[Choux]

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." by Murray Raas, blogger

[tomder55]

Working on behalf of the Oil for Food Program in itself is not a bad thing . That was a well intentioned act trying to get food and medicine to the Iraqi population.

However ;as happens with most well intentioned large efforts they are prone to corruption. Although it is true that Tungsten Park is the scum of the earth ,I have not seen evidence that Timmons knew that Park and Samir Vincent were elbow deep in corruption and bribe taking . Even the transcripts I have seen from Park's trial do not show evidence that Timmons was doing anything else than performing a legitimate service.

But Tungsten Park is toxic , a covicted international criminal and a scumbag .Timmons should disclose these lobbying activities to McCain and resign .