Jindal Gives First-Hand Look At Gulf Disaster
Louisiana's governor took Harry Smith to get a close-up look at the devasting impact of the Gulf oil spill, on and around Grand Isle.
Bobby Jindal and the "Early Show" co-anchor were accompanied by BP Managing Director Bob Dudley and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser.
They all took a Harry boat ride through the wetlands and marshlands that are taking a serious hit.
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"This is our first line of defense," said Jindal. "This is an ecosystem. There's no check big enough to compensate for what's happened to these wetlands. It's not about money; it's about keeping this oil out in the first place."
Dudley, who was seeing the impact of the mistake his company made for the first time looked like "a man who had seen his own ghost," said Smith.
While locals are enraged with the energy and money being thrown into this cleanup, they are also furious with the possibility that their way of life is now in jeopardy, Smith observed.
Jindal says he refuses to give up and continues to believe in the resilience of his state and its residents.
"We're going to win this war. This is our way of life. We have no choice but to win this war. This is not only our coastline, this is how Louisianans have lived for generations and made a living," said Jindal, "Failure is not an option."