A secret 2004 order gave the US military the authority to attack al Qaida targets anywhere in the world, according to a US report. Senior American officials told the New York Times that the classified order was used to carry out nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks against al Qaida and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere. Typically carried out by US Special Operations forces, the broad, secret order was authorised by then-defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and approved by President George Bush.

This story provides a great example of two things. First, that President Bush has been doing his job and doing it quietly yet successfully as Commander in Chief. Second, that some in the press have no problem putting our soldiers lives at risk. How stupid do you have to be to print a story about secret operations? What is really disturbing is that someone who knew about these activities , at a high level, had to have leaked them to the press. What should the penalty for that be?

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