Via Raw Story:
Journalists who come too close to oil spill clean-up efforts without permission could find themselves facing a $40,000 fine and even one to five years in prison under a new rule instituted by the Coast Guard late last week. It's a move that outraged observers have decried as an attack on First Amendment rights.Every effort is being expended to ensure that the real damage of this incredible clusterfuck is concealed: oil dispersant, to sink the oil, and make it look less severe than it is; and informational dispersant, to keep the press at bay.
And CNN's Anderson Cooper describes the new rules as making it "very easy to hide incompetence or failure."
The Coast Guard order states that "vessels must not come within 20 meters [65 feet] of booming operations, boom, or oil spill response operations under penalty of law." But since "oil spill response operations" apparently covers much of the clean-up effort on the beaches, CNN's Anderson Cooper describes the rule as banning reporters from "anywhere we need to be."
A "willful" violation of the new rule could result in Class D felony charges, which carry a penalty of one to five years in prison under federal law.
The new rule appears to contradict the promises made by Adm. Thad Allen, the official leading the Coast Guard's response to the oil spill. (Ya fucking THINK?--W)
"Media will have uninhibited access anywhere we're doing operations, except for two things, if it's a security or safety problem," Allen told ABC News in June. (Allen has since retired from the CG, and is now a paid "consultant" for the Obamanauts.--W)
In defending the new rule, Allen told reporters that he got "complaints from local officials" about the safety of people near cleanup efforts.
"We're (the Press) not the enemy here," Cooper responded in a report broadcast Thursday night. "Those of us down here trying to accurately show what is happening -- we are not the enemy. I've not heard about any journalist who's disrupted relief efforts; no journalist wants to be seen as having slowed down the cleanup or made things worse. If a Coast Guard official asked me to move, I'd move. But to create a blanket rule that everyone has to stay 65 feet away from boom and boats, that doesn't sound like transparency." (You're the enemy if anything you do threatens to show up either BP or BO, bro, believe me!--W)
The rule has come under severe criticism not only from journalists but from observers and activists involved in the Gulf Coast clean-up.
"With this, the Gulf Coast cleanup operation has now entered a weird Orwellian reality where the news is shaped, censored and controlled by the government in order to prevent the public from learning the truth about what's really happening," writes Mike Adams at NaturalNews.
"We might expect something like this from Chavez, or Castro or even the communist leaders of China, but here in the United States, we've all been promised we lived in 'the land of the free,'" Adams continues. "Obama apparently does not subscribe to that philosophy anymore (if he ever did)."
Under the rule, reporters or anyone else wishing to get within 65 feet of a cleanup operation need to get permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of New Orleans.
"The fact is we're not attempting to keep anyone from seeing anything," Edward Stanton, the current Coast Guard Captain in New Orleans, told WKRG News in Mobile.
"Nine times out of 10, probably 10 times out of 10” access will be granted, Stanton said.
He said the rule was put into place because of complaints about "boaters interfering with the oil spill operations."
(To most sane, honest people NOT in the thrall of either BO or BP--W) the rule seems on its face to be just the latest attempt to reduce media coverage of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which has now attained the status of worst accidental oil spill in history.
Reporters have been complaining for weeks about BP, the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard working to keep reporters away from wrenching images of oil-covered birds and oil-soaked beaches. On Friday, a photographer from ProPublica was detained by police and BP officials after taking photos of a BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.
Cooper compared the latest effort to prevent access to the oil spill to similar efforts during Hurricane Katrina.
"Frankly it's a lot like in Katrina, where they tried to make it impossible to see recovery efforts of people who died in their homes. If we can't show what is happening, warts and all ... that makes it very easy to hide failure, and hide incompetence."
The preceding video was broadcast on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, July 1, 2010, and uploaded to YouTube by user djohnsto77.
Moar "Change You Can Believe In!"
11 comments:
I'm so fucking pissed off. Sliding into the shitter as a country ain't no fun.
New Coast Guard Anthem. Sung to the tune of My Country 'Tis of Thee.
Anderson Cooper is
An unwanted snooper his
Reports are unfair.
No matter how much oil has flowed,
We have it under control.
We know who fuels our boats.
God save BP!
They did it for safety! They don't care if anyone wants to get their news story. They want to do their job but keep everyone involved safe. When you are out there and you have reporters getting in your way all the time and threatening your safety and everyone else's. I would do the same thing the Coast guard did especially when these reporters only care about making the coast guard who are the only one's actually doing anything look Like bad guys. BP, Obama, local governments, and everyone else who haven't done nothing to help the coast guard and Admiral Allen out. The coast guard and Admiral Allen are and no one seems to care.
We care Michelle. It's just that it's so hard to believe something this horrible is really happening. It's just that it goes against everything that we have always believed to be true. I guess the residents of Chernobyl probably felt the same way.
