The U.S. military has conducted nearly a dozen secret operations against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Syria, Pakistan and other countries since 2004. Anonymous US officials reported that the operations were authorized by a classified order signed by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush in spring 2004. The order gave the military authority to attack Al-Qaeda anywhere in the world and to conduct operations in countries that were not at war with the U.S. 11/10/08