For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 22, 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
March 20, 2004
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
In the interests of improving the efficiency of the reporting
process and to increase the utility of reports to the Congress,
consistent with the War Powers Resolution, I have decided to
consolidate supplemental reports I provide to the Congress regarding
the deployment of U.S. combat-equipped armed forces in a number of
locations around the world. This consolidated report is part of my
efforts to keep the Congress informed about such deployments and covers
operations in support of the global war on terrorism (including in
Afghanistan), Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Haiti. Operations in
Iraq are a critical part of the war on terror, and it is my intention
to continue to provide, consistent with the War Powers Resolution,
information regarding the deployment of U.S. forces in Iraq in the
reports to the Congress under Public Law 107-243 and Public Law 102-1,
as amended.
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM
Since September 24, 2001, I have reported, consistent with Public
Law 107-40 and the War Powers Resolution, on the combat operations in
Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists and their Taliban supporters,
which began on October 7, 2001, and the deployment of various
combat-equipped and combat-support forces to a number of locations in
the Central, Pacific, and Southern Command areas of operation in
support of those operations and of other operations in our global war
on terrorism.
United States efforts in the campaign in Afghanistan continue to
meet with success, but as I have stated in my previous reports, the
U.S. war on terror will be lengthy. United States Armed Forces, with
the assistance of numerous coalition partners, continue to conduct the
U.S. campaign to eliminate the primary source of support to the
terrorists who viciously attacked our Nation on September 11, 2001.
These operations have been successful in seriously degrading al-Qaida's
training capability and virtually eliminating the Taliban's ability to
brutalize the Afghan people and to harbor and support terrorists.
Pockets of al-Qaida and Taliban forces, however, remain a threat to
U.S. and Coalition forces and to the Afghan government and Afghan
people. United States, Coalition, and Afghan forces are actively
pursuing and engaging remnant Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.
The United States continues to detain several hundred al-Qaida and
Taliban fighters who are believed to pose a continuing threat to the
United States and its interests. The combat-equipped and
combat-support forces deployed to Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, in the U.S. Southern Command area of operations since January
2002, continue to conduct secure detention operations for the
approximately 610 enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.
In furtherance of the U.S. worldwide efforts against terrorists who
pose a continuing and imminent threat to the United States, our friends
and allies, and our forces abroad, the United States continues to work
with friends and allies in areas around the globe. For example,
combat-equipped and combat-support forces deployed to Georgia to assist
in training and equipping the Georgian government's forces will be
completing their task in May 2004. United States combat-equipped and
combat-support forces are also located in Djibouti. The U.S. forces
headquarters element in Djibouti provides command and control support
as necessary for military operations against al-Qaida and other
international terrorists in the Horn of Africa region, including
Yemen. These forces also assist in enhancing counterterrorism
capabilities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The
United States is engaged in a continuous process of assessing options
for working with other nations to assist them in this respect.
Additionally, the United States continues to conduct maritime
interception operations on the high seas in the U.S. Central, European,
and Pacific Command areas of responsibility. These maritime operations
have recently expanded into the U.S. Southern and Northern Command
areas of responsibility to stop the movement, arming, or financing of
international terrorists.
It is not possible to know at this time either the duration of
combat operations or the scope and duration of the deployment of U.S.
Armed Forces necessary to counter the terrorist threat to the United
States. I will direct additional measures as necessary in the exercise
of the U.S. right to self-defense and to protect U.S. citizens and
interests. Such measures may include short-notice deployments of
special operations and other forces for sensitive operations in various
locations throughout the world.
