Is it arrogance?

What possesses people in charge of a corporation to dispel rumors of a newly leaking wellhead by simply saying the wellhead is no longer leaking without providing video proof?

Especially when that company is responsible for unleashing the worst environmental disaster in this country. Especially when that company has been less than honest in the past…especially when financial self-interest was at stake.

From Robert Cavner, in an article about BP’s past and the new sheen:

“They got away with the “well integrity test,” which actually became the permanent shut in of the well, and they successfully P&A’d MC252 in November 2010. You might also recall that BP did this while avoiding actually capturing (measuring) the total flow from the well. Because the total flow was never measured, BP has contended that the flow from the well was far less than any other independent expert has estimated, a key tactic in defending themselves from liability claims.”

So, BP runs a ROV camera down at the well site and then reassures the public they’ve looked at the pictures and can say for certain the well remains sealed.

Yet they don’t show the public the pictures?

Now, I don’t write the latter because I believe BP is necessarily lying, or attempting more obfuscation. I write this because it really pisses me off British Petroleum thinks their words can be taken as fact. Right, might as well put David Vitter in charge of the NOPD’s Vice department… And what makes BP think they still have integrity, can do as they like without providing proof? What gives them that nerve?

Last I checked, none of them have done a day in jail.

Have a nice day.