Heck, Reid differ on release of bin Laden death photos

Nevada political leaders Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Joe Heck found themselves on opposite sides today in a debate whether the Obama administration should release pictures of a dead Osama bin Laden.

"The photos have to be released most definitely, to make sure we get rid of any conspiracy theorists that think we did not take care of bin Laden," Heck, a Republican and member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in an online interview with ABC News.

But Reid, the Senate's Democratic majority leader, said he was not eager to have pictures made public.

"I personally think it is morbid and I am not one that is going to be yelling to make the photo public but that is a decision that will be made by the president," Reid told reporters at his weekly news conference. He added he has not seen the photos.

The debate appeared to have been brought to a halt Tuesday night when CIA director Leon Panetta said the bin Laden death photos will be made public, gruesome as they might be.

Heck and Reid were in agreement on a related topic: Whether the United States should cut off aid to Pakistan as questions swirled to what extent the country's leaders or military were aware of bin Laden hiding out in a compound outside Islamabad.

Reid said he was in favor of cutting a break for Pakistan, which receives about $3 billion in U.S. assistance.

"Pakistan for a long time now has been a partner in many of the things we are doing to thwart the Taliban and al Qaida," Reid said. "We treat this as if they have made no sacrifices. They have lost thousands and thousands of their soldiers fighting terrorists.

"This doesn't mean we shouldn't have more oversight, and I am willing to do that," Reid said. "I hope we will have better oversight of the money we are giving them."

Likewise, Heck, who was in Pakistan two weeks ago on a congressional trip, told ABC: "I don't think we need to cut off aid just yet. We need to further clarify our relationship with Pakistan.... but they are still a critical asset and ally in the fight against terror and we need to continue that relationship."