The criminal investigation is a result of BP’s unwillingness to be forthcoming with information, its attempts to “gag” everyone who goes to work for them, its violation of state laws by attempting to get preemptive waivers from people, i.e. they set this off by acting guilty as hell about something, so now local, state, and Federal officials are investigating to discover what BP is hiding.

The criminal probe was also triggered by BP’s failure to perform as required when the oil started gushing into the Gulf.

Eleven people have died. The government is required to find out why. People who interfere with the investigation are obstructing justice. Whether they did anything wrong or not, Transocean will be arranging a settlement with the survivors of those who died, because that is the way things are done, and that would happen whether the deaths were adjudged accidental or criminal.

BP is responsible for this mess because they own the lease, and the well was being drilled for them, to their specifications.

Obama doesn’t know enough about foreign policy to like or dislike any nation. If he didn’t support Israel, the US would just abstain at the UN, instead of blocking efforts to rein in the murderous regime. Israel has insulted the US in multiple ways since Obama came into office, and we should cut off all aid and pull out our embassy. The US derives no benefit from Israel.

These people have seen too many bad cop shows.

I don’t know about direct payments, Badtux, but if the White House was unhappy with Lubchenco’s statements, they would have said something by now.

Duff, everyone is being investigated, and not just by the justice department, which you would know if you had been tracking the issue, but when BP people invoke their right against self-incrimination to refuse to testify at the Coast Guard accident investigation into the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon, and no one else does, it makes people a bit suspicious. Every other company involved in the drilling of that well showed up, but only one Houston-based BP engineer gave testimony.

BP bought Amoco’s assets which is why the Amoco name disappeared, but BP didn’t. BP has always been British Petroleum since it changed its name from Anglo-Iranian Oil after getting booted out of Iran. Claiming that it doesn’t mean British Petroleum is frankly silly.

BP has not been very forthcoming in its responses, nor very successful in its efforts, which is why so many people on the Gulf Coast are angry. If you claim to be in the oil business and don’t know how to cut a pipe properly, people get more than a little annoyed.

What I don’t understand is why some people in the UK think there is some sort of anti-British feeling down here. There isn’t. People know that the problem is BP, not Britain. Tony Hayward is getting pummeled because he’s an incompetent git who keeps making incredibly stupid remarks. He doesn’t know what is actually occurring and doesn’t have the sense to just shut-up.

BP signed paperwork attesting to their ability to deal with problems like the blowout, and it is fairly obvious that they can’t. There were no statements about official anger and criminal prosecution until governments at all levels got fed up with BP ignoring requests for information needed to protect people and property. BP has stonewalled their way into almost all of the trouble they are now facing.

– Badtux the Bribery Penguin

Lubchenco Concedes ‘Circumstantial Evidence’ Means Oil Plumes Are ‘Quite Possible’

…who took physical samples of water contaminated with oil — as “circumstantial evidence.” After further questioning by Huffington Post’s Dan Froomkin, she then conceded:

It is quite possible there is oil under the surface. I think there is reason to believe that may be the case.

Although it is certainly true that chemical analysis of water samples will be definitive, the evidence for these “possible” oil plumes is far stronger than “circumstantial,” as today’s ABC News report about the Walton Smith mission shows…

So… Has she bought an expensive new car, or clothes, or renovations, or holiday recently? 😉 😛 Maybe she was looking for a new job next year, like the one Condi had before Politics. 😆