In bed with the enemy: Sadam paid Democrat anti-war activists to visit - The Orange Mane

Kaylore · 03-27-2008, 05:44 PM

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

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.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Dudeskey · 03-27-2008, 05:47 PM

Oooooh, they visited a country that never was a threat. The audacity!

L.A. BRONCOS FAN · 03-27-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urinal_Cake

Oooooh, they visited a country that never was a threat. The audacity!

Rohirrim · 03-27-2008, 07:17 PM

Fortunately for us, those peacenik, commie bastards weren't able to stop the onset of war.

TailgateNut · 03-27-2008, 08:18 PM

What a joke. They should be castrated for visiting Iraq.

cutthemdown · 03-27-2008, 08:19 PM

No big deal really. Not like the lawmakers knew they thought it was through a church. It's just that Democrats are easy to fool. They even bought the WMD and voted to go to war. I mean Repubs fool dems all the time, why would Sadaam not be able to? It's like taking candy from an intern, unless your a repub freak then it's like taking underwear and virginity.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN · 03-27-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

No big deal really. Not like the lawmakers knew they thought it was through a church. It's just that Democrats are easy to fool. They even bought the WMD and voted to go to war. I mean Repubs fool dems all the time, why would Sadaam not be able to? It's like taking candy from an intern, unless your a repub freak then it's like taking underwear and virginity.

Not so much "fooled" as "didn't want to get crucified as 'traitors' or 'rotten patriots' for questioning the 'war on terror' after 9/11."

mhgaffney · 03-27-2008, 08:44 PM

Kaylore

Stick to foooooball -- OK?

spdirty · 03-27-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Not so much "fooled" as "didn't want to get crucified as 'traitors' or 'rotten patriots' for questioning the 'war on terror' after 9/11."

then they were p*ssies for not standing up for what they believed in.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN · 03-27-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdirty

then they were p*ssies for not standing up for what they believed in.

I'd be hard pressed to deny that they are p*ssies on a number of counts, but there's more to this particular issue than just that.

Fact is, they trusted the president to bring the fight to the people who attacked us on 9/11 when they voted for the authorization.

Oil Boy let them (and all of us) down.

TailgateNut · 03-27-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

I'd be hard pressed to deny that they are p*ssies on a number of counts, but there's more to this particular issue than just that.

Fact is, they trusted the president to bring the fight to the people who attacked us on 9/11 when they voted for the authorization.

Oil Boy let them (and all of us) down.

don't expect Spdirty to understand the thought process of a nation who was told by their president (spit) that he would not rest until he brought the people responsible for 9/11 to justice, while secretly planning to attack a country which had NOTHING to do with 9/11.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN · 03-27-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TailgateNut

don't expect Spdirty to understand the thought process of a nation who was told by their president (spit) that he would not rest until he brought the people responsible for 9/11 to justice, while secretly planning to attack a country which had NOTHING to do with 9/11.

True that.

He will simply respond with the usual, morally bankrupt "blame the victim" mentality whereby those who were conned are scorned while the con artists get a free pass.

cutthemdown · 03-27-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Not so much "fooled" as "didn't want to get crucified as 'traitors' or 'rotten patriots' for questioning the 'war on terror' after 9/11."

They said they read the reports and believed them. So either they are easy to fool, stupid, or only vote based on public opinion. Which is it?

L.A. BRONCOS FAN · 03-27-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

They said they read the reports and believed them. So either they are easy to fool, stupid, or only vote based on public opinion. Which is it?

You're not trying to ressurect that same old "they were looking at the same intel as the president" canard, are you?

03-27-2008, 05:44 PM	#1
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,037 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	In bed with the enemy: Sadam paid Democrat anti-war activists to visit http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1 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. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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03-27-2008, 05:47 PM	#2
Dudeskey Ring of Famer This space for rent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 4,314	Oooooh, they visited a country that never was a threat. The audacity!

03-27-2008, 07:17 PM	#4
Rohirrim Partisan Human Cannonball Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Twixt Hell & Highwater Posts: 48,833	Fortunately for us, those peacenik, commie bastards weren't able to stop the onset of war.

03-27-2008, 08:18 PM	#5
TailgateNut Bleedin' orange! .......as much as tebonites Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mile High Posts: 20,018 Adopt-a-Bronco: Howard Griffith	What a joke. They should be castrated for visiting Iraq.

03-27-2008, 08:19 PM	#6
cutthemdown A verbis ad verbera Zimm to HOF Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 32,460	No big deal really. Not like the lawmakers knew they thought it was through a church. It's just that Democrats are easy to fool. They even bought the WMD and voted to go to war. I mean Repubs fool dems all the time, why would Sadaam not be able to? It's like taking candy from an intern, unless your a repub freak then it's like taking underwear and virginity.

03-27-2008, 08:44 PM	#8
mhgaffney Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9,764	Kaylore Stick to foooooball -- OK?