Steel plates, once an inch thick, have rusted down to less than half that. Tiny marine creatures have planted themselves on the ship's hull and died there, creating a thick, concretelike coating that weighs it down.
And blobs of oil — so smooth they look like black pebbles — slowly float to the surface. There may still be half a million gallons onboard the Arizona; if the hull gives way, it will all escape.
When will that happen? It could begin in as little as a decade or two.
I think it's about time we get over the 'sacredness' of the site and, minimally, do what is necessary to get the remaining oil out.