Obama Giving Money to Lybian charities

Obama wants to give $400,000 in funding to a Libyan charity run by the Gadhafi family, and U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) wants the grant withdrawn.

The money would be equally divided between two foundations run by the family of Libyan's leader Muammar Gadhafi. Half would go to the Gadhafi Development Foundation, which is run by Gadhafi's son, Saif, and the other half would go to Wa Attassimou, an organization run by Muammar Gadhafi's daughter, Aisha.

Saif Gadhafi was involved in negotiating for the release of Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdel Baset Megrahi, and accompanied him back to Libya.

"Just weeks after the Gadhafi 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."

A copy of Kirk's letter can be found here (PDF).