President Obama returned to gulf on Friday to look at progress on the BP oil spill and to be briefed by officials on the ground. Speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Grande Isle, Louisiana and demonstrating greater appreciation for the scale of the disaster, Obama reiterated that his administration’s mission remains the same–to stop the leak, contain and clean up the oil and to have those persons affected by the spill return to their livelihoods.
..”Our response treats this event for what it is: It’s an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy, and on communities like this one, Obama said. “This isn’t just a mess that we’ve got to mop up. People are watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach. Parents are worried about the implications for their children’s health. Every resident of this community has watched this nightmare threaten the dreams that they’ve worked so hard to build. And they want it made right, and they want to make it right now.”
Observing that the clean-up efforts underway were the largest in the history of the U.S., Obama said that he had made clear to Admiral Thad Allen, in charge of the clean-up, that he should get whatever was needed to deal with the crisis. Obama has directed that in places where oil has hit the shore or is within 24 hours of impact that manpower be tripled.
The president observed that while the outcome of the “top kill”, the latest effort by BP to plug the leak was uncertain, the response will continue with full force, regardless of its outcome.
Obama reiterated that BP was financially responsible for the enormous damage caused by the oil spill, but that he as president was ultimately responsible for solving the crisis.
“So I give the people of this community and the entire Gulf my word that we’re going to hold ourselves accountable to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to stop this catastrophe, to defend our natural resources, to repair the damage, and to keep this region on its feet, Obama said. “Justice will be done for those whose lives have been upended by this disaster, for the families of those whose lives have been lost — that is a solemn pledge that I am making.”