It is not as unconscionable as genocide. But it seems like it should be more impossible.
I know that you and everyone have the right to know and care. My dad is a commander in the coast guard and was the pilot who saved all those lives when the rig exploded and searched day and night for the 11 missing. I am very proud of him and my fellow coasties. I also am with the coast guard and stationed at air station sitka in Alaska as a rescue swimmer and yesterday morning lost 3 of my friends in the helicopter crash off the coast of Washington. My dad and I talk when we could. He recently told me about the restriction barrier for reporters. He said that it was mainly for safety and efficiency. He said when he was out laying new boom down and picking up the old boom that washed up on shore from the weather. And there were reporters their filming the old boom along the shore. He repeatly told them to move but they didn't. So he had to shut down his entire operation down and wait until they were done filming. When they were done filming they went full throttle through the area where they just put new boom down! He was very upset because of that. He had to shut down for 3 hours for them to film and to move. They don't report that! He only wanted to do his job as quickly and efficient as possible but couldn't. But the reporters go around making us look like we aren't doing anything down there. My dad wakes up at 5 am everyday and is out there until 1 am weather permitting and that's been since day 1. When he is not out there he's patrolling or working along side Retired Admiral Allen and our commandant Admiral Papp to get a strategy together so he and the coast guard could get out there to do their jobs and combat it. The coast guard have every resource they have available to them. We have even taken away from our many other missions to combat this. The problem for us as a department is that every year congress cuts our finances down for the department. Next year they are proposing to cut 75 million from our financial budget! We can't do our all our missions and combat this oil spill with 75 million less than this year. We do so much for this country all year long 24/7 365 days a year. We are the first ones to respond. We were out there from day 1 before anyone knew of the explosion. We will be there until the oil is stopped and cleaned up. It's our motto. Semper Paratus Always Ready and we are. We are always ready to respond when the country needs us and we are out there day and night combatting an oil spill without any of bp's help. We put are own lives down to save others. My dad did by flying in the heat of the flames of an oil rig explosion to save so many lives. He does his job non stop protecting this country and coast line and I am proud of him and everyone of my fellow coasties there battling oil.
Yeah, Michelle, it's true. Gathering the news, especially news that nobody really wants told, is a dirty business, not unlike cleaning up corpoRat crimes at sea, or oil-soaked marine life. I don't trust your pal Thad Allen. I think he's compromised. I think he's got a great job offer waiting in private industry if he can keep the lid on this thing.
If the CG was on scene right from the start, where are the reports in public of what they found out there? Why did it take more than a MONTH for the crucial details tio emerge?
I repsect your heart-felt support for the Corps--and the charming spelling errors, etc. contribute to the authenticity of your voice--but dahlin, you're too close to things, and have too much invested in NOT seeing the lies and cover-up.
There is no cover up! After the explosion, the coast guard was focused on the search for the 11 missing. When the search ended, they turned their focus onto the oil leaks discovered and how to stop them. They focused on getting a worst-case scenario plan and to the president. The problem is that no one truely knows how much is down there and leaking as well as leaked out. The coast guard early estimates and now come from BP. The information the Coast guard receives they must go over them first to see if there is any new developments. The problem is when thad allen and coast guard asks for new information from BP or any agencies they either don't get it or get what they got from them weeks ago. So they go off the information they have and sometimes it's very little to none at all. The coast guard also have many ongoing investigations and options from people that they go over very closely to make sure nothing is left out. Once they are done with the investigation and anyone's options that may work it goes to thad allen, admiral papp, and other commanders including my dad. They will then look at any results from the investigations and test out any options but many of the options that are given don't work during the tests.
I knew Thad Allen long before he was my admiral. He was a friend of my father's since they graduated from the coast guard academy together and was stationed in miami together for many years. Besides my dad, him and his father bill are the reason why I joined the coast guard and respect the coast guard so much. He was my commander during 9/11 in nyc and during katrina when my father and I helped rescue thousands from their rooftops. He was also my commandant and early on he couldn't focus on the oil spill completely because he was still running the coast guard, which what Admiral Papp is doing since becoming commandant on may 26. Thad is a great leader and friend. I saw that during 9/11 and katrina. I don't know of anyone better who be able to handle everything he's having to do. He hates doing interviews and talking on tv. He always have.
I don't watch tv as much or the news. I don't think they tell truth so much and keep looking for ways to spread their lies. The information I get about the oil spill comes from my dad, my friends from my district stationed there, and from thad. I don't talk to them all the time because they are always busy but when I do they share with me any developments. It's very remote up here in Alaska and electricity goes off a lot. My dad told me about the reporters who won't move and nearly knocked him and his crew overboard when they went full throttle pushing waves up over the booms that he layed out. He told me everything he had to do that if I told you everything there will 100 pages including what my friends from my district deployed there. Thad tells me of the new developments because he knows how remote it is here. He releases any new developments when he gets them but many times he doesn't have the answers yet because no one told him at that time but as soon as he and the coast guard they get released.
