After delays, U.S. begins to tap foreign aid for gulf oil spill

[highplainsdem]

Source: Washington Post

After delays, U.S. begins to tap foreign aid for gulf oil spill
By Juliet Eilperin and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 14, 2010

Four weeks after the nation's worst environmental disaster, the Obama administration saw no need to accept offers of state-of-the-art skimmers, miles of boom or technical assistance from nations around the globe with experience fighting oil spills.

"We'll let BP decide on what expertise they do need," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters on May 19. "We are keeping an eye on what supplies we do need. And as we see that our supplies are running low, it may be at that point in time to accept offers from particular governments."

That time has come.

In the past week, the United States submitted its second request to the European Union for any specialized equipment to contain the oil now seeping onto the Gulf of Mexico's marshes and beaches, and it accepted Canada's offer of 9,842 feet of boom. The government is soliciting additional boom and skimmers from nearly two dozen countries and international organizations worldwide.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/13/AR2010061304232.html

[Robb]

1. I'm reminded of the Russian reaction to offers of help for the Kursk. nt

[goforit]

2. Yes, We are all on the same boat and the time has come for us all to get along

John Nash, the economist, would have handled this 100 % better.
Solving problems as a group rather than standing alone will bring a faster more successful and satisfied outcome.

A little late, Obama. Better than never.
What a better time to unify the world with one common purpose. Now this is a NEW WORLD ORDER!!!

[jaysunb]

3. Good to be in position to ask.

a small benefit of good foreign policy

[sandnsea]

4. As booms run out and the oil spreads

The US and BP ask for more, just like they said they would all along.

That's way too boring.

[Kurt Remarque]

5. like any addict

you have to suffer the embarassment of admitting that you can't handle the problem. tall order for a government grossly influenced by private corporate interests

[chill_wind]

6. page 2 seems to describe quite a mish-mash of factors and influences n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. yes

but I do hope that someone somewhere will plug it up.

[saracat]

8. Finally. What took them so long????

[highplainsdem]

9. .

[Judi Lynn]

10. After delays, U.S. begins to tap foreign aid for gulf oil spill

Source: Washington Post

After delays, U.S. begins to tap foreign aid for gulf oil spill
By Juliet Eilperin and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 14, 2010

Four weeks after the nation's worst environmental disaster, the Obama administration saw no need to accept offers of state-of-the-art skimmers, miles of boom or technical assistance from nations around the globe with experience fighting oil spills.

"We'll let BP decide on what expertise they do need," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters on May 19. "We are keeping an eye on what supplies we do need. And as we see that our supplies are running low, it may be at that point in time to accept offers from particular governments."

That time has come.

In the past week, the United States submitted its second request to the European Union for any specialized equipment to contain the oil now seeping onto the Gulf of Mexico's marshes and beaches, and it accepted Canada's offer of 9,842 feet of boom. The government is soliciting additional boom and skimmers from nearly two dozen countries and international organizations.

In late May, the administration accepted Mexico's offer of two skimmers and 13,779 feet of boom; a Dutch offer of three sets of Koseq sweeping arms, which attach to the sides of ships and gather oil; and eight skimming systems offered by Norway.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/13/AR2010061304232.html?wprss=rss_world

[Deep13]

11. FAIL!

Seriously, that was a Bush-esque screw-up.

[Titanothere]

12. If this was Bush, heads would be exploding with fury

Why on earth they didn't bring all possible forces to bear is a complete mystery. Yeah, I know it's easy to pin all the responsibility on BP and tell them to clean up their mess but it's our Gulf, our beaches and our economy. I don't see anything this administration has done to help except talk about getting paid.

[secondwind]

14. The logistics must be mind-boggling. How to "control" all those foreign ships in the Gulf,

milling about, etc. I think this was not an easy decision to make, frankly.

[Titanothere]

17. Right, you can't suddenly open our waters to whatever ship has an excess of mops,

but I think the number of legitimate offers were probably pretty small. I mean, how many people have oil skimmers and firebooms to throw around?

[defendandprotect]

13. Amazingly .... late ...

[Child_Of_Isis]

15. "We'll let BP decide on what expertise they do need,"

You can't fix stupid.

[highplainsdem]

16. Link to the earlier topic about the same article:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4425555

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

18. It is ABOUT FUCKING TIME.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: