They might actually be reporting to the real sec def. I seem to recall either a q post or an executive order (pretty sure it was an executive order, but I'm sure you'll correct me) that stated civilian spec ops assets report directly to sec def and not to the three letter agencies or military chain of command. In other words, the private flights to kabul are only pretending to be private. I know retired operators, the best of them are quite humble and make good mentors but they tend to be highly individualistic after service. Think about it, somehow they just knew to group together, who to group together with, who to acquire transport from, log travel plans, and found a yet unnamed person to pay for said logistics (aint cheap) in the course of a few days and somehow didn't let it slip that they were doing it or get discovered/infiltrated by the feds?