Get Answers from Pakistan

Michigan's Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Mike Rogers are among the Washington officials seeking answers on just how much support Osama bin Laden was receiving from elements of the Pakistani military or intelligence services. Bin Laden was living in an elaborate compound in a city only two hours from Pakistan's capital when he was killed in a raid by U.S. Navy SEALs, an elite commando team. The trick will be getting answers while still maintaining tolerable relations with Pakistan, a key nation in the continuing struggle against terrorism.

Levin, a Democrat who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, said "it's hard to imagine the military or police did not have ideas of what was going on inside of (the compound)."

He added, "(T)here's a lot of questions that need to be asked" and suggested the Pakistani government do the asking.

Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, had similar concerns, but added that maintaining relations with Pakistan is important since other al-Qaida leaders remain within the country.

It has been clear for some time that Pakistan has been playing a double game — supporting U.S.

anti-terrorism efforts, including with the lives of its own soldiers and police officers — at the same time that some elements within its intelligence service have protected the terrorists.

Pakistan's government at first noted that it had been cooperative in the weekend American raid, but this week issued a statement of concern about the violation of its sovereignty by the raid. The two statements illustrate the balancing act its own government has to perform — not angering the Americans too much but also not appearing too subservient.

The location of bin Laden's compound so deep within Pakistan raises new doubts about Pakistani sincerity in dealing with terrorism. White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan told a news briefing that the U.S. intends to pursue all leads in discovering bin Laden's enablers within Pakistan.

This will have to be done delicately so as not to weaken the Pakistani government. Congress in 2009 adopted a five-year, $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan. It would be foolish to totally cut off all of the aid, as some in Congress are suggesting. But it ought to buy some answers.

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