WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today joined a letter to President Obama asking for $400,000 of U.S. foreign aid for Libya to instead remain in the U.S. Treasury.  If awarded, the funds would go to two organizations run by Libyan dictator Muamar Qaddafi’s children.

“This is a rare circumstance to ask that a specific portion of U.S. foreign aid be rescinded, but in this case I think it is fully justified,” Emerson said.  “We’ve just watched the Qaddafi family celebrate the release of a man responsible for the murders of 270 people and 189 Americans aboard Pan Am Flight 103.  We’ve seen Qaddafi rant to the United Nations, and the last thing we need is to support this man’s family with U.S. taxpayer dollars.”

Qaddafi’s son, Saif, leads one of the organizations which would benefit from $200,000 of direct American foreign aid.  Saif Qaddafi was also directly involved in the negotiations for the release of Abel Baset Megrahi, the only person convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

“It really turns my stomach to think about the families who lost loved ones to the murderous actions of this man, and then to see Megrahi treated like a hero upon his return to Libya.  Just to think about this man accepting U.S. foreign aid with a smile on his face is about the worst insult possible to the memory of Flight 103's victims,” Emerson said.  “No way should Saif Qaddafi be getting American support for anything he does.”

A final decision regarding the issuance of the foreign aid must be made by the Obama Administration.

The text of the letter signed by Emerson appears below:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C.
 
Dear Mr. President:
Earlier this week, Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi stood before the United Nations General Assembly and called the U.N. Security Council a “Terror Council.”  Qaddafi went on to suggest the State of Israel was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and that the H1N1 flu might be a military or corporate weapon.

Last month, when Scotland freed Abel Baset Megrahi, the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Qaddafi greeted him with a hero’s welcome. As you know, Megrahi was accompanied back to Libya by Qaddafi’s son, Saif, who was involved in the negotiations for Megrahi’s release.

At the time, you expressed your disappointment over Megrahi’s release and called it a mistake. Attorney General Holder said, “There is simply no justification for releasing this convicted terrorist whose actions took the lives of 270 individuals, including 189 Americans.”
 
That is why we are disturbed by a congressional notification dated September 15, 2009, informing the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations of the State Department’s intent to provide $200,000 to Muammar Qaddafi’s son, Saif Qaddafi’s foundation. Another $200,000 may be distributed to an organization known as Waettasmeno run by Muammar Qaddafi’s daughter, Aisha.
 
We understand that there is little existing infrastructure to encourage civil society growth in Libya. However, just weeks after the Qaddafi 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. 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.