Posted on 03/26/2008 3:07:47 PM PDT by bad company
WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors say 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.
An indictment in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti of arranging for three members of Congress to travel to Iraq in October 2002 at the behest of Saddam's regime. Prosecutors say Iraqi intelligence officials paid for the trip through an intermediary.
In exchange, Al-Hanooti allegedly received 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
The lawmakers are not mentioned but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California. There was no indication the three lawmakers knew the trip was underwritten by Saddam.
Some of us been asking for a long time. I really, really do want to know. Did they or didn't they?
"Other reports say celebrities who visited Iraq also got oil vouchers. These included politicians, entertainment and media folks. Who do we know visited Iraq? Jim McDermott, David Bonier and Mike Thompson as well as Sean Penn.
"According to those other reports the vouchers were for relatively small amounts handed out as "thank you gifts." Oil traders knowing that celebrities were in town and likely staying at a popular hotel flocked to the hotel to bid on and collect the vouchers.
"The oil traders then collected the oil against the vouchers from, according to one report, "the Kirkuk-Banias (Syria) pipeline terminal, which was operating in contravention of the Security Council sanctions. The pipeline carried 200,000 barrels per day of Iraqi oil, which benefited Syria greatly."
"49 posted on 04/13/2004 9:35:15 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael"
US: Saddam Paid for Lawmakers' Iraq Trip
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."
During the trip, the lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Bush administration's claims that Saddam was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
"War is not the answer," Bonior, who is no longer in Congress, said at a news conference while on the trip. "There is a way to resolve this."
DemonRats, now that’s the shocker of the century—NOT.
The congressmen brought an anti-war message
The three members of the House of Representatives - David Bonior, Jim McDermott and Mike Thompson - have been in Iraq for four days to assess the humanitarian situation.
Mr McDermott, of Washington state, said the US should concentrate on making sure Iraq was safe, not toppling its leader.
"Regime change requires war, disarming can be done diplomatically," he said.
Deomcrats: Supporting America’s enemies since 1824.
Godamn traitors!! They need to be tried and hung!!
Tell Pelosi.... Cricket...cricket.
Problem is...no one on our side is saying a word about all these corrupt Democrats. It is ridiculous...and because of the silence, these peoples' behavior will have no repercussions in the end .
Hey! Whens ol Boniar, Tompson and the CONgressional idiot from WA state gonna resign due to total incompetence and incontinence? (buncha betwetters)
Maybe he just assumed it was Soros... LOL
"Baghdad Jim" McDermott, (D) Wash.
They had to have known the charity had Saddam connections because of who they met during the “fact finding mission”. I am so sick of these traitors that roam the halls of congress then our Justice Dept looks the other way.
TRAITORGATE...if little Mark Foley could take down the entire Congressional GOP, then surely we can use this to oust the RATs from power!
it would be almost treason in 1941.
course after Jane Fonda went to hanoi and kissed commiegook ass who’s surprised at anything
have they paroled Jihad Johnny yet?
SADDAM HUSSEIN:
Finances the murder of Jews in Israel
AND
trips for Democrat legislators.
He's a full-service kind of guy.
Who did they think was paying?!?!
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These guys are the Three Stooges reincarnated!
You could have probably “Googled” the ticket provider's name to get some insight into Mohammed's background.
I assume as Leaders in Congress they could have asked the State Department, the Justice Department or the Department of Defense to do a search on the contributor. Wonder if they flew in a private jet, commercial or Iraqi Air?
If I recall they used all their energies to demoralize our Troops and then got Murtha on the bandwagon.
I haven't seen a comment from any of the dynamic trio, has anyone else?
The real question is, why are these three whores still in Congress?
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