For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 2, 2004
Presidential Letter
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
In my report to the Congress of February 25, 2004, I provided
information on the deployment of combat-equipped U.S. Armed Forces to
Haiti. I am providing this additional report, consistent with the War
Powers Resolution, to help ensure that the Congress is kept fully
informed on U.S. military activities in Haiti.
On February 29, 2004, approximately 200 additional U.S.
combat-equipped, military personnel from the U.S. Joint Forces Command
deployed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to secure key facilities, to
facilitate the continued repatriation of Haitian migrants, to help
create conditions in the capital for the anticipated arrival of the
Multinational Interim Force, to protect American citizens as may be
required, and for other purposes consistent with United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1529 (2004). I anticipate additional
combat-equipped military personnel will be deployed to Haiti until the
situation in Haiti stabilizes. The forces that the United States
deployed and continues to deploy will be part of the Multinational
Interim Force.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution
1529 on February 29, 2004. It authorized the deploy-ment of a
Multinational Interim Force to contribute to a more secure and more
stable environment in the Haitian capital and elsewhere, to facilitate
the provision of humanitarian assistance and the access of humanitarian
aid workers to the Haitian people, and for other purposes.
It is anticipated U.S. forces will redeploy when the Multinational
Interim Force has transitioned to a follow-on United Nations
stabilization force.
I have taken this action pursuant to my constitutional authority to
conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
Executive. I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep
the Congress informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
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