Single-Fingered Salute

Sure looks as though the Coast Guard (CG) is complicit in covering up Plains All American Pipeline’s environmental fiasco. A Cal State Channel Islands submersible ROV has been barred from waters within 500 yards from the Coast Guard’s “safety zone.” (Though the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper footage can be seen here.)

Safety? 500 yards? The CG captain in charge is either stupid (not likely) or oblivious to public opinion. Turning away an asset with an overblown “safety” concern is either stupid or a cover up. Her credibility in deferring to a (literally) slimy shore-side plumbing company is (literally) incredible. She and her incompetent staff get my one-finger salute. Next time you see a CG cutter or copter, give them a hearty wave of the middle digit.

She said: “I do want to manage expectations.” Leave that to the professionals, Captain. Expectations hinge on transparency. Manage the cleanup. This situation shows how getting the CG out of the Department of Defense and into the Depot of Homeland “Security” was a masterstroke for the Navy.