"Ensure that CNN is the first news agency onsite.."

Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard continues his fascinating tale about the Iraqi document caper. For those who've just tuned in, subsequent to the Coalition's toppling of Baghdad, we captured reams of Iraqi government documents, emails, videos, etc and began to sift through them using special Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) teams. As of this moment, the main contingent is operating in Doha, Qatar, working three shifts a day with hundreds of translators. All these docs are unclassified.

Hayes has been trying for months to get his hands on some of the Doha docs, specifically those with rather titilating reference titles that seem to back up Bush's prewar claims. Here's an excerpt of one:

Title: Presidential instruction from Hussein concerning mass graves in southern Iraq, and how to handle the PR/media fallout. Short Description: Concerning mass graves found in the south: Check for nuclear radiation, identify bodies, ensure that CNN is the first news agency onsite. Any funerals should have an international impact. Signed by Hussein.

Ah yes, the same CNN who had signed access deals with Saddam's regime, which included certain look the other way clauses. Imagine.

Still, the DIA has erected a brick wall in Hayes' path. In his latest article our humble reporter details all his nose bumps into that wall, then informs us the whole kit and kaboodle might be round-filed at the beginning of the year. Sounds kinda "Able Dangerish".

I'll take a wild stab at this mystery. Surely there are documents present in that warehouse in Qatar that link Saddam to international terrorism and WMDs. There are also undoubtedly other documents that connect Saddam to all kinds of interesting things--things that certain parties might not want public. Yet another possibility is that by releasing them we might compromise ongoing WoT investigations or operations. Here is yet another possibility, albeit a longshot.

Whatever the case, let's hope Mr. Hayes keeps some light on this story into the new year. That way we'll be able to notice if someone tries to flush it down the commode.