[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5944-S5945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as President pro tempore, 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 material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                              The White House,

                                    Washington, DC, June 15, 2006.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate.
       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 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 in Combined Forces Command, Afghanistan, ended the 
     Taliban regime and are actively pursuing and engaging remnant 
     al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. Approximately 
     200 U.S. personnel also 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 beginning 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 460 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. 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 is 
     approximately 131,000 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. 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 
     continue to be 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 in Yemen. 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); 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 24 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 11 percent of 
     KFOR's total strength of approximately 16,000 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 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. 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.

[[Page S5945]]

              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 250 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, June 15, 2006.

                          ____________________