Rachel Maddow Delivers Exclusive Report On Removal Of Highly-Enriched Uranium From Ukraine

video

by Glenn Davis | 10:40 pm, December 30th, 2010

» 48 comments

Rachel Maddow handed off most of her show to executive producer Bill Wolff tonight, but still found time to film one segment – and, in this slow week, it refreshingly contained some actual news. Apparently, over the Christmas weekend, the U.S.’ National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) collaborated with Ukraine to remove 111 pounds of highly enriched uranium – enough to make two nuclear weapons – from Ukraine to a secured facility, and Maddow welcomed NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino to discuss the mission.

It was clear throughout that this is an issue close to Maddow’s heart, as she said she’s “obsessed with the prospect of nuclear smuggling,” and said D’Agostino’s position as the U.S.’ Under Secretary for Nuclear Security is essentially the same as “Under Secretary for saving the world.” She also brought up President Obama’s agenda to “secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years” – a goal in which this Ukraine mission was an important part.

D’Agostino was understandably thrilled at the mission’s success, calling it “a tremendous accomplishment” and lauded the collaboration between the U.S., Ukraine, Russia, and the U.K. to make it happen. He also said the U.S. is done securing the “vulnerable nuclear material” in 19 of 35 targeted nations. It was interesting to hear D’Agostino talk about the absolute secrecy under which such missions must be performed, since, as Maddow said, “stuff that bad guys want is most vulnerable to those bad guys when it is in transit.”

Video of the segment, via MSNBC, below. Maddow made the analogy that this mission is like something out of a spy novel, and hearing it, it’s tough to disagree – except this, of course, was real, it was important, it was dangerous, and unlike so much of the material on shows of this sort this week, had nothing to do with years-old news about Michael Vick.

Bill Wolff, Rachel Maddow, thomas d'agostino, Ukraine, uranium

Ricia

You just had to get Michael Vick in there, didn’t you Glenn? Finally real news and your obsession shows
coalminecanary

It’s relieving to see that the “Under Secretary for saving the world.” seems knowledgeable and competent. Great interview!
roxsteady

I wonder why they didn’t take this story to fox? Oh, that’s right, they’re not a real news org.
shootfromthehip

roxsteady said:
I wonder why they didn’t take this story to fox? Oh, that’s right, they’re not a real news org.

Fox viewers don’t do nuance or even understand where Ukraine is.

They only understand hate Obama.

Really sad how Fox treats its viewers.

Rachel treats viewers like engaged, educated adults and for that I applaud her.

Contrast and compare with “Fox & Friends.”
david r

Hooray for the President ! He is rounding up all the dangerous fissionable material that’s loose in the world. Except the stuff in Iran and N. Korea. There he is his usual impotent self.
http://www.armwood.com armwood

Once again Rachel Maddow demonstrates why she is the best journalist on cable TV and arguably the best American journalist of her generation.
david r

armwood said:
Once again Rachel Maddow demonstrates why she is the best journalist on cable TV and arguably the best American journalist of her generation.

She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.
shootfromthehip

david r said:
She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.

I like George and Maddow.

Where are the new George’s on the right?

So sad how the right looks down on intellectuals such as Frum these days and celebrates idiots such as Palin and Hannity.
NeoKong

Who would make a weapon with enriched uranium….?
Why is Rachel Maddow trying to scare white people ?
david r

shootfromthehip said:
I like George and Maddow.

Where are the new George’s on the right?

So sad how the right looks down on intellectuals such as Frum these days and celebrates idiots such as Palin and Hannity.

I have to agree with you about Palin Babe and Hannity. And and that clown Beck, too. I miss William F. Buckley. He wasn’t afraid to talk to people Jack Kerouac. You have a point. We need some new Georges.
murf

NeoKong said:
Who would make a weapon with enriched uranium….?
Why is Rachel Maddow trying to scare white people ?

SERIOUSLY WHY IS RACHEL FEARMONGERING !!!!

What cracks me up with the ‘trying to scare white people ” noise, is the global warming alarmists like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann..

THE PLANET IS MELTING!! THE OZONE LAYER IS WIDENING.. SAVE THE POLAR BEARS!!!

Illegal immigration.. growing radicalization of muslim …ehhh whatevs…
Pablo

You know, I was hopeful about this segment. It is an important issue, and it’s actual news. But then a couple of problems jumped right out at me. First, this is not a Maddow exclusive story.

WASHINGTON – In a secret operation to secure nuclear material, the United States has helped Ukraine return to Russia enough uranium to build two atomic bombs.

This week’s removal of more than 110 pounds of highly enriched uranium followed a pledge by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to get rid of all of his country’s highly enriched uranium by April 2012. The material will be blended down in Russia, rendering it useless for bomb making.

Details of the operation were provided to The Associated Press by the National Nuclear Safety Administration.

That last line is key. This is a very classified, very secure operation, right up until it’s over. It’s over now and the gubmint has set that information free. “Rachel lands an interview” does not an exclusive make.

