The missing explosives story is incredably dirty. First there is the story itself and how it came out. It appears that the IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei wants a third term. His best shot at this needs is if there is a new administration. After 18 months he suddenly noticed that the explosives were missing and sent out a memo just before the election.

Second, both CBS and the New York Times had the story and both wanted to hold it until just before the election but each wanted to be the first to break it. That's why the story broke on the 25th instead of the 31st.

Third, NBC has raised questions about the existence of the explosives. The troops who inspected the facility didn't see any signs of IAEA seals.

Finally, there are real questions about the logistics of moving 360 tons of explosives in secret. The Captains Quarters has the math:

Bottom line this operation would take the resources of AN ENTIRE COMPANY (approx. 100 men) OVER TWO WEEKS, good Intel to know exactly where the "right" explosives were hidden and a means of breaching huge steel doors and concrete of an ASP.

And all of this would have to be done in an area with numerous intel overflights that would be looking for exactly this kind of activity in the combat zone, and not get noticed at all. Like so much of what the New York Times, CBS, and the Kerry campaign feeds us ... it just doesn't add up.

All we need is a 1960s memo typed in MS Word.