Missing Explosives In Iraq

OK, let me get this straight. We went into Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein of Weapons of Mass Destruction that weren't there but once in Iraq, we failed to secure the weapons that were there, which could be (and likely have been) used to attack our troops? Are you kidding me? You know how the word "tons" is usually used to denote "a lot." Well today, when news headlines say "Tons Of Iraq Explosives Missing" they mean it literally.

Several hundred tons of conventional explosives are missing from a former Iraqi military facility that once played a key role in Saddam Hussein's efforts to build a nuclear bomb, the U.N. nuclear agency confirmed Monday.

The White House's explanation? According to Press Secretary Scott McClellan:

At the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom there were a number of priorities. It was a priority to make sure that the oil fields were secure, so that there wasn't massive destruction of the oil fields, which we thought would occur. It was a priority to get the reconstruction office up and running. It was a priority to secure the various ministries, so that we could get those ministries working on their priorities, whether it was ...

Classic. And in the inderstatement of the day, John Kerry pounced, calling this story further evidence of the administration's "incompetence." This is how the Bush campaign responded to this attack:

John Kerry has no vision for fighting and winning the War on Terror, so he is basing his attacks on the headlines he wakes up to each day.

Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo is the best source for the ongoing story.