Attention Senators: Let's just save time, money, and outrage by not having "hearings" on this. It's not like anyone will be prosecuted anyway. Feel free to donate the monies saved by forgoing the dog and pony show to any homeless shelter or food pantry. Thanks.
Intelligence-gathering operation used for lethal action, officials say"KABUL, Afghanistan - Under the cover of a benign government information-gathering program, a Defense Department official set up a network of private contractors in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help track and kill suspected militants, according to military officials and businessmen in Afghanistan and the United States.
The official, Michael D. Furlong, hired contractors from private security companies that employed former C.I.A. and Special Forces operatives. The contractors, in turn, gathered intelligence on the whereabouts of suspected militants and the location of insurgent camps, and the information was then sent to military units and intelligence officials for possible lethal action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the officials said.
While it has been widely reported that the C.I.A. and the military are attacking operatives of Al Qaeda and others through unmanned, remote-controlled drone strikes, some American officials say they became troubled that Mr. Furlong seemed to be running an off-the-books spy operation. The officials say they are not sure who condoned and supervised his work.
It is generally considered illegal for the military to hire contractors to act as spies. Officials said Mr. Furlong’s secret network might have been improperly financed by diverting money from a program designed to merely gather information about the region..."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35867435/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times//
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