Quietly Executing A National Security Triumph

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027328.php

QUIETLY EXECUTING A NATIONAL SECURITY TRIUMPH.... One of the year's biggest national security developments actually gets overlooked. In April, at the kickoff of the Nuclear Security Summit, the Obama administration reached an agreement with the Ukrainian government on the country giving up its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium, inherited after the fall of the Soviet Union.

For those concerned about the security of the most dangerous material on the planet, this was quite a breakthrough. What we didn't know until last night is that the process of moving more than 110 pounds of highly enriched uranium -- enough to make two nuclear bombs -- was quietly completed this week.

It sounds like something out of a spy thriller, but this was, by all accounts, an extremely complicated, extremely dangerous, process involving five flights in four countries and 21 specially designed casks carrying previously unsecured uranium to a secure facility. Andrew Bieniawski, the U.S. agency's associate deputy administrator for global threat reduction, said, "This may have been the most complicated operation NNSA has done in recent years."

The result, of course, is a safer world. If you watch one clip today, make it this one from last night, in which Rachel Maddow interviewed Thomas D'Agostino, head of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration.

Video @ link~

Also note, President Obama established a goal early on of securing all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years -- a task that encompasses locking down materials in 35 countries. Less than two years later, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration has completed its work in 19 of those countries, and D'Agostino believes the agency is on track to meet the White House's deadline.

The political world covers quite a bit of ground, but arguably nothing is quite as important to global security as this. The developments in Ukraine are a triumph to be celebrated.

—Steve Benen

[Richardo]

1. K&R

Kudos to all concerned :patriot:

[rucky]

2. Here's the video link from the Maddow show...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908//vp/40859004#40859004

It really is a must-see.

[jenmito]

3. K&R. Funny how this thread is being ignored. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

4. Sad state of things lately

But add it to the ever-growing list of this President's impressive accomplishments while people wait to be mad at the next compliment he pays someone.

:eyes:

[silverweb]

6. To be fair...

There have already been several other threads on this very same subject. I provided the Maddow link on a couple of them last night.

[jenmito]

13. Fair enough...

but did they get many replies?

[silverweb]

15. Not really, but...

...they did get well over 1000 views and lots of recs among them. We already know that many (if not most) people read threads without posting.

In a case like this, just getting the word out is the important thing.

Rachel's special interview was a marvelous kickoff. The rest of the corporate media will minimize this accomplishment, so it's up to us to make sure people are made aware.

I've sent the interview and an article to everyone on my email list. Hopefully, others will do the same and post on their blogs, Facebook, etc, and awareness will grow.

[jenmito]

16. But it's kind of a shame that Obama's constant critics can't even post on these threads

acknowledging that a good thing has been accomplished by the Obama admin.

[silverweb]

21. All too true, but it's the nature of the beast.

Most extreme right-wingers (and some extreme left-wingers) are of that nasty mindset that requires not only that they win, but that all others must fail completely. They make it well known that they desire grind their opponents to bits under their heel.

I used to be shocked by this attitude, thinking such a thing must be an anomaly, but the W years and the RW's unmitigated, visceral hatred for Obama have taught me different.

Waste no time or energy on regret for them. Let's forge ahead without them, and they can join us or be left in our dust.

:fistbump:

[jenmito]

24. I couldn't have said it better myself.

:fistbump:

[loudsue]

26. I'm not a constant critic, nor am I in love with the president. But this is so very important

to the security of the world, and we have to give credit where credit is due. The problem is, we are probably the ONLY ones who will ever give him credit. Come 2012, the corporations will drown out any accomplishments Obama has made in favor of Jeb Bush's run for the white house.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. there is nothing wrong...

with criticizing a president when he is wrong- in fact Theodore Roosevelt even said something about that. That being said, I will give credit where credit is due, like in this situation.

[polmaven]

7. What fun is it

to actually comment on a positive post? Nothing in here to say "well, sure, but........" about.

I think it is a great OP...thanks babylonsister!

[DCKit]

9. The story doesn't fit the narrative we're supposed to believe. nt

[vaberella]

19. Always the same. Is Vick the topic of interest or is there a new bone?

No pun was intended.

