[House Document 107-266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-266 


 
    REPORT ON UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

A REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AND PUBLIC LAW 107-
  40 TO KEEP THE CONGRESS INFORMED ON U.S. EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON 
  TERRORISM




    September 24, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                    Washington, September 20, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: On September 24, 2001, I reported the 
deployment of various combat-equipped and combat support forces 
to a number of locations in the Central and Pacific Command 
areas of operations. On October 9, 2001, I reported the 
beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against terrorists 
and their Taliban supporters. In my report to the Congress of 
March 20, 2002, I provided supplemental information on the 
deployment of combat-equipped and combat support forces to a 
number of foreign nations in the Central and Pacific Command 
areas of operations. As a part of my efforts to keep the 
Congress informed, I am reporting further on U.S. efforts in 
the global war on terrorism.
    Our efforts in Afghanistan have met with success, but as I 
have stated in my previous reports, the U.S. campaign against 
terrorism will be lengthy. To date, U.S. Armed Forces, with the 
assistance of numerous coalition partners, have executed a 
superb campaign to eliminate the primary source of support to 
the terrorists who viciously attacked our Nation on September 
11, 2001. The heart of the al-Qaida training capability has 
been seriously degraded. The Taliban's ability to brutalize the 
Afghan people and to harbor and support terrorists has been 
virtually eliminated. Pockets of al-Qaida and Taliban forces 
remain a threat to U.S. and coalition forces and to the Afghan 
government. What is left of both the Taliban and the al-Qaida 
fighters is being pursued and engaged by U.S. and coalition 
forces.
    Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained 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 
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, in the Southern Command area 
of operations since January 2002, continue to conduct secure 
detention operations. We currently hold approximately 550 enemy 
combatants at Guantanamo. All are being treated humanely and, 
to the extent appropriate and consistent with military 
necessity, in a manner consistent with the principles of the 
Geneva Convention of 1949.
    In furtherance of our worldwide efforts against terrorists 
who pose a continuing and imminent threat to the United States, 
our friends and allies, and our forces abroad, we continue to 
work with the Government of the Philippines to protect U.S. and 
Philippine citizens and to defeat international terrorism in 
the Philippines. The combat-equipped and combat support forces 
that were deployed to the Philippines in January 2002 to train 
with, advise, and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
made great progress in enhancing the Philippine government's 
counterterrorist capabilities. United States forces have 
reduced their presence in the Southern Philippines, but will 
continue a long-term effort to assist the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines.
    Additionally, we are conducting maritime interception 
operations in the Central and European Command areas of 
responsibility to deny the high seas as a haven for moving, 
arming, or financing international terrorists.
    Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been 
deployed to Georgia and Yemen to assist their armed forces in 
enhancing their counterterrorism capabilities, including by 
training and equipping their armed forces. We continue to 
assess options for working with other nations to assist them in 
this respect.
    I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional 
authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in 
Chief and Chief Executive. In addition, these actions are 
consistent with Public Law 107-40. As I stated in my previous 
reports, 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 to exercise our right to self-defense and 
to protect U.S. citizens and interests. Such measure may 
include short notice deployments of special operations and 
other forces for sensitive operations in various locations 
throughout the world
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution and Public Law 107-40. Officials of my 
administration and I have been communicating regularly with the 
leadership and other Members of Congress, and we will continue 
to do so. I appreciate the continuing support of the Congress 
in our effort to protect the security of the United States of 
America and its citizens, civilian and military, here and 
abroad.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                  
