Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency secretly financed a trip to Iraq for three U.S. lawmakers during the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
The three anti-war Democrats made the trip in October 2002, while the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress to authorize military action against Iraq. While traveling, they called for a diplomatic solution.
Prosecutors say that trip was arranged by Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a Michigan charity official, who was charged Wednesday with setting up the junket at the behest of Saddam's regime. Iraqi intelligence officials allegedly paid for the trip through an intermediary and rewarded Al-Hanooti with 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
The lawmakers are not named in the indictment but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California. None was charged and Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said investigators "have no information whatsoever" any of them knew the trip was underwritten by Saddam.
"Obviously, we didn't know it at the time," McDermott spokesman Michael DeCesare said Wednesday. "The trip was to see the plight of the Iraqi children. That's the only reason we went."
The very definition of useful idiots.
Oh, and this al-Hanooti individual? Former head of the Michigan branch of CAIR. You've heard of CAIR, the "benevolent" Moslem agency, haven't you?
Idiots.
2 comments:
If we did, Mrs. C, the rope companies would be rolling in money.
Imagine the rope needed for Michael Moore-on.
These guys were expendable. The DNC has no need for them and it's a smoke screen. I doubt very much if these were the only three congressional folks that went on a Middle Eastern all expenses paid junket. After all, Greece is nice that time of year and who doesn't like a nice boat ride?
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