— “Somebody” in Pakistan knew Osama bin Laden was hiding there, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday. But he said he’s seen evidence that the country’s senior leadership was unaware the terror leader was in a compound a short distance from a Pakistani military facility.
Both Gates and Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, however, said the U.S. must continue to work with and provide aid to Pakistan. But, amid rising anger and distrust of Pakistan across America and on Capitol Hill, both men acknowledged that Islamabad must take concrete action to eliminate the safe havens where militants are hiding along the border with Afghanistan.
“I have seen no evidence at all that the senior leadership knew. In fact, I’ve seen some evidence to the contrary,” Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. “We have no evidence yet with respect to anybody else. My supposition is, somebody knew.”
Asked about congressional pressure to hold back aid until Pakistan moves against militants within its borders, Gates and Mullen said Islamabad is already paying for its inaction.
The Pakistan military’s image has been tarnished by the successful U.S. raid that sent U.S. SEALs deep into the country to kill bin Laden — all without the knowledge of the now humiliated Pakistani leaders, said Mullen.
Mullen said there is a lot of “soul searching” going on within the military there, and he said they should be given some time to deal with that.
