Obama Administration Very Slow to React to Environmental Disaster

The scope of the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is just beginning to sink in to most Americans. However, we expect our government to react to obvious disasters promptly.

The Obama Administration continues to claim it has been fully engaged, all hands on deck, etc. However, the government delegated all the response to a private company, British Petroleum (BP).

Even worse. According to a former NOAA official Ron Gouguet the federal government has a pre-approved 1994 plan for burning off oil in the event of a major oil spill. That plan calls for use of "fire booms" to burn the oil off the surface before it gets to the shore. The Obama Administration's delay allowed the oil slick to spread so widely that it became too late for a well-conceived disaster plan.

Here, is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration video, shot as officials coordinated response to the fire on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, that confirms federal officials knew almost immediately that the oil well could leak up to 110,000 barrels per day, or 4.6 million gallons.

Knowing the huge scope of the problem and threat to the environment, why didn't the government act with appropriate intensity to save the Gulf of Mexico environment?

Why didn't it get the fire booms down to the Gulf so quickly that it would make your head spin?

Video from NOAA site shows officials knew quickly of potential for massive oil flow