A Defense Department official under investigation for allegedly running an off-the-books spy program says the operation was authorized and saved lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In an interview published Thursday, Michael D. Furlong told the San Antonio Express-News that military superiors approved using private contractors to gather information about potential attacks on U.S. interests. Furlong says the intelligence prevented two assassinations of Afghani leaders.
The New York Times reported this week that some information was used to attack militants, but Furlong said he "didn't take this information and go directly to a kill."
Pentagon officials say Furlong's program warrants further review. Furlong is now a senior civilian employee at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio.
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Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com
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