[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13561-S13562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REPORTING ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. FORCES

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I rise today to submit for the Record the 
President's consolidated report on the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces 
to operations around the world.
  This report is provided for the information of all Senators and 
covers operations in support of the war on terror, Kosovo, and Bosnia 
and Herzegovina.
  This report is submitted by the President, consistent with the war 
Powers Resolution, and addresses the circumstances under which 
hostilities were initiated, the scope and duration of such hostilities, 
and the constitutional and legislative authority under which the 
introduction of hostilities took place.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to review this important report.
  I ask unanimous consent to have the President's consolidated report 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                 December 7, 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 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 l2-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 counterterrorism capabilities in

[[Page S13562]]

     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,
     The White House.

                          ____________________