Rep. Jackson questions aid to Pakistan, says nation was 'harboring' bin Laden

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) livened up Wednesday's scripted subcommittee markup of the foreign aid spending bill by ripping Pakistan, whose actions regarding Osama bin Laden were akin to “harboring a fugitive.”

“It's clear to me that ... Pakistan has been thumbing its nose at the United States and the global war on terror with respect to Pakistan's involvement,” Jackson said. “They send us on the most circuitous routes to deliver supplies to our own men and women in the field. They constantly complain about drones and drone access. And yet the No. 1 terrorist in the world is found in their borders. And under any normal legal jurisprudence, it would be defined as harboring a fugitive.”

He said he wasn't “entirely convinced” that Pakistan meets the standard for foreign aid recipients established by Congress. And he repeated his calls for a “full airing” of the U.S.-Pakistani relationship and Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism.

The $40.1 billion spending bill easily cleared the panel, which is well known for the bipartisan cooperation between Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) and ranking member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)