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Source: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=9c613d05-0441-4a14-bf40-ef3ac16a42b5
U.S. Escalates the War on Terror
[New Republic] Eli Lake - With the strike in Sukkariyeh, Syria, we have entered a new phase in the war on terror. In July, according to three administration sources, the Bush administration formally gave the military new power to strike terrorist safe havens outside of Iraq and Afghanistan. Before then, a military strike in a country like Syria or Pakistan would have required President Bush's personal approval. Now, those kinds of strikes can occur at the discretion of the incoming commander of Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus. The new order could pave the way for direct action in Kenya, Mali, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen - all places where American intelligence believes al-Qaeda has a significant presence, but can no longer count on the indigenous security services to act. The administration is genuinely worried about al-Qaeda's resurgence, not just in Pakistan, but across Asia and Africa.