[House Document 107-49]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-49 


 
             REPORT ON THE U.S. ARMED FORCES IN EAST TIMOR

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

   A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, 
               REGARDING U.S. ARMED FORCES IN EAST TIMOR




    March 6, 2001.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
     Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, March 2, 2001.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: On August 25, 2000, President Clinton 
provided a report to the Congress regarding the continued 
deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in support of East Timor's 
transition to independence. I am providing this supplemental 
report, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to help 
ensure that the Congress is kept fully informed regarding U.S. 
Armed Forces in East Timor.
    As you are aware, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1272 
established the United Nations Transitional Administration in 
East Timor (UNTAET) on October 25, 1999. The UNTAET's mandate 
includes providing security and maintaining law and order 
throughout East Timor, establishing an effective 
administration, ensuring the coordination and delivery of 
humanitarian assistance, and supporting capacity-building for 
self-government. The United States currently contributes three 
military observers to UNTAET. These personnel are assigned to 
the United Nations pursuant to the United Nations Participation 
Act (Public Law 79-264), and operate under U.N. operational 
control.
    The United States also maintains a military presence in 
East Timor that is separate from UNTAET. This includes the U.S. 
Support Group East Timor (USGET), comprised of approximately 12 
U.S. personnel, including a security detachment, which 
facilitates and coordinates U.S. military activities in East 
Timor, and a rotational presence of U.S. forces through 
temporary deployments to East Timor. These rotational presence 
operations include monthly Navy ship visits and deployments of 
military medical and engineering teams that conduct 
humanitarian and civic assistance activities in areas critical 
to East Timor's citizens. United States forces assigned to 
USGET and those conducting rotational presence operations 
operate under U.S. command and control and U.S. rules of 
engagement. The United Nations has indicated that East Timor 
has benefited greatly from U.S. military deployments and 
engagement activities in East Timor and strongly supports the 
continued U.S. presence there.
    At this point, our rotational presence operations are 
envisioned to continue through December 2001. The duration of 
our support depends upon the course of events in East Timor. It 
is, however, our objective to reduce the rotational presence 
operations, as well as to redeploy USGET, as soon as 
circumstances permit.
    I have authorized the continuation of 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 fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this 
action.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.