bornright

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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."

Both McDermott and Thompson are popular among liberal voters in their reliably Democratic districts for their anti-war views. Bonior is no longer in Congress.

Thompson released a statement Wednesday saying the trip was approved by the State Department.

"Obviously, had there been any question at all regarding the sponsor of the trip or the funding, I would not have participated," he said.

During the trip, the lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Bush administration's claims that Saddam was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Though such weapons ultimately were never found, the lawmakers drew criticism for their trip at the time.

Oklahoma Sen. Don Nickles, then the second-ranking Senate Republican, said the Democrats "sound somewhat like spokespersons for the Iraqi government." Seattle-area conservatives dubbed McDermott "Baghdad Jim" for the Iraq trip.

Al-Hanooti was arrested Tuesday night while returning to the U.S. from the Middle East, where he was looking for a job, his attorney, James Thomas, said. Al-Hanooti pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, illegally purchasing Iraqi oil and lying to authorities. He was being held on $100,000 bail.

Between 1999 and 2006, he worked on and off as a public relations coordinator for Life for Relief and Development, a charity formed after the first Gulf War to fund humanitarian work in Iraq. FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force agents raided the charity's headquarters in 2006 but charged nobody and allowed the agency to continue operating.

McDermott identified that charity as the group financing the Iraq trip. In House disclosure forms, he put the cost at $5,510. Thompson also understood the charity to be financing the trip, spokeswoman Anne Warden said.

Prosecutors said Al-Hanooti was responsible for monitoring Congress for the Iraqi Intelligence Service. From 1999 to 2002, he allegedly provided Saddam's government with a list of U.S. lawmakers he believed favored lifting economic sanctions against Iraq.

Thomas said Al-Hanooti would "vigorously defend" himself against the charges but he could not discuss the specifics of the case since he had seen none of the evidence.

DanS.

Is there a reason you are so opposed with providing a link to the articles you post here?

bornright

No, there is not a reason. Actually it has been on the news and I was just providing a thread for the ones that wish to speak of it the opportunity as I have not seen any thread on it.

bornright

March 26, 2008
by Matt Apuzzo
Associated Press Writer

US: Saddam Paid for Lawmakers' Iraq Trip

BillCosby

So what is your point here.........???

Not that I could think of one point from this that would support the unprovoked attack & killing of around a million ppl............

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Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

bornright

I guess the point was that the congressmen that went to be wined and dined by Saddam very likely were bought and paid for. Hopefully there will be an investigation into it and if found to be true they will be prosecuted.

Noob920

They were Democrats - they're used to spending other peoples money, and were probably intrigued by the thought of 72 virgins.

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Originally Posted by BillCosby

I am usually a nice easy going person........ Although ever time I drive by that bar my Xwife cheated on me @ I get a bit troubled.........

But I am sure that is not the reason I kick that damn dog after........

Seems like he deserves it when I take that route home......

BillCosby

Well if you are familiar w/ them you would know that their views & positions were pretty well known............

I would think this line of reasoning would not be were you would want to go considering how often politicians get these trips.......... Including repubs.............

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Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

bornright

It is exactly where the investigation needs to go. When there is a trip paid for by what is deemed as the enemy of this nation it should be investigated.

BillCosby

Maybe this is a good place to start........... bush's state department........


In his defense the bush administration convoluted, competing & waring factions were probably to bush cutting each others throats to notice small details like this..........

__________________
Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror