Rogue Intel Contract Leader Speaks Out

The San Antonio Express-News has landed a serious scoop, and scored an interview with Michael Furlong, the alleged leader of the AfPax Insider team who were (take your pick) an OSINT collection team, a rogue hit squad, a parallel intel agency, a really bad idea, and/or a fraudulent use of government funds.

He denied allegations that he inappropriately diverted millions of dollars for the operation and said his military superiors approved the program, which at one point was supervised by U.S. commanders and a separate NATO command.

Furlong is accused of using civilian subcontractors to secretly collect information that later was used to target and kill suspected militants.

Furlong claimed Robert Young Pelton — who hosted cable TV's “The World's Most Dangerous Places” and was a government subcontractor related to Furlong's program — reported “wild accusations” about him to the CIA as part of a “vendetta” that stoked the agency to complain to the Defense Department that the program invaded its turf.

He contended that CIA officials were briefed about the program's concept and a legal opinion was sought that deemed the eventual operation lawful.

But the Pentagon has launched internal and criminal investigations of Furlong and millions of dollars spent on the program.

By: Brant