[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14989-14990]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter 
from the President of the United States be printed in the Record today 
pursuant to the war powers resolution.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Hostilities involving Israeli military 
     forces and Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon commenced on July 
     12, 2006, and have included military operations in the 
     vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
       Although there is no evidence that Americans are being 
     directly targeted, the security

[[Page 14990]]

     situation has deteriorated and now presents a potential 
     threat to American citizens and the U.S. Embassy. On July 14, 
     the Department of State first requested Department of Defense 
     assistance to support the departure of American citizens from 
     Lebanon. On July 15, U.S. military helicopters temporarily 
     deployed to Cyprus. On July 16, these combat-equipped 
     helicopters delivered to U.S. Embassy, Beirut, a contingent 
     of U.S. military personnel who will assist in planning and 
     conducting the departure from Lebanon of U.S. Embassy 
     personnel and citizens and designated third country 
     personnel. The helicopters also transported U.S. citizens 
     from Beirut to Cyprus. It is expected that these helicopters 
     will continue to provide support to the Embassy, including 
     for the departure of additional personnel from Lebanon. It is 
     likely that additional combat-equipped U.S. military forces 
     may be deployed to Lebanon and Cyprus and other locations, as 
     necessary, in order to support further efforts to assist in 
     the departure of persons from Lebanon and to provide 
     security.
       These actions are being undertaken solely for the purpose 
     of protecting American citizens and property. United States 
     forces will redeploy as soon as it is determined that the 
     threat to U.S. citizens and property has ended and the 
     departure of any persons, as necessary, is completed.
       I have taken this action pursuant to my constitutional 
     authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander 
     in Chief and Chief Executive. I am providing this report as 
     part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed, consistent 
     with the War Powers Resolution.
           Sincerely,
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, July 18, 2006.

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