While the TOTV firestorm of criticism of the President has subsided a bit, maybe we should take a minute to give him a little credit for his choice of the "next big challenge"; attempting to locate and arrange long term security for the potentially dangerous nuclear material scattered around the earth, as well to reinforce existing international agreements and new understandings for the future. Too few of us think long and hard about the unspeakable disaster which would result if just one of these devices were detonated. It's almost unthinkable, but such a cataclysm would probably make 9/11 look like a minor incident, especially in the likeliest scenario, if it were part of a strategically targeted terrorist plot.

Nuclear security and proliferation is so unlike domestic issues. It doesn't seem to have that direct effect on our pocketbook, and there is a conspicuous absence of lobbyists and other special interests spending millions to assault us with their version of the terrible truth.

I have no illusions that the current crop of world leaders will be able to establish all the controls and agreements necessary to resolve the issues related to nuclear weapons. But I have hope that some progress will be made, that nuclear devices will less accessible to terrorists and governments which have already indicated they would use them indiscriminately. I applaud the President for emphasizing the issue and working hard to reduce the threat to mankind.