[House Document 108-112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-112

 
     AN ADDITIONAL REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

AN ADDITIONAL REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO KEEP 
THE CONGRESS INFORMED ON CLASHES BETWEEN LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL 
   FORCES IN THE VICINITY OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN MONROVIA, 
 LIBERIA, TO AUGMENT THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY SECURITY FORCES AND TO 
    AID IN THE EVACUATION OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS FROM LIBERIA IF 
                                REQUIRED




    September 3, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 13, 2003.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of June 9, 
2003, I provided information on the deployment of combat-
equipped U.S. Armed Forces to Liberia. 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 Liberia.
    Shortly after my initial report, additional U.S. combat-
equipped, military personnel from the U.S. European Command 
deployed to Monrovia, Liberia, to augment the U.S. Embassy 
security forces and to aid in the evacuation of U.S. citizens 
from Liberia if required, raising the total of such personnel 
to 56.
    On August 1, 2003, United Nations Security Council 
Resolution 1497 was adopted. It authorized member states to 
establish a Multinational Force in Liberia to support the 
implementation of the June 17, 2003, ceasefire, including 
establishing conditions for initial stages of disarmament, 
demobilization, and reintegration activities; establishing 
security; and securing the environment for the delivery of 
humanitarian assistance and the introduction of a longer term 
U.N. stabilization force. Soon thereafter, approximately 4,350 
U.S. military personnel on board U.S. warships deployed into 
the area of operations off the coast of Liberia in preparation 
to assist the Economic Community of West African States Mission 
in Liberia (ECOMIL) forces in the conduct of initial 
humanitarian and stability operations in the vicinity of 
Monrovia, Liberia. On August 11, 2003, these combat-equipped 
forces entered the territorial waters of Liberia timed to 
coincide with the resignation and departure of President 
Taylor, which was the stated prerequisite before deploying U.S. 
Armed Forces in support of ECOMIL.
    It is anticipated that U.S. forces will redeploy when 
ECOMIL forces have transitioned to the follow-on U.N. 
stabilization operations.
    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.
    I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions 
in Liberia.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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