Items From The Kerry Spot on National Review Online

Here are some interesting items from the Kerry Spot. A few on missing explosives plus some others that are a little more interesting.

THE RUSSIANS MOVED IRAQI WEAPONS

Drudge reports that Bill Gertz of the Washington Times will report in tomorrow's edition:

Russian special forces troops moved many of Saddam Hussein's weapons and related goods out of Iraq and into Syria in the weeks before the March 2003 U.S. military operation, The Washington Times has learned. John A. Shaw, the deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology security, said in an interview that he believes the Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, “almost certainly” removed the high-explosive material that went missing from the Al-Qaqaa facility, south of Baghdad.

October surprise!

This does, however, explain why the Russians were against the war and sending troops.

JUST HOW MUCH DID THE NEW YORK TIMES BLOW THIS STORY?

From ABC News:

But the confidential IAEA documents obtained by ABC News show that on Jan. 14, 2003, the agency's inspectors recorded that just over 3 tons of RDX was stored at the facility — a considerable discrepancy from what the Iraqis reported.

The IAEA documents could mean that 138 tons of explosives were removed from the facility long before the start of the United States launched "Operation Iraqi Freedom" in March 2003...

The IAEA documents from January 2003 found no discrepancy in the amount of the more dangerous HMX explosives thought to be stored at Al-Qaqaa, but they do raise another disturbing possibility.

The documents show IAEA inspectors looked at nine bunkers containing more than 194 tons of HMX at the facility. Although these bunkers were still under IAEA seal, the inspectors said the seals may be potentially ineffective because they had ventilation slats on the sides. These slats could be easily removed to remove the materials inside the bunkers without breaking the seals, the inspectors noted.

COULD BUSH WIN MICHIGAN? WOULD THAT MAKE IT AN EARLY NIGHT?

Two pieces of evidence for a sign of Kerry concern about Michigan.

This story quotes Kerry's Michigan campaign director, Donnie Fowler as saying Kerry will "campaign in Detroit on Sunday or Monday." Michigan? On the last day, or next-to-last day of campaigning?

Then I hear this from a Bush campaign volunteer in Michigan: "Our internal polls show that the President is ahead in Michigan. Take that for what it’s worth, but the GOTV team is pretty energized by it." Every campaign says its internal polls show them up, but the Bush team’s schedule appears to support this.

From Wednesday’s Hotline (maybe Thursday’s will have changes):

Bush: 10/28: Saginaw, MI, Dayton, OH, BcksCty, PA; 10/29:Mnchstr, NH, Columbus, Toledo, OH; 10/30: GrndRpds, MI, Ashwbn, WI, Mnpls, MN; 10/31: Orlando, FL

Cheney: 10/28: Schofield, WI, SiouxCty, IA; 10/29: TBD; 10/30 Jackson, MI

Kerry: 10/28: Toledo, OH, Madison, WI, Columbus, OH; 10/29: Orlando, Miami, FL; Future schedule to be determined

Edwards: 10/28: TBD

Well, the Bush-Cheney campaign certainly thinks Michigan is worth three visits.


ZOGBY CHANGED HIS MIND?
Bob Novak:

Pollster John Zogby surprised the political world back in April with a long-range prediction that John Kerry would defeat George W. Bush for president. On Monday this week, Zogby told me, he changed his mind. He now thinks the president is more likely to be re-elected because he has reinforced support from his base, including married white women.

That conclusion would be a surprise for frantically nervous Republicans and cautiously upbeat Democrats entering the campaign's final days. In fact, nobody, including Zogby and all the other polltakers, can be sure who will win this election. Yet, it is clear that President Bush's strategists have succeeded in solidifying his base to a degree that makes it much harder to defeat him next Tuesday.


SCHILLING FOR BUSH

From Good Morning America today:

GIBSON: "Well, well said, Curt and Shonda. You both have certainly lifelong membership now in the Red Sox nation. It was a great thing to watch, and I think everybody – whether they were great Red Sox fans or not — had to admire what this team did. It was extraordinary, and one of the great stories of sport. And sport always produces such great stories. Curt, Shonda, great to have you with us. Congratulations."
SCHILLING: "And make sure you tell everybody to vote, and vote Bush next week."

It will be interesting to see what reaction he gets in the Boston parade.

I'm sure Charlie Gibson, well known anti-Bush clown, was annoyed by this comment.
The Kerry Spot on National Review Online