[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.