Last night a professor from Rice University made some damning accusations concerning the spill, British Petroleum and the U. S. regulatory mechanisms, and why the best in well control equipment (blowout preventers, etc. were not on the platform.
(Aired on CNN last night but not repeated in later telecasts).

The offshore wells in Norway and Brazilian waters have the 'state-of-the-art equipment.
The professor said the oil companies interested in Gulf offshore prospects said that the preventer equipment was too expensive and not necessary.
The government regulators went along with their opinion.

Public safety and the public's livehood should be the primary concern of government regulators- whether the products are oil and other natural resources, food products or drugs prescribed for ills.

Safety should not be a matter of politics left or right- This should be a primary concern of all governments and their regulatory divisions.

When the well failed and the platform caught fire, it was already too late to apply immediate measures; all corrective action would depend on getting the proper equipment and personnel to the site- this would take a few days and an additional drilling rig is still on the way.

The Professor from Rice also faulted British Petroleum's record, citing another major spill, the Texas deadly refinery fire, several violations of safety regulations and the current disaster, which could make the Valdez spill look like an oil stain on the garage floor.

BP's assets in the United States should be frozen- the possible disaster could put many thousands out of work for several years.
And Sorcha, it will take up to 50 years to make alternative energy sources an important part of energy generation.
Mousethief has judged it correctly.