The arrogance of BP

Company exec challenges Coast Guard, quickly backs down

When the Coast Guard announced Wednesday that the rate of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico had skyrocketed, BP PLC immediately issued a denial.

Not a wise strategy to scoff at an agency offering to help you with the cleanup.

Rear Admiral Mary Landry said that a new leak was discovered on the Deepwater Horizon site 50 miles south of Louisiana and 5,000 barrels a day of crude, not the 1,000 barrels of the previous estimates, were pouring out of the well 5,000 feet below the surface.

BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles disputed her figures—at the very same news conference. He also claimed that the company had things under control and was able to handle the cleanup operations.

Landry countered that that it’s clear that BP is not up to the task.

"It has become clear after several unsuccessful attempts to determine the cause" that the company can no longer go solo and needs help from other sources, she said.

This morning on the Today Show, Suttles, hat in hand, admitted that the oil may in fact be leaking at the rate of the higher figures and that he welcomed the government’s offer to assist.

“We’ll take help from anyone,” Suttles said.

Louisiana wildlife officials say there is a “high probability” that the oil will reach outlying wildlife areas by Friday night.

The Transocean Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank last week. 11 workers are presumed dead. 17 were injured, seven critically.