The Justice Department Decides to Launch a Criminal Investigation into the Gulf Oil Disaster

(USA Today) The Justice Department said Tuesday that it would open a criminal and civil investigation into the Gulf oil disaster as the government projections are showing the oil slick moving closer onto shore. After touring the afflicted areas, Attorney General Eric Holder said the wide-ranging inquiry is "our obligation under the law." Holder didn't specify whether the probe would target BP, which operated the oil rig which caused the spill. BP shares have already lost 15% of their share value. BP's liability for the economic and environmental damage may not be resolved for months to come. Justice Department spokesman Andrew Ames said the inquiry would involve "all possible violations of the law," including breaches of the Clean Water, Oil, Pollution and Endangered Species Act. Holder had meetings with federal prosecutors and state attorneys general from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. President Obama told members of an independent investigating commission that laws would be changed if necessary to prevent such spills.

The government has widened the fishing ban, placing nearly a third of federal Gulf waters off limits. The Coast Guard stated that it was "aggressively increasing" surveillance and clean-up after the latest forecasts indicated winds pushing the oil closer to the Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi coasts. Two Navy skimmers are on their way to join three already in place off Mississippi's Petit Bois Island, where oil was spotted Tuesday, according to Coast Guard's P.J. Capelotti. BP's latest attempt in stopping the oil leak is to use robotics to cut off the riser from the well and position a cap over the opening. The Gulf Coast oil leak is now the worst in U.S. history.

There have been debates concerning whether the federal government has a role in regulating private enterprise. The Democrats believe in government micromanaging business and heavy federal regulations whereas the Republicans believe in deregulation or no government regulation of business. I'm not a proponent of government micromanaging business. I believe that's wrong. For the most part, government should leave business alone. However, the government does have a responsibility to protect the American people. When businesses grow so large that they eventually become a monopoly, it becomes a necessity that there be limited government oversight over business. The problem is the oil companies have the government in their back pockets. Government has a cozy relationship with the oil companies. Anytime you have government and business joined to the hip, there's always potential for curruption and abuse. There should be safety inspections of these oil rigs. The government should never allow these corporations to pay them not to properly inspect these rigs. Safety inspections are a must. Government and business should be independent of one another. Government and business shouldn't be enjoying a cozy relationship with one another. Safety is the first and foremost responsibility of business. They must be made accountable. These oil rigs must be inspected--it's just that simple.

I'm a strong supporter of drilling for oil whether it be on or offshore. However, there must be safety regulations involved in the operation of these rigs. There must be shut-off valves that work in case of an explosion. The untold damage that can be caused with a massive oil leak such as this is indescribable. We probably haven't seen the worst of it, yet. BP gives the impression they don't know what they're doing. This whole incident sounds like a sham. I believe government will use this incident to pass a climate change bill which they've been desiring to pass for some time. BP is responsible for this mess and they should be held responsible for the bill. However, the government hasn't been responsive in their cleanup effort, either. There appears to be no sense of urgency on either the part of the government or BP to cap the oil leak and clean up this mess. I guarantee somebody is going to make money off this crisis. When the oil spill first happened, the government should've dispatched the Coast Guard and Navy to contain the oil spill. You don't allow an oil spill like that to grow. It's caused untold damage to the ecosystem. The fishing economy could be placed out of business for a long time. It will drive up the cost seafood. Much of America's seafood comes from the Gulf Coast. As White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stated, "You don't want to put a good crisis to waste."