Contempt.
It appears that maybe,just maybe,an adult in the Kerry camp has read Unfit For Command,and realizes that this book is BIG TROUBLE. In addition,after Mr. Thurlow's immediate return of fire today,the Kerryites are wary of Swiftboat mines in the water.I believe the Swifties have much more ammo (Alston,Lehman,etc.)and are just waiting for the right occasion to blast away.