Apparently not if you're the CEO of BP.
Under intense grilling by the congressional committee overseeing the investigation on the Gulf incident, BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward said that he was "was out of the loop on decisions at the well."
He also denied any knowledge of any of the "myriad problems on and under the Deepwater Horizon rig before the deadly explosion," telling the committee that "With respect, sir, we drill hundreds of wells a year around the world."
As Republican Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas replied, "Yes, I know, that's what scaring me right now."
My sentiments exactly.
Ok give him the benefit of the doubt because CEO can't be expected to be in every decision making aspect of the company.
After all in a company as big as BP there's only so much one can take care of but the thing is when it comes to something as risky as this the CEO has to be in the loop at some level.
And when I say risky I mean something as risky as off shore drilling.
I took this verbatim from the yahoo article where I read this from:
Hayward spoke slowly and calmly in his clipped British accent as he sought to deflect accusations — based on internal BP documents obtained by congressional investigators — that BP chose a particular well design that was riskier but cheaper by at least $7 million.
"I wasn't involved in any of that decision-making," he said.
Were bad decisions made about the cement?
"I wasn't part of the decision-making process," he said. "I'm not a cement engineer, I'm afraid."
Also, "I am not a drilling engineer" and "I'm not an oceanographic scientist."
What about those reports that BP had been experiencing a variety of problems and delays at the well?
"I had no prior knowledge."
At one point a frustrated Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, interrupted the CEO. "You're kicking the can down the road and acting as if you had nothing to do with this company and nothing to do with the decisions. I find that irresponsible."
Hayward quietly insisted: "I'm not stonewalling. I simply was not involved in the decision-making process."
I dunno about you but wouldn't this infuriate you to. I will tell you that I am.
As 61 year old shrimper Diane Wilson of Seadrift Texas shouted at Hayward, "You need to be charged with a crime."
Amen.
Well almost everyone.
Here in our country we are excited . . .
. . . For the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers.
I find that amusing and frankly quite stupid.
Filipinos are not that tall - probably around 5'6" if that.
Between you and me do you really see us getting competitive in basketball when the average height of other countries is at least a few inches taller than us.
Some argue that of course we choose the tallest among our citizens. That's well and good but there is the disparity in where you pick your candidates.
We have probably around 100-million people to choose from, if that. China has over 1-billion to choose from.
Can you see the disparity there?
I sure can.
Then there's the question of commitment. China is committed to being a world power in basketball.
Our end we can't even win in the ASEAN games with consistency.
And their government has one body and the money to back up their basketball program.
Our end we argue which political body has control over Philippine basketball and the funding, if not pocketed by "administrative" "yes" men are wholly inadequate.
The Chinese team has been together for years. Our teams are formed a month before tournaments and don't really practice well together because they are all "professionals."
So do I expect us to win anything at all - nope not really.
Yet the one area where we can be a contender we neglect.
That's right we should be focusing our resources on football, or as the Americans call it, soccer.
We have the height - hell Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are not that much taller than us.
We already have the tan and the thing is it doesn't need height to win. You need to have stamina, persistence, teamwork, and the knowledge to play.
And it doesn't require a covered court because any field can be the "pitch." You just need two goals, a ball, and two 11-men teams and you've got a game.
Filipinos are built for football, or soccer if you will. We are definitely not built for basketball - not the world or even NBA kind of basketball.
And don't say it's impossible.
Hell, North Korea, and impoverished country was able to send a team to the current World Cup in South Africa and was able to do well against the heavily favored Brazilian team.
They lost 2-1 but they gave Brazil a run for their money.
Given the right support we too can give the rest of the world a run for their money.
But then again we don't want to watch a sport which can end 0-0 after 90 minutes.
But if we continue on our mistaken path we will always be a spectator and not a contender.
Something to think about as we don't watch the world celebrate the thrill that is football (soccer).
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