Michelle, there is ALWAYS a cover-up. There is NEVER NOT a cover-up. Sorry. I do not deny anyone's heroism, or devotion (well mebbe Thad's; he just retired, from the CG, but he's still in charge? He and Hayward were hanging like homies in NAwlins last month. The fix is in....
I repeat my first caveat: if you are who you say you are, you're way too close to have an objective, disinterested view...
I stick to mine. I don't care if you what you think but I know for a fact there isn't any from thad or the coast guard. Thad and the coast guard releases update information on reliefthegulf.gov. and deepwaterhorizionresponse.com all the same information Thad and the Coast Guard receives is on those sites. They have all the information you want since day 1.
I know Thad and his father Bill (Clive) and mother Wilma as well as Thad wife and children. I Know him on a personal level and he have been my friend, admiral, and hero. My father always told me to respect my veterans and honor them as heroes and I do. He may be retired but until President Obama relieves him from his command he is the top commander in charge. Admiral Papp leads the Coast guard efforts alongside thad. Admiral Pappy is now my top commander and I will show him the same respect as I do with Thad.
It is really me. I live and work at Air Station Sitka Alaska. I am a rescue swimmer and a flight mechanic with the 17th District since 2006. I was previously stationed at Coast Guard Sector New York City from 2000-2006.
I will always defend Thad and my fellow coasties from people who discrimminate against them. My only objective will always to be to protect and to serve. Even if I have to protect my fellow coasties. We stand by each and have each others back even if others don't realize. You probably don't know anything the coast guard have done since it was formed in 1790 or before the rig explosion and oil spill. Even now the only people like you care about is if we hid stuff. Maybe you should let the coast guard, Thad, and Admiral Papp do their jobs! They would love if everyone will stop getting on their case. It's not helping them out! If you disagree fine but I am always ready to fight and stand up for them. Thad is a great leader and is the perfect man for the job. Admiral Papp have done a great job leading the coast guard since may. I trust Thad and my fellow coasties with my life and they do as well. Thad may have had dinner or whatever I wouldn't know. I don't talk about what or who he eats with. Its none of my business or yours. I don't go around sticking into other people's business. I only talk to him on occasion and its about what is going here and in the gulf.
All my support goes to him and the coast guard. I have so much faith in them and told my father and thad religiously I have their backs and will be right down there if anything would happen to them. There is more than friendship there is respect and honor. Thad have always been that for me as well as my dad. Thad saved me when I was younger from drowning. the only people who knows that is me, him, and both of our families. I don't talk about that with anyone but him. Its way I trust and support him so much and I owe him my life for that and will gladly do! SEMPER PARATUS!!
Everyone needs to turn off cnn, foxnews, or any news source for awhile. For all the conspirators out there Wake Up! There never been any government conspiracy or cover up! You people always immediately assume there is. You thought aliens landed in roswell, kennedy assasination is wrong, bush caused 9-11 and hurricane katrina. Even now during this oil spill you think there is. Thad Allen and the coast guard put everything out there for you to look at but as soon as thad is done talking you pick his briefings, coast guard facts, etc to pieces. Why do you think he is always careful now at what he says? So that you idiots would leave him alone to do his job.
I don't see cnn or whoever these idiots where who tried to kill my dad and his crew out at sea who only wanted to do their jobs but when they get in their way then go full throttle out there run the new booms just layed out there and creates huge waves that rock the boat so voliently that it almost knocked them off and the rest of boom off. Report that!
I know who are lying. Its bp, the news, and every single conspirator out there who rather criticize thad allen, the coast guard, etc who only want to do their job by trying to get it cleaned up and stopped. The information is out there. Instead of looking up your conspiracy sites, books, tv shows, etc. Look up the information that those who are out there doing anything about the spill have put out there for you to look at. Its out there!
I guess you idiots probably never wake up. So you know what. Forget it! I will stick with I have always said and that stick with those who you know will have your back and that is my hero Thad Allen, his father Bill (clive) my dad and everyone who ever or still is serving their country in the coast guard or the military.
To my friend and hero Thad Allen if you want a suggestion to stopping this oil leak plug it with everyone who ever criticized you and the coast guard as well as these lying reporters and conspirators! You will stop the leak then! You will have my entire support, trust, and faith before, during, and after this spill is stopped and cleaned up. You are my hero in everyway and I will always be right there at your side whenever you need it. I am grateful to have served under your leadership and thank you for your nearly 40 years of service. SEMPER PARATUS Thad! You will always be my hero and am proud of everything you have done and will do. No matter what these liars and idiot conspirators say about you or our fellow coasties!
I can't say that this title should be written in the same way you have write down.
Post a Comment