"Some US officials said they were concerned that Furlong could be running an unofficial spy operation, adding they were not sure who condoned and supervised his work, The Times said."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62E0T020100315
“U.S. official set up unit to kill Afghan militants: report”
WASHINGTON
Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:07am EDT
(Reuters) -
SNIPPET: “The Times said the story was based on interviews with American military and intelligence officials, and businessmen in the region. The sources requested anonymity, the paper said, because the case is under investigation.
Some U.S. officials interviewed by the Times said they became troubled that Furlong seemed to be running an off-the-books spy operation.”
SNIPPET: “Col. Kathleen Cook, a spokeswoman for United States Strategic Command which oversees Furlong’s work, did not make Furlong available for an interview, according to the Times.
Contractor and author Robert Young Pelton told the paper that the U.S. government hired him to gather information about Afghanistan, but Furlong improperly used his work.”