Belmont Club: “in March, shortly before the war began, the I.A.E.A. conducted another inspection and found that the HMX stockpile was still intact and still under seal. But inspectors were unable to inspect the RDX stockpile and could not verify that the RDX was still at the compound.”

Jim Geraghty questions what type of explosives are shown in the video, and a number of other things.

As Power Line said two days ago, the Kerry campaign “have

(a) jumped to a conclusion that wasn’t supported by the facts,

(b) assumed the incompetence of our troops,

(c) confirmed President Bush’s position that Iraq had weapons worth worrying about”.

But neglecting the problems of (1) moving 100 dump-truck loads of explosives thourgh a battle zone, and (2) processing the RDX and HDX into a usable explosive, and (3) the fact that none of this stuff has been used since then, and (4) the 3ID didn’t find it even though they found and inventories a bunch of test tubes, and (5) no one recalls seeing IAEA seals when the 101st came by a week or so later, and (6) those being the wrong storage containers for RDX and HDX under those conditions and labeling, and (7) the fact that even the Kerry campaign is admitted that they at least could have been moved out before the war, and (8) the fact that there is good intel of many trucks moving across the Syrian border during that time,

you’re still missing the biggest point of all, which is that Saddam had as much as a million tonnes of high explosive munitions, and you’re getting exercised about 200 tonnes of it.

0.02 percent.

Probably doesn’t matter. You guys seem capable of ignoring any facts that don’t feed your paranoia and bile.

Some, including myself, think CBS/NYT were willing pawns for elBaradei’s attempt to get rid of the US President who wants him out of office next year – if not sooner.

The Iraqi report was to the IAEA, which asked for it Oct 1 with some urgency (after 17 months?): by Oct 10, it had been “leaked”. Included was a substance called RDX.

Another bit of evidence turned up in Australia -

?RDX never at alQQ? And never sealed?

IAEA spokeswoman Melissa interview on ABC (Australia – ) – “IAEA inspectors visited Al-Mahaweel on Jan. 15, 2003, and verified the RDX inventory by weighing sampling,” Fleming said. She said the RDX at Al-Mahaweel was not under seal [emphasis added - JSA] but was subject to IAEA monitoring.”

Al-Mahaweel?

“The bulk of the RDX was stored at another site that was under Al Qaqaa’s jurisdiction,” IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

She says that the report seen by ABC only covers the Al Qaqaa site itself.

The second site, Al Mahaweel, is roughly 45 kilometres from Al Qaqaa.

Keith, Swopa and others.

You say that the explosives were under IAEA control in sealed bunkers.

Q. Is this the Same IAEA that missed the entire Libyan nuclear effort?

A. Yes.

Q. Is the IAEA that has been repeatedly deceived by the government of Iran.?

A. Yes

Q. Is this the same IAEA that had no knowledge of the A.Q. Khan network?

A. Yes

Q. So can you confidence that the IAEA had control of the explosive material in question?

A. No.

If this were a civil trial and John Edwards was the questions then he would rightly point out that proponderance of evidence indicates that the explosive material was not at the site when the 3rd ID arrived.

The problem with you ABBers is that you are basically ignorant. Not unintelligent, and probably not stupid. The sad thing is that the material that would allow you to understand world events, military affairs and the limits of intelligence is all around you. Why do you run down to you local Borders or Barnes and Noble, and go to the military history section. There are many fine histories will help you understand the nature of war. After reading a book like Cornelius Ryanís ìA Bridge too Far.î you might begin to have a clue about all things that can go wrong in a military plan.

We invade Iraq and consequently have destroyed and secured over 600,000 tons of explosives and weapons and other assorted halloween candy.

Over 600,000 tons are no longer available to be used by Saddam, Uday, Qusey, or any other thug with a gleam in his eye.

This is a direct effect of our invasion to take down Saddam’s regime.

There is no other way to do it.

Think about it. Who stays around to guard this wonderful stuff after the IAEA puts a seal on a door and walks away?

NOBODY.

That stuff was available to anyone enterprising enough to grab it…UNTIL WE INVADED.

So take your ignorant opportunistic Bush-bashing and shove it.

“And please name me one piece of non-hearsay evidence that backs up the Swift Boat Vets.”

I already did!

Tour of Duty by Brinkley, Kerry’s official biography, approved by John Kerry.

Elsewhere I have seen the IAEA seals described as “fishing line and bottle caps.” Sounds awful hermetic doesn’t it? About as effective as the U.N. itself.

Makes perfect sense . . . if you’re a liberal. The military folks vote 80% Republican, so they must be stupid, no?