is partially right, then this diary is simply wrong to assert the administration did not do all it could. In fact, the administration is really doing all it could to address the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico weighing in all the political fallout from this disaster. When Eugene said we're losing the gulf war, he does not mean we have lost the gulf war. He means we need a more pressing action which the Government is geared up on taking as we speak. For the question of why did the POTUS not act quick...
Eugene Robinson in his articlestates that
the man[Obama] is who he is -- he doesn't shoot from the hip, doesn't thump tables or pound podiums, and would strike a glissando of false notes if he suddenly tried to pretend otherwise.
Many questions were asked by Eugene Robinson except one. What are the political implications or fallout of running to foreign assistant to tackle this problem?
He questions but has not fully addressed the position of the Administration and the potential reasons for why things have been the way they are.
Why haven't skimmers been brought in from around the world to scoop up more of the oil? Why isn't the defense of the coastline being run like a military campaign, with failure not an option? Why is the answer to every question essentially the same -- "We've repeatedly asked BP to get that done" -- when we're dealing with a crisis that has to be seen as an urgent matter of national security and the public welfare?
Well to be fair, Eugene Robinson has answered some of these questions in his article. He stated:
The administration had no choice but to leave the initial response on the seafloor to BP. The government simply doesn't have the equipment or the expertise to stanch the flow. This unfortunate situation may reflect bad policy choices in the past, but that's the reality. One smart decision was to order BP to begin drilling a second relief well, in case the first one misses its target -- but neither will be completed until August, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
One thing for sure is that there is a political war going on that we don't seem to see. Yes, we have foreign aid at our disposal but there is also a political warfare of America's ability to handle its own disaster. A super power seeking help from them communists and socialist countries that may give the appearances and point finger that America is weak is avoidable decision if possible. A Republican congress will spin it like with a front page head line "the incompetent President" and play to the emotions of many vulnerable Americans. Any President will have to put into the equation the political fallout calculation when deciding course of action for a catastrophic event its country faces. It seems after closely monitoring all of the events we will hear something tonight when the President addresses the nation.
I have said in my previous diary that we must swallow our pride and seek their[foreign] assistant before this shit gets more catastrophic than it already is.
And that is exactly what is happening now in the clean up effort to contain the tens of millions of gallons of oil that have already polluted the gulf and its coastline.
According to Tipping Point Alart quoting State Department Spokesman
"As we understand what we need and identify domestic and foreign sources, we will act," said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, who said the United States has received 21 aid offers from 17 countries and four international groups. "We are maintaining contact with these countries, we are grateful for the offers, and we will take them up on these offers."
Snip
In just the past few days, the United States has received 9,842 feet of boom from Canada and another 13,779 feet from Mexico. According to The Washington Post, the government also received three sets of Koseq sweeping arms from the Dutch. The arms are known for attaching to the sides of ships and gather crude oil. Norway also contributed eight skimming systems.
So, to answer Eugene Robinson's questions: Why haven't skimmers been brought in from around the world to scoop up more of the oil? We are bringing in all the help.
So, to answer Eugene Robinson's questions: Why isn't the defense of the coastline being run like a military campaign, with failure not an option? I believe it is being run with failure is not an option mantra and hereand hereand hereand a diary by a kosack to learn about What Obama is doing about the BP oil spill are some of the behind the scene elements where Eugene Robinson can make reference to to paint a complete picture of the missing element from his article.
Yes, there is that question of why did it have to take so long to bring help abroad? If Obama had stepped in immediately and pushed BP out, the Administration would not have a clue where to begin to try to fix this problem. As Eugene Robinson stated:
The administration had no choice but to leave the initial response on the seafloor to BP.
However, there are other implication as well. An immediate acceptance of responsibility with out understanding the magnitude of the disaster and what kind of effort is required is even more irresponsible than not taking on the responsibility away from BP. That is what good Presidents do. They make decisions based on what is not popular but what is practical.
Already we see many suffering with the people relying on the gulf to make their living, the habitat that is polluted, the environmental impact significant but taking on a responsibility with less expertise sure ain't not the answer some yell out loud for not to mention the legal implication of the issue.
So, I say to teacherken's diary with all due respect and admiration for what he contributes to this blog, stop taking the word of Eugene Robinson out of context and twist it to blame the Administration for a decision you are not fit to make because you lack understanding of the level of expertise we have to tackle this problem which is very little. Further I say to you that your assertion that this administration did not do all it could and should have done is hogwash because I don't think you have done your home work well.
I am on my way to work so I can't respond until a little later but after reading that diary, I felt complied to write this because it is the right thing to do.