It has come to light that some of our dopey Congress critters traveled to Iraq on Saddam Hussein’s nickle at the same time the Administration was seeking Congressional authority to take military action.

Naturally, the dimwits who were the apparent beneficiaries of Saddam’s largesse claimed ignorance as to the source of the trip’s funding.  (Aren’t they supposed to know who is paying for their junkets?)

And, in yet another example of the mainstream media’s affinity for our donkey brethren, it took the AP four paragraphs to mention that all three of the dupes were likely . . . Democrats:

WASHINGTON - 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.

You may remember the work of “Baghdad Jim” McDermott, a soulmate of John Murtha, who took sides against his own country even before hostilities began.  The trip prompted Oklahoma Senator Don Nickles to observe that the Democrats “sound somewhat like spokespersons for the Iraqi government,” and the Wall Street Journal included McDermott in its list of “Saddam’s Useful Idiots.”   McDermott is the same shady Congress weasel who had to  return a $5,000 contribution made to his legal defense fund by an Iraqi-America “businessman” (also living in Michigan) who had financial ties to Saddam and was involved in Iraq’s oil for food scam.  (Jimbo returned the money only after the press started asking questions.)   This contributor also happened to accompany Big Jim on the infamous Iraq trip.  The Congressman obviously isn’t very curious about his associates, is he? 

As for the trip to Iraq, paid for by Saddam, McDermott’s spokesman said the simple-minded Congressman had no idea he was being used, and, anyway, the only reason for the trip was “to see the plight of the Iraqi children.”

Ah, yes, it’s all about the children.  Always.

The Iraqi who arranged the trip for the Useful Idiots is alleged to have been an Iraqi intelligence officer and is now cooling his heels in the gray-bar hotel after being arrested upon re-entry to the country.  No word on whether McDermott plans to stop by for a chat.

(Hat tip:  Big45Iron, a busy boy today)