NP: The New Pornographers, Electric Version

Like the Washington Wizards, it seems the White House has adopted a "no slam dunk" rule to their defense, with Dick Cheney playing the role of Gilbert Arenas. And I apologize for conjuring the image of the vice president in a tank top and shorts.

This goes back to the alleged meeting between Mohammed Atta and al Queda in Prague, which almost everyone agrees never happened. Cheney, in particular, has hung his hat on that pesky "almost," and insists that since we don't know for sure that it didn't happen, we must assume that it did.

The same is now happening with Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora and with the munitions at Al Qaqaa. Without 100% certainty, the administration is charging that these claims lack any and all merit. Some people are clearly buying into that line of reasoning, but like the jumping to conclusions comment earlier in the week, that doesn't reflect well on the original decision to go into Iraq. Although it may explain why George Tenet declared it was a slam dunk.

Of course, the administration tries to play both sides of the "almost" card, as reported in the same article:

John A. Shaw, deputy undersecretary for international technology and security, told the Washington Times on Wednesday that Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, "almost certainly" removed the explosives from Qaqaa. Yesterday, other senior defense officials, after reviewing Pentagon intelligence reports, said Shaw's remarks had no basis in fact.

This is the weatherman defense -- 50% chance of rain means never having to say you're sorry. Shaw can be factually incorrect (almost certainly does not equal certainty) here without being technically wrong, while Kerry must be 200% correct before the right-wing attack dogs will lay off him. If then.

Ronnie James Dio is looking better and better.