[House Document 105-354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-354


 
        DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH IRAQ


                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              Transmitting

A NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS REGARDING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACTION
 AGAINST IRAQ IN RESPONSE TO IRAQI BREACHES OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO PUB. L.
 102-1, SEC. 3 (105 STAT. 4)




    December 18, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
69-011                     WASHINGTON : 1998



                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, December 18, 1998.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: At approximately 5:00 p.m. eastern 
standard time on December 16, 1998, at my direction, U.S. 
military forces conducted missile and aircraft strikes in Iraq 
in response to Iraqi breaches of its obligations under 
resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. The strikes 
will degrade Iraq's ability to develop and deliver weapons of 
mass destruction (WMD) and its ability to threaten its 
neighbors. This action, carried out in concert with military 
forces of the United Kingdom, enjoys the support of many of our 
friends and allies. It is consistent with and has been taken in 
support of numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions, 
including Resolutions 678 and 687, which authorize U.N. Member 
States to use ``all necessary means'' to implement the Security 
Council resolutions and to restore peace and security in the 
region and establish the terms of the cease-fire mandated by 
the Council, including those related to the destruction of 
Iraq's WMD programs.
    United States strikes are ongoing. United States forces 
have targeted facilities that are actively involved in WMD and 
ballistic missile activities, or pose a threat to Iraq's 
neighbors or to U.S. forces conducting this operation.
    At the same time I ordered the strikes, I authorized the 
deployment of additional U.S. forces to Southwest Asia. These 
forces include U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force units 
to reinforce those forces already present in the region. These 
forces will remain in the region as long as is necessary to 
protect the national security interests of the United States.
    I directed these actions pursuant to my authority under the 
Constitution as Commander in Chief and as Chief Executive, and 
to conduct U.S. foreign relations, as well as under the 
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution 
(Public Law 102-1) enacted in January 1991.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with Public Law 102-1. 
I appreciate the support of the Congress as we continue to take 
all necessary steps to secure Iraqi compliance with U.N. 
Security Council resolutions.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Bill Clinton.

                                
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