In April, I reported that the New York Times was about to publish a list of covert American operatives providing force protection for our troops in Afghanistan. A month later, the Times admitted that it did in fact have the list, but that they did not intend to publish the names. It was the right thing to do and we commended them for it. We are hoping that they will once again exhibit such sound judgment.

From a source inside the Times, I have just been told that the findings of a confidential Department of Defense investigation have been leaked to a specific NYT reporter (whose name I am withholding).

Since March, I have been writing about the ongoing battle between the CIA and the Department of Defense over the DoD’s use of former Special Operations and former CIA personnel to provide force protection for our troops in the Af/Pak theater. The good news is that the CIA and the DoD have decided to bury the hatchet. The bad news is that they are doing so right in the back of one of America’s most dedicated patriots, Michael Furlong.

Until recently, Furlong helped coordinate the DoD’s force protection efforts in Afghanistan. His efforts, as well as those of the brave men and women working within the force protection program he oversaw, have prevented the deaths of incalculable numbers of American troops. It would seem, though, that Furlong and his team were too good at their jobs.

At great personal risk, they were doing what the CIA claimed couldn’t be done. What’s more, they were doing it more efficiently and for far less cost to the American taxpayer. The turf battle that ensued between Langley and the Pentagon quickly found its way onto the front pages of the New York Times where the Central Intelligence Agency drove most of the narrative, including all sorts of accusations.

According to intelligence sources familiar with this case (who asked that their names not be used), Furlong was publically dragged through the mud in hopes of embarrassing the DoD into shutting down his force protection program.

Considering the great harm that would come to our troops if the program was halted, I and many others hoped that it would be kept alive. Sadly, this was not to be. Furlong has been mothballed and funding to the program has not been renewed.

To make matters worse, it appears that kissing and making up wasn’t good enough for somebody. A blood sacrifice was called for.

With all of the negative publicity in the elite media, the DoD launched a stunning, Star Chamber-esque investigation in which Furlong wasn’t even interviewed or allowed the chance to defend himself. One has to wonder what kind of nation we have become when terrorists are given every opportunity to adjudicate the cases against them, but we deny one of our most important war fighters – a man committed to protecting the lives of American troops – any ability to answer charges leveled against him.

Actually, one doesn’t have to wonder what’s going on here. The CIA doesn’t like Furlong. He made them look bad and now he is being made to pay, but the people who will ultimately pay are America’s brave men and women fighting in Afghanistan. Since failing to renew the program, death rates have begun to climb, just as we predicted.

I have seen the information that was leaked to the Times and have had it confirmed by a well-placed source connected to the Defense Department. I even know who leaked it, but am withholding his name (as I have done with the name of the reporter in question) in hopes that everyone does the right thing here.

Per the DoD’s own investigation, Furlong has not broken any laws and has not misappropriated any funds. According to sources close to Furlong, he not only had approval from his superiors for everything he did, he has the classified emails to prove it. But without an appropriate forum to present those, he can’t possibly defend himself.

Despite the voluminous, life-saving intelligence produced by Furlong’s force protection specialists (which was considered a daily “must read” by the top military brass in Afghanistan right up to General Stanley McChrystal), suddenly no one knows who signed off on Furlong’s program. In an effort to make nice with the CIA, Michael Furlong is being painted as man who exceeded his authority and misled everyone. Presumably, “everyone” includes all of the higher-ups who gobbled up his reports, but never seemed to get around to asking how he got his intel. (And if you believe that, you’ll believe just about anything.) In short, Furlong has been tossed under the proverbial bus.

Here’s the biggest question of all, though. Who in their right mind pulls a star player at such a critical moment in the game? Vendettas be damned. We need every man on the field. The only people helped by forcing Furlong out are the enemy.

In leaking the findings of its investigation to the NYT, the Defense Department hopes to force Furlong to “go away.” After everything he has given our country and after everything he has done for our troops, Mike Furlong deserves better, much better. The fact that arguably the most successful force protection program in modern American history has had its funding discontinued is a tragedy.

But the fact that an American hero like Michael Furlong is now being kicked in the teeth instead of having a medal pinned on his chest is unforgiveable.

The New York Times should do the right thing and refuse to abet the besmirching of an exceptional man’s character and his record of exemplary service to his country.

And if the Times wants a story truly worthy of investigation, it should look into the rise in U.S. casualties since the cancelation of Michael Furlong’s force protection program.