Next, the Barack Obama commercial she led with is a mite too obsequious for my tastes. Yes, it’s a good thing that this stuff is being rounded up, and I’m glad the Obama Administration is on the job. Yes, you can call it a promise being kept, and I applaud it. But this isn’t anything new, nor terribly exciting. We’ve been de-nuking the Ukraine since the early Clinton days.
stephenpyle

More of this from Maddow. Less of that other stuff.
http://twitter.com/pewestlake Paul Westlake

david r said:
She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.

George Will is even less salient on current events than he is on baseball. Guy’s a waste of ink. LOL!
http://twitter.com/pewestlake Paul Westlake

Pablo said:
“Rachel lands an interview” does not an exclusive make.

Actually, as she was the only person to land this particular interview, it is an exclusive. That’s what exclusive means, just so’s ya know. ;-)

The BBC had this story before the AP, but they didn’t get the interview either.
http://twitter.com/pewestlake Paul Westlake

murf said:
SERIOUSLY WHY IS RACHEL FEARMONGERING !!!!

What cracks me up with the ‘trying to scare white people ” noise, is the global warming alarmists like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann..

THE PLANET IS MELTING!! THE OZONE LAYER IS WIDENING.. SAVE THE POLAR BEARS!!!

Illegal immigration.. growing radicalization of muslim …ehhh whatevs…

Funny, coming from a person who is mostly likely a descendant of illegal immigrants who also happened to be religious zealots… unless your family emigrated post-Revolution and then you can just get the hell out! ;-)
bigbrainbrad

david r said:
She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.

isn’t George Will a columnist?
NeoKong

david r said:
She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.

I disagree.
I think she would make an outstanding pimple on someone’s ass.
If she works hard enough at it she could be promoted to a boil.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

david r said:
She wouldn’t make a pimple on George Will’s ass.

HAhahahahAHahahaha AWESOME!!!!!111 GO GLAD to have you join us Right-Thinking Americans on this site!!!111 Obviously your wit, intelligence, and maturity is a GREAT MATCH for those of us here who FIGHT the good FIGHT every day to Take Back our Once Proud Republic!!!!111

My only issue, though – you miss William F Buckley?!?!11 That EGGHEAD ELITIST is the LAST thing we need right now!!!!111
Just4thefax

Fact: Another thing Madcow and the dumb shit liberals didn’t report was now that the libs have closed the storage place in NV! I guess it’s cool that we might as well leave it at the docks in New York City with the rest of it! What a group of clowns you libatards are!
Probably NOT wrong

I get Rachel and Cenk mixed up!
They could pass for brothers.
Just4thefax

shootfromthehip said:
celebrates idiots

Fact: You are the village idiot what’s the celebration about? Maybe Ozero’s new bow at the republicans!
rubberneck

Dump Keith, put Rachel in his slot.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Probably NOT wrong said:
I get Rachel and Cenk mixed up!They could pass for brothers.

HAhahahAHahahahAHAHa because she is a GAY!!!!!!!1111 HahahahahaHAHahaha LOL!!!!!111
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Just4thefax said:
Fact: You are the village idiot what’s the celebration about? Maybe Ozero’s new bow at the republicans!

FACT: With CLEVER WORDS like “Obozo”, “Madcow” and “dumb shit libtards”, there is NO DOUBT that we on the Right will Take Back our Once Proud Republic with our wit, maturity, and intelligence!!!!!!!!111
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Just4thefax said:
Fact: You are the village idiot what’s the celebration about? Maybe Ozero’s new bow at the republicans!

HAhahahAHAhahahaHAHAHA and also, the Obamessiah BOWS to foreign leaders!!!!!!1111 HahahAHAHAHahahaha what a WUSSY LIB PANSY!!!!111 Everyone knows that you’re supposed to HOLD HANDS with them and KISS them!!!!111

http://blogs.e-rockford.com/applesauce/files/2008/04/300_bush-saudi.jpg
http://www.onepennysheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/171-1216121412-BushKissingSaudiPrince.jpg
shootfromthehip

That’s Gold, Karl.

GOLD.
notsofast

armwood said:
Once again Rachel Maddow demonstrates why she is the best journalist on cable TV and arguably the best American journalist of her generation.

And once again, you proved you are the biggest blooter on Mediaite.
Pablo

Paul Westlake said:
Actually, as she was the only person to land this particular interview, it is an exclusive.

That makes the interview exclusive, not the story.
notsofast

roxsteady said:
I wonder why they didn’t take this story to fox? Oh, that’s right, they’re not a real news org.

