[House Document 109-73]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 
109-73
 
    A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  A SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS 
  RESOLUTION, TO KEEP CONGRESS INFORMED ABOUT THE DEPLOYMENTS OF U.S. 
COMBAT-EQUIPPED ARMED FORCES IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, 
     KOSOVO, AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 93-148




    December 13, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed.
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, December 7, 2005.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I am providing this supplemental 
consolidated report, prepared by my Administration and 
consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), 
as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about 
deployments of U.S. combat-equipped armed forces around the 
world. This supplemental report covers operations in support of 
the war on terror, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.


                           the war on terror


    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 war on terror.
    I will direct additional measures as necessary in the 
exercise of the right of the United States 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. It is not possible to know at this time 
either the precise scope or duration of the deployment of U.S. 
Armed Forces necessary to counter the terrorist threat to the 
United States.
    United States Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous 
coalition partners, continue to conduct the U.S. campaign to 
pursue al-Qaida terrorists and to eliminate support to al-
Qaida. These operations have been successful in seriously 
degrading al-Qaida's training capabilities. United States Armed 
Forces, with the assistance of numerous coalition partners, 
ended the Taliban regime and are actively pursuing and engaging 
remnant al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. 
Approximately 280 U.S. personnel are also assigned to the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. 
The U.N. Security Council authorized the ISAF in U.N. Security 
Council Resolution 1386 of December 20, 2001, and has 
reaffirmed its authorization since that time, most recently, 
for a 12-month period from October 13, 2005, in U.N. Security 
Council Resolution 1623 of September 13, 2005. The mission of 
the ISAF under NATO command is to assist the Government of 
Afghanistan in creating a safe and secure environment that 
allows reconstruction and the reestablishment of Afghan 
authorities. Currently, all 26 NATO nations contribute to the 
ISAF. Ten non-NATO contributing countries also participate by 
providing military and other support personnel to the ISAF.
    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 500 enemy combatants 
at Guantanamo Bay.
    The U.N. Security Council authorized a Multinational Force 
(MNF) in Iraq under unified command in U.N. Security Council 
Resolution 1511 of October 16, 2003, and reaffirmed its 
authorization in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546 of June 
8, 2004. In U.N. Security Council Resolution 1637 of November 
8, 2005, the Security Council, noting the Iraqi Government's 
request to retain the presence of the MNF, extended the MNF 
mandate for a period ending on December 31, 2006. Under 
Resolutions 1546 and 1637, the mission of the MNF is to 
contribute to security and stability in Iraq, as reconstruction 
continues, until the completion of Iraq's political 
transformation. These contributions have included assisting in 
building the capability of the Iraqi security forces and 
institutions, as the Iraqi people, represented by the 
Transitional National Assembly, drafted and approved a 
constitution and progressed toward the establishment of a 
constitutionally elected government. The U.S. contribution to 
the MNF is approximately 160,000 military personnel.
    In furtherance of our 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. United States combat-equipped and combat-support forces 
are located in the Horn of Africa region, and 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 
counter terrorism capabilities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and 
Djibouti. In addition, the United States continues to conduct 
maritime interception operations on the high seas in the areas 
of responsibility of all of the geographic combatant 
commanders. These maritime operations have the responsibility 
to stop the movement, arming, or financing of international 
terrorists.

                      NATO-LED KOSOVO FORCE (KFOR)

    As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions 
in support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, 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 25 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. 
Eleven non-NATO contributing countries also participate by 
providing military personnel and other support personnel to 
KFOR. The U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 1,700 
U.S. military personnel, or approximately 10 percent of KFOR's 
total strength of approximately 17,000 personnel. Additionally, 
U.S. military personnel occasionally operate from Macedonia, 
Albania, and Greece in support of KFOR operations.
    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 the 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.
    In accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, 
UNMIK continues to transfer additional competencies to the 
Kosovar Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, which 
includes the President, Prime Minister, multiple ministries, 
and the Kosovo Assembly. The UNMIK retains ultimate authority 
in some sensitive areas such as police, justice, and ethnic 
minority affairs.
    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 UNMIK 
international police and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) have 
full responsibility for public safety and policing throughout 
Kosovo except in the area of South Mitrovica, where KFOR and 
UNMIK share this responsibility due to security concerns. The 
UNMIK international police and KPS also have begun to assume 
responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and established 
border-crossing checkpoints. The KFOR augments security in 
particularly sensitive areas or in response to particular 
threats as needed.

              NATO HEADQUARTERS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

    Pursuant to the June 2004 decision made by NATO Heads of 
State and Government, and in accordance with U.N. Security 
Council Resolution 1575 of November 22, 2004, NATO concluded 
its Stabilization Force operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 
established NATO Headquarters-Sarajevo to continue to assist in 
implementing the Peace Agreement in conjunction with a newly 
established European Force. The NATO Headquarters-Sarajevo, to 
which approximately 220 U.S. personnel are assigned, is, with 
the European Force, the legal successor to SFOR. The principal 
tasks of NATO Headquarters-Sarajevo are providing advice on 
defense reform and performing operational supporting tasks, 
such as counterterrorism and supporting the International 
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
    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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