Obama, Son of, Khadafi donations.

Obama adminstration set to give $400K grant to Kadhafi family charities

September 26, 2009
Columbia Independent Examiner
Darren Pope

The Obama administration has promised $400,000 in taxpayer money to two Libyan charities run by the family of Mohammar Khadhafi. The grant will be split evenly between the Kadaffi Development Foundation, which is run by Kadhafi’s son, Saif, and Wa Attassimou, an organization run by Kadhafi’s daughter, Aisha.

Saif Kadhafi was invovled in the negotiations for the release of Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdel Baset Megrahi. Megrahi, who has terminal brain cancer, was granted a compassionate release by Scotland and was welcomed as a hero upon his return to Libya.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-IL, has asked the Obama administration to withdraw the grant.
"Just weeks after the Kadhafi family celebrated the return of a terrorist responsible for the murders of 189 Americans, the U.S. taxpayer should not be asked to reward them with $400,000," Kirk wrote to the president. "For the sake of the victims' families who have endured so much pain these last few weeks, I ask you to withdraw your Administration's request."

The BBC describes the The Kadhafi Development Foundation as "a charity which tries to project a new and positive image of Libya."

The grants are part of a $2.5 million Libyan aid package.

Meanwhile, a Reuters report says the U.S. State Dept. is reconsidering sending the $2.5 million in aid to Libya, including to foundations run by the Libyan leader's sons, after lawmakers on Thursday asked it to cancel the plan.

"The celebration that President (Kadhafi) recently held in honor of ... the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, showed just how little remorse (he) has for the terrorist attacks that killed 270 civilians," Rep. Nita Lowey and Rep. Kay Granger wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and obtained by Reuters.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the department was rethinking the funding.

"The decision to appropriate the money was made some time ago but, in light of recent events, we will be taking another look at these decisions," Crowley said.


[Want to bet - the US will go ahead with these 'donations' quietly, after everything has calmed down.]











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