Because no one cared.
Just4thefax

Karl Spensen said:
FACT: With CLEVER WORDS like “Obozo”, “Madcow” and “dumb shit libtards”, there is NO DOUBT that we on the Right will Take Back our Once Proud Republic with our wit, maturity, and intelligence!!!!!!!!111

Fact: If you keep your hands off your dick you can learn to type! !!!!!!!~2@@@22^Tg6t6tg7tyvtcdtd!!!!!—-(((((Right +++++++ hahahaahah !!!!!!!!!!! Right AAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Here’s some come in your face!!!!!!!! asshole!!!!!!!!!
Just4thefax

Karl Spensen said:
HAhahahAHAhahahaHAHAHA and also, the Obamessiah BOWS to foreign leaders!!!!!!1111 HahahAHAHAHahahaha what a WUSSY LIB PANSY!!!!111 Everyone knows that you’re supposed to HOLD HANDS with them and KISS them!!!!111 http://blogs.e-rockford.com/applesauce/files/2008/04/300_bush-saudi.jpg http://www.onepennysheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/171-1216121412-BushKissingSaudiPrince.jpg

Fact: Correct if the two where together Bush and Ozero. Bush would have Ozero bent over a chair drilling his ass just the way you and shootfromthehip take it!
Just4thefax

Fact: Hahahahaahah !!!!!!!!!!!! need some more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………..______________—————)))))))))))))0))000000000000********************%%%%%%%%%%%%%%@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
writer

That’s Gold, Karl!!!!1111 Gold11!!!!

R.I.P. Bania. Gone but not forgotten.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Just4thefax said:
Fact: If you keep your hands off your dick you can learn to type! !!!!!!!~2@@@22^Tg6t6tg7tyvtcdtd!!!!!—-(((((Right +++++++ hahahaahah !!!!!!!!!!! Right AAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Here’s some come in your face!!!!!!!! asshole!!!!!!!!!

FACT: You, sir, are a CLASS ACT!!!!!!!!11
Ninja

Karl Spensen said:
FACT: You, sir, are a CLASS ACT!!!!!!!!11

Will a female please give this poor guy the time of day? Please! Maybe then some coherent points from his liberal view can be made.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Ninja said:
Will a female please give this poor guy the time of day? Please! Maybe then some coherent points from his liberal view can be made.

LIBERAL??!!11 NEVER!!!!!!11 I am simply reveling in the company of the Great Conservative minds that post here!!!11 It’s a regular Algonquin Round Table around here, and I am PROUD to be surrounded by so much Intelligence, Wit, and Maturity!!!111 Together, with our FUNNY NICKNAMES and our INTERNET OUTRAGE we will Take Back our Once Proud Republic!!!!11
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Oh and for the record, I get more ASS than a TOILET SEAT!!!!111
writer

While some use the Helicon vortex method, others use gaseous diffusion to separate Uranium 235 and 234 molecules from Uranium 238. I’m sure that somehow, this relates to the size of ‘Brisket’ Palin’s thighs.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

roxsteady said:
“I wonder why they didn’t take this story to fox? Oh, that’s right, they’re not a real news org.”

notsosmart says:
“Because no one cared.”

Because no one on that propaganda channel ever wants to point out when the President is doing something good for the country and good for the world. Because corruption is Fox “News”. Notsosmart: living proof (along with scores of other reactionaries who comment here) that Fox makes its viewers come off sounding (or reading) dumb as rocks. It’s not your fault, nososmart, blame Fox for your utter lack of understanding about the world.
Karl Svensen

Karl Spensen said:
Oh and for the record, I get more ASS than a TOILET SEAT!!!!111

STILL WAVING that Freedom Chubby in the MEN”S ROOM , eh Spensen !!!!!!!@@@@ LOLOLOLOLOL
writer

That’s Gold, other Karl11!!! Gold11!!!!
http://twitter.com/pewestlake Paul Westlake

Pablo said:
That makes the interview exclusive, not the story.

Poorly phrased and intentionally hyperbolic are different things. For hyperbole, look Foxward. ;-)
felixw

Actual news on MSNBC? Clearly this must be a mistake on the part of Phil Griffin and Rachel Maddow. Or was there some anti-Republican (or anti-Fox) angle here that I missed? I didn’t think they did anything that didn’t involve smears and score settling at this network?
shootfromthehip

felixw said:
Actual news on MSNBC? Clearly this must be a mistake on the part of Phil Griffin and Rachel Maddow. Or was there some anti-Republican (or anti-Fox) angle here that I missed? I didn’t think they did anything that didn’t involve smears and score settling at this network?

Swing and a miss

Nice try though Felix and happy New Year.

:)
OxyCon

Madcow just loves her some uranium…except all those tons of yellow cake uranium that was removed from Iraq as result of our victorious war against Saddam.
And I’m really, really sure Madcow didn’t travel all the way to the Ukraine just to give the Obozo regime free good PR. /snark
felixw

shootfromthehip said:
Swing and a miss

Nice try though Felix and happy New Year.

:)

Happiest of New Years to you as well. We will do it all again in 2011.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

the homophobic OxyCon says:
“And I’m really, really sure Madcow….”

OK if I start referring to Glenn Beck as Glans Beck? Face it, my choice of epithet is far more fitting than “mad cow” since Maddow is not crazy or angry, and she’s human. Beck, on the other hand, really is a dick head.