NATO-LED KOSOVO FORCE (KFOR)
As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions in
support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, most recently on November
14, 2003, the U.N. Security Council authorized member states to
establish KFOR in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10,
1999. The mission of KFOR is to provide an inter-national security
presence in order to deter renewed hostilities; verify, and, if
necessary, enforce the terms of the Military Technical Agreement
between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (which is now
Serbia and Montenegro); enforce the terms of the Undertaking on
Demilitarization and Transformation of the former Kosovo Liberation
Army; provide day-to-day operational direction to the Kosovo Protection
Corps; and maintain a safe and secure environment to facilitate the
work of the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
Currently, there are 18 NATO nations contributing to KFOR in
addition to the 18 non-NATO nations that provide forces. The U.S.
contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 1,900 U.S. military personnel,
or approximately 11 percent of KFOR's total strength of approximately
17,500 personnel. Additionally, U.S. military personnel occasionally
operate from Macedonia,
Albania, and Greece in support of KFOR operations. Eighteen
non-NATO contributing countries also participate with NATO forces in
providing military personnel and other support personnel to KFOR.
The U.S. forces have been assigned to a sector principally centered
around Gnjilane in the eastern region of Kosovo. For U.S. KFOR forces,
as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and secure environment
remains the primary military task. The KFOR operates under NATO
command and control and rules of engagement. The KFOR coordinates with
and supports UNMIK at most levels, provides a security presence in
towns, villages, and the countryside, and organizes checkpoints and
patrols in key areas to provide security, protect minorities, resolve
disputes, and help instill in the community a feeling of confidence.
By the end of 2003, UNMIK had transferred all non-reserved competencies
under the Constitutional Framework document to the Kosovar Provisional
Institutions of Self- Government (PISG). The PISG includes the
President, Prime Minister, and Kosovo Assembly, and has been in place
since March 2002.
NATO continues formally to review KFOR's mission at 6-month
intervals. These reviews provide a basis for assessing current force
levels, future requirements, force structure, force reductions, and the
eventual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO has adopted the Joint Operations
Area plan to regionalize and rationalize its force structure in the
Balkans. The KFOR has transferred full responsibility for public
safety and policing to the UNMIK international and local police forces
throughout Kosovo except in the area of Mitrovica, where the
responsibility is shared due to security concerns. The UNMIK
international police and local police forces have also begun to assume
responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and established
border-crossing checkpoints.
NATO-LED STABILIZATION FORCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (SFOR)
As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions in
support of peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia, most recently
on January 22, 2004, the U.N. Security Council authorized member states
to continue SFOR for a period of 12 months in U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1491 of July 11, 2003. The mission of SFOR is to provide a
focused military presence in order to deter hostilities, stabilize and
consolidate the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contribute to a secure
environment, and perform key supporting tasks including support to the
international civil presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina is
about 1,100 personnel. United States personnel comprise approximately
9 percent of the approximately 12,000 personnel assigned to SFOR. NATO
has agreed to reduce the size of the force to 7,000 personnel by June
2004. United States participation is expected to be reduced
proportionately. Currently, 16 NATO nations and 11 others provide
military personnel or other support to SFOR. Most U.S. forces in
Bosnia and Herzegovina are assigned to Multinational Brigade, North,
headquartered near the city of Tuzla. The U.S. forces continue to
support SFOR efforts to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes and
to conduct counterterrorism operations.
MULTINATIONAL INTERIM FORCE IN HAITI
As I reported on February 25 and March 2, 2004, the United States
deployed combat-equipped and combat-support personnel to Haiti in order
to secure key facilities, facilitate the continued repatriation of
Haitian migrants, help create conditions in the capital for the
anticipated arrival of the Multinational Interim Force authorized by
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1529, and for other purposes
consistent with Resolution 1529. Additional U.S. forces have since
been deployed to Haiti, bringing the total of U.S. combat-equipped and
combat-support forces in Haiti to approximately 1,800. It is possible
that additional U.S. forces will be deployed to Haiti in the future;
however, it is anticipated that U.S. forces will redeploy when the
Multinational Interim Force has transitioned to a follow-on United
Nations Stabilization Force.
I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in all of
these operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct
U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.
Officials of my Administration and I communicate regularly with the
leadership and other members of Congress with regard to these
deployments, and we will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
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