[House Document 108-175]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     
108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-
175
 
  REPORT ON THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON 
                               TERRORISM

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

A REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AND PUBLIC LAW 107-
  243 AND PUBLIC LAW 102-1, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT 
 INFORMED ON THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON 
                               TERRORISM




 March 23, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                        Washington, March 20, 2004.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: 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. andCoalition 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 
international 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 for 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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