could learn from that example.  Unlike Governor Edwards, Obama has not shown the ability to manage anything.  Nor has he been able to recruit the right people to ask the right questions and get the right things done.  Instead, he’s surrounded himself NOT with experts, but perverts of democratization, all with an underlying agenda of liberal socialism.

He hasn’t proven his ability to lead or manage a crisis. Instead he’s hidden from the truth of his inadequacy.  There are many things that need to be done in this nation to rebuild the damage done by selfish politicians and political correctness.  For now, we have an ongoing crisis that needs to be brought under control. It’s time to reach across political aisles and talk with experts in their fields. It’s time to listen to those many small businessmen and inventors that have shown a capability to bring positive solutions to the ongoing spill.  Last week I heard Obama say:

“It is much easier to clean up the oil once it reaches the shores.”

This is continual proof that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and those that should be guiding him, don’t know what they are talking about either.   Oil that reaches our shores becomes embedded into the soil, harms the eco-culture, water tables and increases the cost of a cleanup with lost tourism and equipment needed to dig the oil out of the sand.  Some localities have begun to take matters into their own hands rather than hope the government will get it right. Oil is easier to clean up when contained in a patch at sea – not polluting our shores.

Mr. President:  Clean up the MMS charged with oversight of the rigs. Stop talking and start listening to those that know what they are talking about.  Then, get out of the way and let them do what they do best.

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Anthony M. Davis is the Founder of the Homeland Security Group and author of the bestselling book, “Terrorism and the Maritime Transportation System.”