From Pat Austin yesterday in Shreveport:
The federal government has thrown another stone in Louisiana's path to protect its shores from the encroaching oil from the BP well explosion.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has rejected the state's plan to build rock dikes in the passes leading into Barataria Bay, an area known for fishing and wildlife. As expected, Governor Jindal is furious, saying, "“Only a government bureaucrat would say rocks are more harmful to our water than oil.”
The Advocate has the story this morning as well as a report of oil now moving into Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans.
The best quote in The Advocate's piece comes from Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle who said,
“I say, let’s go. If we can come up with the money, let’s bypass the federal government. Let’s protect our people.”
Camardelle needs to come up with $25 million to build the dikes anyway. BP has already purchased the rocks for $16 million and they're sitting on barges ready to go.
At this point, I think Camardelle is correct. It appears that the only way Louisiana will be saved will be for state officials to do whatever it takes to save it and quit waiting weeks for Corps approvals, permits, and reports. Quit waiting for Obama to make a decision because he's already made it, haven't you noticed?
He's decided to take the path of criminal negligence.
Again, if the locals raise the money and proceed, what's Obama gonna do? Send the Coast Guard to fire on the locals? Send in the National Guard to seize the island?
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