[House Document 110-81]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

110th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 110-81


 
   A SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS 
                               RESOLUTION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting

  A SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS 
RESOLUTION, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT FULLY INFORMED ON 
 U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR ON TERROR AND KOSOVO, 
                       PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 93-148




 December 17, 2007.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, December 14, 2007.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam 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 and Kosovo.


                           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, European, 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 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. 
It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or 
the 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. The total 
number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is approximately 25,900, 
of which approximately 15,180 are 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, 2007, in U.N. Security Council 
Resolution 1776 of September 19, 2007. The mission of the ISAF 
under NATO command is to assist the Government of Afghanistan 
in creating a safe and secure environment that allows for 
continued reconstruction and the exercise and extension of 
Afghan authority. Currently, 37 nations contribute military and 
other support personnel to the ISAF, including all 26 NATO 
nations.
    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 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, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1637 of November 8, 
2005, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1723 of November 28, 
2006, set to expire on December 31, 2007. Under Resolutions 
1546, 1637, and 1723, the mission of the MNF is to contribute 
to security and stability in Iraq. These contributions have 
included assisting in building the capability of the Iraqi 
security forces and institutions as the Iraqi people drafted 
and approved a constitution and established a constitutionally 
elected government. The U.S. contribution to the MNF fluctuates 
over time depending on the conditions in theater as determined 
by the commanders on the ground; the U.S. contribution to the 
MNF is approximately 159,529 U.S. military personnel.
    In furtherance of our efforts against terrorists who pose a 
continuing and imminent threat to the United States, its 
friends and allies, and our forces abroad, the United States 
continues to work with friends and allies in areas around the 
globe. These efforts include the deployment of U.S. combat-
equipped and combat-support forces to assist in enhancing the 
counterterrorism capabilities of our friends and allies. United 
States combat-equipped and combat-support forces also continue 
to be located in the Horn of Africa region.
    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 original mission of KFOR was to monitor, verify, and 
when necessary, enforce compliance with the Military Technical 
Agreement (MTA) between NATO and Serbia (formerly the Federal 
Republic of Yugoslavia), while maintaining a safe and secure 
environment. Today, KFOR deters renewed hostilities and, with 
local authorities and international police, contributes to the 
maintenance of a safe and secure environment that facilitates 
the work of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
    Currently, there are 24 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. 
Ten 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 1,498 
U.S. military personnel, or approximately 10 percent of KFOR's 
total strength of approximately 15,251 personnel.
    The U.S. forces have been assigned to 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, to protect 
minorities, to resolve disputes, and to 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 
Kosovo 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 formally continues 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. 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.
    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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