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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Libya Offer Puts Clinton On The Spot Gadhafi Wants To Give Farrakhan $1 Billion

Peter Slevin Knight-Ridder

Libya’s mercurial leader, Col. Moammar Gadhafi, offered $1 billion to Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam earlier this year to mobilize “the oppressed minorities” in the United States.

Now, the Clinton administration must deal with the possibility that he meant it.

When Gadhafi made the offer, Libya’s official news agency quoted him as saying the Nation of Islam would be a new weapon in the struggle against America - “a breach to enter this fortress and confront it.”

Such talk from a longtime nemesis and reputed sponsor of international terrorism is designed to put the U.S. government on the spot. Last week, the Clinton administration was asked by Farrakhan’s organization for permission to accept Gadhafi’s largess.

The Nation of Islam is seeking official permission to collect the $1 billion, which would require a waiver of strict U.S. sanctions against transactions with Libya. Lawyers also are seeking permission for Farrakhan to travel soon to Tripoli, the capital, to accept a $250,000 humanitarian award from Gadhafi.

Farrakhan’s requests create an election-year quandary for the White House, which is anxious not to alienate African-American voters but remains wary of frequent Republican criticism that President Clinton lacks foreign policy backbone.

“We don’t think much of Libya, and there are things about the Reverend Farrakhan’s travels that we don’t think much of, as well,” said White House spokesman Mike McCurry as the presidential campaign train made a stop in Arlington, Ohio. “And obviously we expect U.S. citizens to obey the law.” In Washington, a State Department official reminded reporters of the administration’s strong criticism of Farrakhan in January, when he visited Libya, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria and other pariah states. Spokesman Nicholas Burns said at the time that Farrakhan was “cavorting with dictators.”

A Justice Department inquiry into Farrakhan’s travels remains a “pending matter,” a spokesman said Monday. It is against the law for a U.S. citizen to travel and spend money in Libya.

Farrakhan has made clear that he will fight to accept Libya’s money. Amid the firestorm earlier this year, he dared the U.S. government to prevent him from receiving Libyan money. He said he was ready for a “showdown.”

Farrakhan said he would not be a Libyan agent: “I am an agent of God, and if the government requests that I should register as an agent of God, I will be happy to do so.”