If you must speak, do so with the understanding uninformed opinions on emotional subjects often provoke annoyance. I would like it noted in passing, however, that there's a difference between saying a POST is stupid and saying a POSTER is.

Was it really being "controlled" by more than one person? I sincerely doubt BP simply gave Transocean a free hand in much of anything. They paid a pretty penny for that lease, after all, and the sheer volume of the spill shows how rich it was. Not to mention that whatever services they may be purchasing from Transocean they almost certainly expect to be performed according to instructions. "Here's a large sum of money; do what you please on our oil lease--while our employees watch mutely.... " ' />2' /> As to the equipment itself, the main thing we know is that had never had this problem before now, and that it had already been cited several times by the Coast Guard for leaks in the weeks leading up to the explosion (one theory as to why the blowout preventer failed is that it lacked hydraulic pressure due to a leak of its own. )

Actually, what went wrong, in terms of assigning damages, is only relevant in so far as it bears on who's responsible. And BP has been rather half hearted in its own attempts to shift blame to contractors and regulators, which speaks volumes, though I do give them credit for at least trying. This is BPs baby and they'll have to rock it, like it or not.

Dear heaven, was this REALLY only the second post made on the CMB since mine? How incredibly depressing....