Pentagon Official Ran Private Assassin Support Crew

Honcho probed over secret 'Jason Bourne' crew
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 15, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
Updated Mar 15, 2010 5:43 AM CDT
Pentagon Official Ran Private Assassin Support Crew
Sources say the iuformation gathered by Furlong's network was used by the US military for drone strikes on militants.   (AP Photo/Armando Babani)

A senior Pentagon official secretly set up a private network of contractors to help track and kill militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan, military officials say. Michael D. Furlong may have diverted money from other programs to fund his own network of former CIA and Special Forces operatives, officials tell the New York Times. It's not clear who—if anybody—condoned the operation.

Furlong boasted about his network of "Jason Bournes" and said information they supplied had been used to kill at least one group of suspected militants, said officials. Furlong's program now appears to have been shut down, officials say, and he is currently the subject of a criminal investigation for numerous possible offenses, including contract fraud.
(More contractors stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X