Back in 2002, in one of the most disgraceful, unpatriotic displays by members of Congress in American history, loathsome liberal Democrats, Jim McDermott and David Bonior actually went to Iraq before the war and did what amounted to public relations work for Saddam Hussein.

Believe it or not, it turns out that they were in Iraq on Saddam's dime,

Federal prosecutors say 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.

An indictment in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti 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.

In exchange, Al-Hanooti allegedly received 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.

The lawmakers are not mentioned but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California. There was no indication the three lawmakers knew the trip was underwritten by Saddam.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some debate about whether these three useful idiots knew that Saddam was paying their way, but here's what people should focus on for the moment: WHY did Saddam pay their way?

Why would a genocidal, pro-terrorist butcher, who hates America and everything it stands for, want to pay to have three American Congressmen flown over to his country?

Simple: because he obviously thought that they were useful idiots who were so morally deficient that they would boldly, publicly take his side against their own President and their own people while the world was watching.

Boy, did he have them pegged right.