Poof! Gone in Seconds

The big lead story of today seems not to be the imaginary memories of John Kerry but a missing cache of explosives from Iraq reported by a New York Times article. Reportedly 350 or 380 tons or is tonnes? And when exactly did it go missing: after the last inspection but before the invasion, during the initial stages of invasion or once the occupation was firmly established? Either 350/380 tons/tonnes being unaccounted for is a serious matter and should not be treated lightly though Iraq on the whole seems to be one large ammo dump from sea to mosque to school to desert spidey hole.

A Seattle-Times article from last June reported that 110,000 tons of explosives/munitions had been destroyed by coalition forces and 138,000 tons are behind securely held protective barriers. 350/380 ton(ne)s vs 248,000 tons. Do the math.

Jim Geraghtry of the Kerry Spot has posted a report by Miklaszewski from NBC Nightly News take on the missing explosives:

NBC News: Miklaszewski: “April 10, 2003, only three weeks into the war, NBC News was embedded with troops from the Army's 101st Airborne as they temporarily take over the Al Qakaa weapons installation south of Baghdad. But these troops never found the nearly 380 tons of some of the most powerful conventional explosives, called HMX and RDX, which is now missing. The U.S. troops did find large stockpiles of more conventional weapons, but no HMX or RDX, so powerful less than a pound brought down Pan Am 103 in 1988, and can be used to trigger a nuclear weapon. In a letter this month, the Iraqi interim government told the International Atomic Energy Agency the high explosives were lost to theft and looting due to lack of security. Critics claim there were simply not enough U.S. troops to guard hundreds of weapons stockpiles, weapons now being used by insurgents and terrorists to wage a guerrilla war in Iraq.” (NBC’s “Nightly News,” 10/25/04)

Now how about MSM ask John Kerry why he repeated claimed he met with the entire UN Security Council - when in fact, he simply did not do so.


For a full round up of the missing munitions check out: Captain's Quarters, INDC Journal, or the Kerry Spot)