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Supporting Qaddafi
On January 23, Farrakhan arrived in Tripoli, Libya, where he met with
Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Farrakhan has traveled to Tripoli for other meetings with
the strongman, including one in 1986 that offered training seminars on weapons and
explosives. In 1985, Qaddafi extended the Nation of Islam a $5 million interest-free loan
to launch a line of household and beauty products. Later that year, the Libyan leader
spoke by satellite to NOI's Saviour's Day Convention in Chicago, and told
Farrakhan supporters that he was prepared to provide weapons to a black army in the U.S.
to destroy "white America." In October 1995, Qaddafi called Farrakhan
with congratulations on the success of the Million Man March. Asserting his support of
black equality, Qaddafi assured the NOI leader that "we will unite our capabilities
and efforts to achieve this."
In their most recent talks together, Qaddafi appears to have made good on his promise.
According to reports from Libya's news agency, JANA, Farrakhan and Qaddafi agreed
to work together to mobilize "oppressed blacks, Arabs, Muslims and Red Indians" in
the United States to influence the outcome of the 1996 elections and the shaping of U.S.
foreign-policy. Until now, Qaddafi said, "our confrontation with America was like a
fight against a fortress from outside." He added that his pact with Farrakhan
provides him with "a breach to enter into this fortress and confront it."
Qaddafi also reportedly agreed to bankroll a $1 billion Muslim lobby in America to help
bring these plans to fruition. Following their talks, Minister Farrakhan announced he was
"happy with the results of this meeting."
The U.S. Government Reacts
Responding to his visit in Libya, the U.S. State Department stated it was surprised that Farrakhan
had not brought up the issue of Libya's involvement in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am
jetliner. "I just think as a citizen that when prominent Americans talk to
Muammar Qaddafi, who is a criminal, they ought to talk about Pan Am," a Department
spokesman said.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to the Nation of Islam leader
advising him that the Foreign Agent Registration Act requires all citizens working
on behalf of a foreign entity to influence U.S. policy to formally register with
the Department as foreign agents.
In a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno, Congressman Peter King (R-NY) called for a
Federal investigation of Qaddafi's $1 billion pledge. Calling Farrakhan's talks with
Qaddafi "an act of high treachery," King also urged the House International
Relations Subcommittee on International Operations to hold hearings on Farrakhan's trip.
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