Been watching CNN again, have ya? BTW--go up to Prince Edward Sound and tell me how horrible it is these days. You'd be amazed how resilient nature can be, unless you drop radioactive material on it, and even then...
It has been 20 years now, almost a generation and the Sound is in no way back to the way it was before.
As the oil spreads it will effect Centural America and move with the tides, wind and currents South into South America.
No way around it, the oil will get into the Atlantic and move up the coast. This is Hurricane Season, to add a kicker to the mix.
The scientists and engineers that are desperate to find a way to stop the oil have some ideas on how to do so but, none of their ideas have been tested before at 5,000 feet. I would imagine the pounds per square inch at that depth would implode most submarines. It is not surprising the pipe lines ruptured after a few years under those conditions.
Another problem is that as the earths crust keeps moving and releasing methane from the bottom, pockets, big ones of methane may build up, The Atlantic could become a huge blow torch under the right conditions.
We well may see the distruction of intire species as the oil washes up on the rivers and Bayou's of the Gulf, sooner or later it will get into fresh water and kill off plant life.
This will put any natural disaster the world has seen to shame. Even if we stop the spill next week, we face an enormous crises ahead. There are so many unexpected and out of the blue things that can make it even worse.