Since 2004, the U.S. military has carried out previously undisclosed attacks against Al Qaeda in Pakistan, Syria, and other countries with which we are not at war. The attacks were authorized by a secret order signed by then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the spring of that year, which allowed the military to attack Al Qaeda anywhere in the world. (The New York Times)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=173165