McCain's Man Was Saddam's Man

truble2301 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 06:08 PM

You want dirt, McCain lovers? Here's some dirt for you.

Quote:

William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who John McCain has named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime.

The two lobbyists who Timmons worked closely with over a five year period on the lobbying campaign later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein's government.

During the same period beginning in 1992, Timmons worked closely with the two lobbyists, Samir Vincent and Tongsun Park, on a previously unreported prospective deal with the Iraqis in which they hoped to be awarded a contract to purchase and resell Iraqi oil. Timmons, Vincent, and Park stood to share at least $45 million if the business deal went through.

Timmons' activities occurred in the years following the first Gulf War, when Washington considered Iraq to be a rogue enemy state and a sponsor of terrorism. His dealings on behalf of the deceased Iraqi leader stand in stark contrast to the views his current employer held at the time.

John McCain strongly supported the 1991 military action against Iraq, and as recently as Sunday described Saddam Hussein as a one-time menace to the region who had "stated categorically that he would acquire weapons of mass destruction, and he would use them wherever he could."

Timmons declined to comment for this story. An office manager who works for him said that he has made it his practice during his public career to never speak to the press. Timmons previously told investigators that he did not know that either Vincent or Park were acting as unregistered agents of Iraq. He also insisted that he did not fully understand just how closely the two men were tied to Saddam's regime while they collaborated.

But testimony and records made public during Park's criminal trial, as well as other information uncovered during a United Nations investigation, suggest just the opposite. Virtually everything Timmons did while working on the lobbying campaign was within days conveyed by Vincent to either one or both of Saddam Hussein's top aides, Tariq Aziz and Nizar Hamdoon. Vincent also testified that he almost always relayed input from the Iraqi aides back to Timmons.

Talking points that Timmons produced for the lobbyists to help ease the sanctions, for example, were reviewed ahead of time by Aziz, Vincent testified in court. Proposals that Timmons himself circulated to U.S. officials as part of the effort were written with the assistance of the Iraqi officials, and were also sent ahead of time with Timmons' approval to Aziz, other records show.

Moreover, there was a major financial incentive at play for Timmons. The multi-million dollar oil deal that he was pursuing with the two other lobbyists would only be possible if their efforts to ease sanctions against Iraq were successful.

McCain Cavorts With Terrorist Lovers

Maybe McCain's not an American, maybe he's Iraqi! Maybe he was a spy for Saddam's regime! Maybe McCain is a terrorist, a Manchurian candidate prepared to destroy America from the very top!

Go ahead, McCain Cultists, disprove it. Isn't that what you expect of the ridiculous claims you make against Obama and his supporters.

jeanief · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 07:48 PM

In case you haven't figured it out, McCain and his supporters have a "do as I say, not at I do" policy and nobody will feel a need to deal with this....

truble2301 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 08:23 PM

No one will defend McCain hiring a Saddam employee? No wonder his numbers are tanking.

marilynk · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 08:55 PM

I have no horse in this race, so to speak....Quite frankly I find the sniping, mudslinging and snarky behaviour (from both sides) displayed here to be just juvenile and petty.

There are a few, a very few moderate posters who present their opinion or their position as nicely and classy as possible--then there is the vast majority.

My God People! Act your age....I have an 8 y/o and 10 y/o who argue in a more polite way than some of you.

truble2301 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 08:58 PM

The irony in your post, Marilyn, is not likely to be missed.

marilynk · #6 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truble2301

The irony in your post, Marilyn, is not likely to be missed.

Maybe, maybe not....my point is this: The majority of you guys aren't here to get information or discuss things in a civil matter; it's all about one upmanship. Who can throw the nastiest curve ball.

While I have my faults, and I'm blunt and honest to the point of appearing brutal---My intent is not to come here and sling mud or argue or whatever it is. I know that my directness can be offensive to others. And I often wish I didn't know how to be so direct at times.

I'm undecided on who to vote for--I can guarantee you that all the mud slinging is not helping your candidate (this goes to both sides). I'm sure that my one vote won't make or break your candidate, so you can just ignore those of us undecided and continue your bickering.

dannyboy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marilynk

Maybe, maybe not....my point is this: The majority of you guys aren't here to get information or discuss things in a civil matter; it's all about one upmanship. Who can throw the nastiest curve ball.

