OK, hold on a sec.

1. The Iraqi declaration said there was 141 tons of RDX.

2. The memo said there was 377 tons of RDX.

3. On 1/14/03 the IAEA says there was 3 tons of RDX.

4. On the same date, the IAEA says there was 194 tons of HMX.

The number that’s been talked about is a total of 380 tons of RDX and HMX combined, and I don’t know if that’s been broken down into how much of each.

So, the maximum amount is 571 tons combined.

If the Iraqi declaration was correct, then it’s reduced to 335 tons combined.

If you assume the IAEA had the correct figures, the amount is reduced to “only” 197 tons combined.

Posted by: Lonewacko at October 28, 2004 03:02 AM

No, REALLY?

I want to know what happened to the WMDs that the UN Inspectors were using for job security. It appears that they just ‘disappeared’ as well…

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at October 28, 2004 06:44 AM

The information on which the Iraqi Science Ministry based an Oct. 10 memo in which it reported that 377 tons of RDX explosives were missing — presumably stolen due to a lack of security — was based on “declaration” from July 15, 2002.

Are we talking about the same Saddamite declarations to the UN that provided the basis for the international intelligence that Saddam had stockpiles of VX, mustard, and other agents?

I think I’ve found the problem…

:jackson

Posted by: jackson zed at October 28, 2004 08:47 AM

Well Kerry has failed to obey one of the basic laws of adult hood: look before you leap.

He jumped on the missing explosives story and now it’s starting to look like a rope a dope.

How long before the idiot left starts blaming Karl Rove for setting them up?

And no matter how the election turns out, the MSM has pissed away it’s franchise.

Posted by: skip at October 28, 2004 09:51 AM

perspective check:
From the Duelfer report, we’ve destroyed 243,000 tons of munitions and hold another 163,000 tons scheduled for destruction. the 571 tons Lonewacko supposes is slightly more than 0.1% while the IAEA’s 197 is 0.05%. While it is something to look into, it is not the huge indicator of incompetence some would have you believe.

Posted by: submandave at October 28, 2004 09:59 AM

submandave. Have you been listening to Lonewacko?

I thought not…

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at October 28, 2004 11:28 AM

From the Duelfer report, we’ve destroyed 243,000 tons of munitions and hold another 163,000 tons scheduled for destruction. the 571 tons Lonewacko supposes is slightly more than 0.1% while the IAEA’s 197 is 0.05%

I’m sure everyone realizes there’s a big difference between “munitions” and “explosives.”

Those “munitions” no doubt include ton after ton of non-lethal metal.

On the other hand, all of the tonnage of the explosives is lethal.

Please, compare apples to apples.

And, the munitions tonnage given about (about 400,000 tons) is a small percentage of Saddams total pre-war munitions tonnage, which IIRC was 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 million tons of munitions, the fourth largest weapons stockpile in the world.

So, that leaves somewhere between 600,000 and 1,600,000 tons of weapons either destroyed, waiting in bunkers, in the hands of terrorists, in other countries, or whatever.

Posted by: Lonewacko at October 28, 2004 01:19 PM

You know, Lonewacko… I feed stats pigs all day. Don’t attempt to baffle me with kaka from Qaqaa. We got ourselves one NEWS outfit all but stipulating that this crap ‘got disappeared’ on our watch - 380+ tons. We got a competing NEWS outfit claiming that it was 3 tons, and they have no clue when it ‘got disappeared’, and I am in a quandary as to which one to accept.

But your guy Kerry comes along and blames it on the military…

So. That settles that. Kerry’s a known liar who jumped on this as some sort of a final week ‘talking point’ of shame for his ‘totally devoid of any truth whatsoever’ campaign. Live with it. This is a dead story that is gonna look like rotting eggs on your starched collar.

Posted by: Cap'n DOC at October 28, 2004 01:45 PM

Those “munitions” no doubt include ton after ton of non-lethal metal.

Oh come on, Wacko; that metal is non-lethal until the explosive it’s wrapped around is detonated and it is converted to flying shapnel.

I guess next you’ll be breaking down the munitions molecularly. There’s comparing apples to apples and then there’s splitting hairs and picking nits.

:jackson

Posted by: jackson zed at October 28, 2004 02:29 PM

I just don’t see this “issue” salvaging Kerry. In fact I see him sinking into the quagmire.

Bush’s response to Kerry’s use of the HE for ads and such is just perfect. Not only does Kerry look like a thoughtless fool, he’s managed to alienate the US military as well.

Today Kerry had to speak to the military which tells me that some one in his campaign has realized that Kerry was going the wrong way.

I just have a hard time believing that our country contains enough Lonewackos to give This pompous ass Kerry even a shot at the white house.

Posted by: skip at October 28, 2004 03:34 PM