We call him “Baghdad Jim” McDermott
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.
So they want to “follow the money/oil/Halliburton” when it comes to Iraq 2003-2008, but didn’t seem to care about doing so for Iraq 2002?
I have the same question as Rob at the SayAnything blog
If Saddam paid for McDermott to go to Iraq in 2002, why didn’t McDermott check on the status of the WMD’s? Why didn’t Saddam invite him to inspect his military facilities?
Seems like if Saddam wanted to stave off war with the US he could have just opened up his country to inspection to prove that he wasn’t a threat.
The ball is in McDermott’s court now.