[risk]

We did wish each other a Merry Christmas, Mr. Russian Conservative. And I think Saint Nicholas delivered us both a Christmas present of superb anti-terrorist cooperation between Russia and the USA. It sounds like a public relations stunt to announce it in such dramatic terms, but it's better to amplify this kind of drama than face the results of failing to acquire support for continuing such efforts.

The uranium was flown aboard a Russian AN-12 cargo plane to Dimitrovgrad, in the Volga region of Ulyanovsk about 520 miles southeast of Moscow. A facility there, which is undergoing comprehensive upgrades due to be finished in the next couple of months, will blend down the uranium until it can no longer be used in a nuclear weapon, officials said. At that point, it could be sold for use in commercial nuclear power plants, officials said.

--WP article

In any case, let's hope for a very happy new year to all peoples of both of our countries, and may they each have long and free -- and healthy lives.

[RussianConservative]

If politicians not spinning then they not working.

[Grampa Dave]

Yes, lets hope that we see more joint ventures this year and in 2004 to remove the ability of terrorists to harm so many innocents.