Under intelligence law dating back to the mid-1970s, the president must sign a finding to provide the legal basis for CIA covert actions. In response to past abuses, the decisionmaking process has grown into a highly formalized review in which the White House, Justice Department, Pentagon and CIA take part. The administration must notify congressional leaders of any covert-action finding signed by the president. In past cases of lethal force against members of Al-Qaida, congressional leaders have been notified as required, the officials said.(Snip)
The newer list represents an expanded CIA effort against a larger number of Al-Qaida operatives outside of Afghanistan in countries such as Yemen. The president is not legally required to approve each name added to the list, nor is the CIA required to obtain presidential approval for specific attacks, although officials said Bush has been kept informed about the CIA's operations.
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Harethi is believed to have been on the list of Al-Qaida leaders that the CIA had been authorized to kill. After the operation in Yemen, U.S. officials said Bush was not required to approve the mission immediately before the attack was launched, nor was he specifically consulted. Intelligence officials said the presidential finding authorizing the CIA to use lethal force against terrorists was not limited to those included on the list. Bush has given broad authority to the CIA to kill or capture operatives of Al-Qaida around the world
It looks to me like the terrorists were getting word of the operations through moles in the government. This blanket approval may not stop all the leaks, but it will certainly help to pinpoint them.