e-Claire

Cuz Nobuddy Assed Me

3rd grade cut-ups

HA!  Captain KickAssPuppy Walks Alone, Duu-uude.

Late Wednesday evening, the State Department emailed reporters identifying the 13 entities that had offered the U.S. oil spill assistance. They were the governments of Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations.

...A State Department official, speaking on background, said that the decision not to initially release the names of offering countries came directly from the State Department leadership.

According to one newspaper, European firms could complete the task in four months, rather than an estimated nine months if done only by the U.S. Working with the U.S., the cleanup could be accomplished in three months.

So what’s the hold up?

The Coast Guard and the Administration are quick to point out that some foreign technology is being used in the current cleanup effort. Including:

- Canada’s offer of 3,000 meters of containment boom
- Three sets of COSEQ sweeping arms from the Dutch
- Mexico’s offer of two skimmers and 4200 meters of boom
- Norway’s offer of 8 skimming systems

But that is largely technology transferred to US vessels. Some of the best clean up ships – owned by Belgian, Dutch and the Norwegian firms are NOT being used. Coast Guard Lt. Commander, Chris O’Neil, says that is because they do not meet “the operational requirements of the Unified Area Command.” One of those operational requirements is that vessels comply with the Jones Act.

Section 27 [of The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-261)], also known as the Jones Act, deals with cabotage (i.e., coastal shipping) and requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

This isn’t about transporting goods—is it?

"Yes, it does apply,” said ONeil,“I have heard no discussions of waivers."

Waivers to the Jones Act were granted by the administration of George W. Bush in the days following hurricane Katrina. And today, the Obama White House said waivers might again be considered.

“If there is the need for any type of waiver, that would obviously be granted,” said White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs. “But, we’ve not had that problem thus far.”

... Admiral Allen said, “If it gets to the point where a Jones Act waiver is required, we’re willing to do that too Nobody has come to me with a request for a Jones Act waiver.”

So whassa problem?

1. “... deals with cabotage ...” Hey!  Isn’t that stuff like blowing up factories & such?

   “Nobody has come to me with a request for a Jones Act waiver.”

   That would imply that somebody besides His Woderfulness is capable of fixing the problem.  And we all know that that ain’t so.

   Posted by ZZMike  on  06/11/10  at  01:56 AM

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