Mike Papantonio, an environmental lawyer on the Ed Show just now: An 'acoustic switch' would have prevented this catastrophe - it's a failsafe that shuts the flow of oil off at the source - they cost only about half a million dollars each, and are required in off-shore drilling platforms in most of the world...except for the United States. This was one of the new deregulations devised by Dick Cheney during his secret meetings with the oil industry at the beginning of Bush's first term.
(Will try to post Ed Show clip when it becomes available.)
UPDATE 4: Here's a link to the video of Papantino on the Ed Show - go to the 5 minute mark:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
Thanks, DICK.
Mr. Papantonio said he is amazed that this part of the story hasn't been reported yet - that it's really the key to the whole thing - that it's yet another classic example of Bush/Cheney Era deregulation wreaking havoc on the planet.
Many thanks to Ed Schultz for shining light on this. I'd say it's high time we brought Richard Cheney to justice. Cheers.
UPDATE 1: From followyourbliss in the comments: the oil platform in question was run by Halliburton, another factor that implicates Cheney. kjoftherock found more on this connection from crooksandliars.com:
http://crooksandliars.com/...
UPDATE 2: From the Wall Street Journal, an article titled Leaking Oil Well Lacked Safeguard Device:
The oil well spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico didn't have a remote-control shut-off switch used in two other major oil-producing nations as last-resort protection against underwater spills.
The lack of the device, called an acoustic switch, could amplify concerns over the environmental impact of offshore drilling after the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig last week.
full article here: http://online.wsj.com/...
UPDATE 3: OT - This feels like my last best chance to freep myself for an DFA Netroots Nation Scholarship. Please support me here:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/...
Thanks, everybody!!
