[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5775-S5776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be 
a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators 
permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the attached 
statement from the President of the United States be entered into the 
Record today pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (P.L. 93-148) and 
P.L. 107-40.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                              The White House,

                                     Washington, DC, May 20, 2005.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: 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 global war on terrorism, Kosovo, and Bosnia 
     and Herzegovina.


                      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.
       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 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 in Afghanistan and are 
     actively pursuing and engaging remnant al-Qaida and Taliban 
     fighters. Approximately 90 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, 2004, in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1563 of 
     September 13, 2004. 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 520 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, noting the Iraqi Interim Government's request 
     to retain the presence of the MNF. Under U.N. Security 
     Council Resolution 1546, the mission of the MNF is to 
     contribute to the security and stability in Iraq, as 
     reconstruction continues, until the completion of Iraq's 
     political transformation. These contributions include 
     assisting in building the capability of the Iraqi security 
     forces and institutions, as the Iraqi people, represented by 
     the Transitional National Assembly, draft a constitution and 
     establish a constitutionally elected government. The U.S. 
     contribution to the MNF is approximately 139,000 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 counterterrorism capabilities in Kenya, Ethiopia, 
     Yemen, Eritrea, 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 23 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 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

[[Page S5776]]

     KFOR augments security in particularly sensitive areas or 
     in response to particular threats as needed.


         nato headquarters--sarajevo 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 (SFOR) operations in Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina and established NATO Headquarters--Sarajevo to 
     continue to assist in implementing the Peace Agreement in 
     conjunction with a newly established European Force (EUFOR). 
     NATO Headquarters--Sarajevo, to which approximately 235 U.S. 
     personnel are assigned, is, with EUFOR, 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.

                          ____________________