    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [July 4, 1999]
    [Pages 1134-1135]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the National Emergency With
    Respect to the Taliban
    July 4, 1999

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic
    Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) and section 301 of the National
    Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631, I hereby report that I have exercised
    my statutory authority to declare a National emergency with respect to
    the threat to the United States posed by the actions and policies of the
    Afghan Taliban and have issued an executive order to deal with this
    threat.
        The actions and policies of the Afghan Taliban pose an unusual and
    extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
    United States. The Taliban continues to provide safe haven to Usama bin
    Ladin allowing him and the Al-Quida
    organization to operate from Taliban-controlled territory a network of
    terrorist training camps and to use Afghanistan as a base from which to
    sponsor terrorist operations against the United States.
        Usama bin Ladin and the Al-Qaida
    organization have been involved in at least two separate attacks against
    the United States. On August 7, 1998, the U.S. embassies in Nairobi,
    Kenya, and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were attacked using powerful
    explosive truck bombs. The following people have been indicted for
    criminal activity against the United States in connection with Usama bin
    Ladin and/or the Al-Qaida organization: Usama bin Ladin, his military
    commander Muhammed Atef, Wadih El Hage, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Mohammed Sadeek Odeh, Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-Owhali, Mustafa Mohammed Fadhil, Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, Mamdouh Mahmud Salim,
    Ali Mohammed, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and Khaled Al Fawwaz.
    In addition, bin Ladin and his network are currently planning additional
    attacks against U.S. interests and nationals.
        Since at least 1998 and up to the date of the Executive order, the
    Taliban has continued to provide bin Ladin
    with safe haven and security, allowing him the necessary freedom to
    operate. Repeated efforts by the United States to persuade the Taliban
    to expel bin Ladin to a third county where he can be brought to justice
    for his crimes have failed. The United States has also attempted to
    apply pressure on the Taliban both directly and through frontline states
    in a position to influence Taliban behavior. Despite these efforts, the
    Taliban has not only continued, but has also deepened its support for,
    and its relationship with, Usama bin Ladin and associated terrorist
    networks.
        Accordingly, I have concluded that the actions and policies of the
    Taliban pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
    security and foreign policy of the United States. I have, therefore,
    exercised my statutory authority and

    [[Page 1135]]

    issued an Executive order which, except to the extent provided for in
    section 203(b) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1072(b)) and regulations, orders,
    directives or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and
    notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit
    granted prior to the effective date:
        --blocks all property and interests in property of the Taliban,
            including the Taliban leaders listed in the annex to the order
            that are in the United States or that are or hereafter come
            within the possession or control of United States persons;
        --prohibits any transaction or dealing by United States persons or
            within the United States in property or interests in property
            blocked pursuant to the order, including the making or receiving
            of any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the
            benefit of the Taliban;
        --prohibits the exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply,
            directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United
            States person, wherever located, of any goods, software,
            technology (including technical data), or services to the
            territory of Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban or to
            the Taliban; and
        --prohibits the importation into the United States of any goods,
            software, technology, or services owned or controlled by the
            Taliban or from the territory of Afghanistan under the control
            of the Taliban.
        The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of
    State, is directed to authorize commercial sales of agricultural
    commodities and products, medicine and medical equipment, for civilian
    end use in the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban under
    appropriate safeguards to prevent diversion to military, paramilitary,
    or terrorist end-users or end-use or to political end-use. This order
    and subsequent licenses will likewise allow humanitarian, diplomatic,
    and journalistic activities to continue.
        I have designated in the Executive order, Mullah Mohhamad
    Omar, the leader of the Taliban, and I have
    authorized the Secretary of State to designate additional persons as
    Taliban leaders in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and
    the Attorney General.
        The Secretary of the Treasury is further authorized to designate
    persons or entities, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the
    Attorney General, that are owned or controlled, or are acting for or on
    behalf of the Taliban or that provide financial, material, or technical
    support to the Taliban. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized
    to issue regulations in the exercise of my authorities under the
    International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement these measures
    in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.
    All Federal agencies are directed to take actions within their authority
    to carry out the provisions of the Executive order.
        The measures taken in this order will immediately demonstrate to the
    Taliban the seriousness of our concern over its support for terrorists
    and terrorist networks, and increase the international isolation of the
    Taliban. The blocking of the Taliban's property and the other
    prohibitions imposed under this executive order will further limit the
    Taliban's ability to facilitate and support terrorists and terrorist
    networks. It is particularly important for the United States to
    demonstrate to the Taliban the necessity of conforming to accepted norms
    of international behavior.
        I am enclosing a copy of the Executive order I have issued. This
    order is effective at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 6, 1999.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.
    This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on July 6.
    The Executive order of July 4 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this
    volume.