Nuclear-waste shipment didn't hurt a thing

Gov. Bob Holden, who tried unsuccessfully to stop a shipment of nuclear waste through Missouri, was so upset after the shipment went through that he wrote a letter to the U.S. Energy Department accusing it of breaking an agreement and threatening the state's security.

A Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman said after the convoy went through that the patrol was pleased with the operation. But after the governor's letter, the spokesman said the superintendent of the patrol had instructed officers not to comment on it.

An Energy Department spokesman said the government worked for months with Missouri to assure safety of the shipment. He also said Missouri was the only state that posed any problems for the shipment.

For whatever reasons, Holden has overreacted to the nuclear-waste shipment, which was well-planned and made it without a hitch.