Leaked emails belonging to the chief media consultant of brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has revealed that he had a number of supporters, friends, admirers and benefactors in the West.

Among these deluded fools is George Galloway, the British politician who has made a career of establishing links with questionable entities all in a cynical ploy to become famous and make money.

Of Scots-Irish origin, the former MP Galloway lavishly praised Assad. In an August 2010 email to Bouthaina Shaaban, Assad's aide, Galloway gushed: Syria is as I have often said is the last castle of Arab dignity.”

Galloway wanted Damascus' assistance with organizing a convoy to Gaza to break Israel's blockade.

Galloway added: “Please convey my respect and my admiration to His Excellency the President [Assad].”

But Galloway's flirtation with Assad was only one of his many adventures with questionable characters.

After his expulsion from the Labour Party in 2003 [apparently for his vociferous attacks on Prime Minister Tony Blair], he devoted himself to protesting the Iraq war. Galloway co-founded the radical Respect Party, which catered to the large Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant community in the East End of London. The Roman Catholic Galloway won the parliamentary election and represented the heavily Muslim Bethnal Green and Bow borough in 2005.

However, as early as the 1990s, he supported Saddam Hussein and fought UK sanctions against Iraq. He even visited Baghdad and met Saddam (at least twice), once telling the brutal tyrant: Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.

He also was close to Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz. In 2002, Britain's Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw said Galloway was not just an apologist, but a mouthpiece, for the Iraqi regime over many years.

However, Galloway countered that he met Saddam only to promote peace, while both UK and U.S. government officials had earlier provided arms to Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war.

There were also unconfirmed reports that Galloway may have received substantial amounts of money from Iraqi intelligence agents and other sources in Iraq.

Also, Galloway has repeatedly criticized Israel and Zionism, as well as the west's defense for the Jewish state and “occupation” of Muslim lands. As such, he has expressed support for both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Galloway also has worked with Press TV, Iran's state-controlled news agency, and reportedly praised Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he was fraudulently elected.

Galloway, derisively known as “Gorgeous George” for his unnaturally dark sun tan and fondness for elegant clothes and luxurious living, loves the spotlight and will likely continue to make odd alliances in order to remain “media relevant.”

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