Calls are mounting on Capitol Hill for the Obama administration to rethink its backing of Pakistan following the killing of Osama bin Laden. The Saudi-born leader of al-Qaeda was killed on Sunday inside a heavily fortified compound located just 1,000 feet from Pakistan’s premier military academy. Bin Laden may have lived there for five years. John Brennan is President Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser.

John Brennan, Deputy National Security Adviser: “I think it’s inconceivable that bin Laden did not have a support system in the country that allowed him to remain there for an extended period of time. I am not going to speculate about what type of support he might have had on an official basis inside of Pakistan. We are closely talking to the Pakistanis right now, and again, we are leaving open opportunities to continue to pursue whatever leads might be out there.”

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has suggested the United States cut off military aid to Pakistan. She said, “Our government is in fiscal distress. To make contributions to a country that isn’t going to be fully supportive is a problem for many.” Since 2001, Congress has approved about $20 billion for Pakistan in direct aid and military payments. U.S. officials say they deliberately withheld information about Sunday’s raid on bin Laden’s compound from the Pakistani government out of fears it would be compromised. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Pakistan’s cooperation over the years.

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State: “As the President made clear, it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation, over a number of years now, with Pakistan has contributed greatly to our efforts to dismantle al-Qaeda. And, in fact, cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound in which he was hiding. You know, going forward, we are absolutely committed to continuing that cooperation.”