[Monk06]

28. What I was thinking. How does this fit in to the Vick dog neglect/beating nuclear non proliferation

narrative.

[awoke_in_2003]

31. Good goddamn...

can we not even escape Michael Vick here?

[impik]

20. Not surprising, since this is no longer a pro-Democrats site. They ought to change the name

It's misleading.

[tekisui]

23. It has 34 recs and is still being kicked.

I wouldn't call that being ignored.

Kick again! It is great news and good work being done.

[silverweb]

5. Another campaign promise being kept.

The significance of this cannot be overstated. Thank you, President Obama!

:kick:

[tekisui]

8. Recommend! This is great work being done.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Once again...this President is intent on actually governing

Some would prefer that he loudly politic, instead of quietly getting things done.

Note the contrast: Bush was intent on fucking shit up. Obama is intent on getting shit done.

Why were these non-proliferation moves "impossible" under Bush. There was no will and no finesse. It's that simple.

[great white snark]

11. K&R. Thank you President Obama.

[eleny]

12. You'll enjoy reading this thread from yesterday about very recent activity...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x95250

It happened over the Christmas holidays and there was an interview Rachel conducted that was aired on her program last night.
her interview:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x539502

Gives me joyous chills that this stuff is being secured and made into a less dangerous form.

[apocalypsehow]

14. Kick, Rec. n/t.

[tanyev]

17. Can you imagine the many ways the Bush gang would have effed this up?

1. Publicity blitzkrieg before the fact to announce what they were going to do.

2. A few years later, perhaps after a terrorist attack, information would starting dribbling out that they had managed to lose nearly all of it, and had no idea where it was.

[vaberella]

18. They've done 19 in the last two years?! Shit...where have I been. I only heard of 2.

This is the second one.

[treestar]

22. I always did wonder what happened to that stuff

With the fall of the Soviet Union, we just seemed to think it was all gone.

[Swede]

25. K&R

nt

[silverweb]

27. Just a suggestion...

I sent the following email to everyone in my contact list (with the exception of a very few RW family members, to whom I never, ever send anything remotely political).

It's on us to make sure this gets the attention it deserves, so if you like the idea, please feel free to use/copy/modify for your own use:

Date Fri, Dec 31, 2010
Subject Accomplishment of the year

One of the President's campaign pledges was to secure all loose weapons-grade nuclear material within his 4-year term. The half-way milestone was quietly reached this past week, when the 19th of 36 countries holding highly-enriched uranium had all of their nuclear material shipped to a special, secure, monitored facility.

The Ukrainian government, working with the U.S. and Russia, moved their stash of more than 110 pounds of the dangerous material to a specially prepared location. This material was enough to make two nuclear bombs and was no small logistical feat.

The National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) associate deputy administrator for global threat reduction, said, "This may have been the most complicated operation NNSA has done in recent years."

Read more _here_ and watch the excellent, exclusive interview with the head of the NNSA embedded in the article.

(The video interview may also be viewed _here_ on MSNBC, or in 2 parts ( _here_ and _here_ ) on YouTube, if you prefer.)

The importance of this accomplishment cannot be overstated. Many will downplay it because it reflects so well on President Obama and adds to his considerable list of achievements.

After all, it is the stated goal of the GOP that, if they accomplish nothing else, the Obama administration must fail at any cost, and their minions overwhelmingly support that goal ( _source_ ).

It's up to us to get the word out and impress upon people the significance of this undertaking for our own security and that of the entire world.

Please re-send this information to your email list and post on your blog, Facebook page, etc.

[eridani]

29. This is something that the administration should not be modest about

We could do with some horn trumpeting here.

[silverweb]

33. Here you go!

Let the administration be modest and restrained, so as not to be labeled "unseemly" by the reTHUGs.

We can do Obama's horn-blowing for him!

[Pirate Smile]

32. K & R

[Vinnie From Indy]

34. Sen. Dick Lugar and others are the ones that laid the groundwork for ALL of these actions

To offer that this action was solely the result of President Obama's efforts is simply a wild fabrication.

The power of propaganda is universal it seems.

[Scurrilous]

35. K & R

:thumbsup: