It was discovered that Mr. Michael D. Furlong, a retired Air Force officer, who is now a full-time Department of Defense employee, had been setting up a network of private contractors in Afghanistan and Pakistan to perform covert operations disguised as a government information-gathering program. Although it is unclear exactly when the operation began, it seems to have accelerated in the summer of 2009. Mr. Furlong hired contractors from private security companies to gather intelligence on suspected insurgents and camp locations. Such information was then transferred to military officials for possible military actions. Many military officials have expressed their concerns over such off-the-books spy operation and Mr. Furlong is now subject to criminal investigation by the Department of Defense for charges including contract fraud.
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