While I have my faults, and I'm blunt and honest to the point of appearing brutal---My intent is not to come here and sling mud or argue or whatever it is. I know that my directness can be offensive to others. And I often wish I didn't know how to be so direct at times.

I'm undecided on who to vote for--I can guarantee you that all the mud slinging is not helping your candidate (this goes to both sides). I'm sure that my one vote won't make or break your candidate, so you can just ignore those of us undecided and continue your bickering.

Usually, I'd agree with you. (Except for the undecided part.)

But in my last month or two of posting here, I have only a few people from McCain's side who wanted to talk to me on the issues. Some people have engaged. Others haven't. During this same time, posters have reacted to my posts by saying that I was bitter or chatty or just gay.

I think that there are some Obama opponents (and I really can't say they are McCain supporters, because if they are embracing McCain's position, I haven't heard it) who don't care about anything other than slashing and burning Obama.

This board does frustrate me, because it does give us the potential of focusing on issues. I suspect most of the folks on this board belong to other boards, and I bet that they are primarily partisan boards.

I'd love to focus only on issues, but I at least don't feel this sentiment is reciprocated by most on the other side.

So really, I'd say at this stage, go for it, Truble. Fight fire with fire, and all that.

I have no problem with posters who react to stupid and irrelevant posts with brutal confrontation.

Marilynk, if you are looking here for an answer to which side is the better choice for you, you are looking in the wrong place. You aren't going to find it here. This board has evolved into a slug fest.

I hope you find an answer to your questions, though.

ILUVLUCY420 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 12:47 AM

Truble2301 and Dannyboy I could not agree more with you , you have spoken about.However honestly I have been trying to stay away from this board, because like MArilynk I think things have gotten way out of hand. Quite frankly these discussions havemade me nervous and upset and right now off the topic with my pms and hormones reaching a all time high, I decided to stop bickering back and forth, no good for me my health and for that sake , anyones health on the board. I know in my heart I want Obama and Biden to win and if I decide to post, that s all I will keep saying. Honestly I have never seen so many large posts, on this election , its all too much time consuming and I truly suggest to others just if you post , to simply say I want either Obama and Biden or McCain and Palin and end it. I also think we must all take a step back and agree to disagree and not get nasty. I do not think I am the only one who feels this way. So for me personally , it will just me for now on I am Democrat plain and simple... Peace to all Catherine

truble2301 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 05:05 AM

Marilyn, I suggest you buy a mirror, because you are far from innocent in throwing nasty comments out there. You've made it perfectly clear what you think of me and some others. You chose to launch an unprovoked attack on me some time ago, even while you pretend to be above it all. So I'm not remotely interested in your platitudes or pretense at somehow being a disinterested observer who wants to keep things civil.

marilynk · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truble2301

Marilyn, I suggest you buy a mirror, because you are far from innocent in throwing nasty comments out there. You've made it perfectly clear what you think of me and some others. You chose to launch an unprovoked attack on me some time ago, even while you pretend to be above it all. So I'm not remotely interested in your platitudes or pretense at somehow being a disinterested observer who wants to keep things civil.

I'm not above it all--there are certain issues I'm passionate about, and I am very emotional about them.

I don't think anything about you other than this election seems to have brought out a side of you that is not even remotely like the poster you were. Your posts seem angry, defensive, and nasty. Your posts seem petty and childish at times. But these statement only apply to your posting on THIS board.

I'm sorry that it appeared I was attacking you. I didn't mean it as such. Your postings on this board seemed totally out of character for who I thought you were. I do apologize that I offended you or hurt your feelings.

truble2301 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 07:55 PM

Well, Marilyn, your posts on this board have exposed exactly the postser you are. You don't matter enough to me to hurt my feelings.

marilynk · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truble2301

Well, Marilyn, your posts on this board have exposed exactly the postser you are. You don't matter enough to me to hurt my feelings.

Well, Tami, obviously I did at some point, because you seem hung up on some things I've said.
Again, I do apologize for what I said that offended you.

I've always known you to be blunt and to the point, not someone who pulled any punches--but of late (I guess in the last few months), your posting has gone beyond blunt and to the point to being mean, hateful, sarcastic and almost angry. Of course, one can't see or hear the tone, inflection, and/or body language.

So, for what it is worth, if I've taken your postings in a way they weren't meant then I'm the one in the wrong and I apologize.

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