Truth In Numbers

The big ah hah occurs. If the estimate of the size of the leak stays low at 5,000 barrels per day, BP faces smaller legal actions. Obama incidentally is allowing this low ball number to be used. There is a "fear" that getting an exact number on the size of the leak will somehow make things worse! Excuse me for a moment while I puke, because this sounds like a huge crock.

One must assume that there are elements in our very own government who are extremely concerned about this spill - not from the point of view of how it is creating the worst environmental disaster in history, but how poor BP will weather the financial strain. In fact, if anything, they are working on figuring out how to make this thing profitable for BP. Don't think that strain of thinking has not occurred.

McClatchy: Low estimate of oil spill's size could save BP millions in court

Legal experts said that not having a credible official estimate of the leak's size provides another benefit for BP: The amount of oil spilled is certain to be key evidence in the court battles that are likely to result from the disaster. The size of the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, for example, was a significant factor that the jury considered when it assessed damages against Exxon.