<http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080326/D8VLDCNG0.html>

"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.

An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a member
of a Michigan nonprofit group, 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.

At the time, the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress to
authorize military action against Iraq.

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."

Stay tuned.
--



"It depends on how you define aloneŠ"

*Bill Clinton

dbu, 3/26/2008,7:32:26 PM, wrote:

> <http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080326/D8VLDCNG0.html>
>
> "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.
>
> An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a
> member of a Michigan nonprofit group, 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.
>
> At the time, the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress
> to authorize military action against Iraq.
>
> 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."
>
> Stay tuned.

No wonder they sounded like spokesmen for Saddam Hussein! Maybe they
took lessons from that propoganda minister Iraq had at one time. What
was his name -- Ali something?