    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 12, 2000]
    [Pages 929-930]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Situation in Sierra
    Leone and the Deployment of United States Forces
    May 12, 2000

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Military forces of the Government of Sierra Leone and Military
    Observer Group (ECOMOG) forces provided by the Economic Community of
    West African States (ECOWAS) were engaged in military operations in
    Sierra Leone against the insurgent Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
    until mid-1999. At that

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    time, the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF signed the Lome Peace
    Agreement, which provides for an end to hostilities and the disarmament,
    demobilization, and resettlement of the insurgent RUF forces. The United
    Nations Security Council in U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1270 and
    1289 established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to
    facilitate implementation of the Lome Agreement and provide security at
    key locations and government buildings and at all sites of the
    disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program, among other
    tasks.
        Recently, as UNAMSIL expanded its efforts to establish monitoring
    and disarmament sites in or near RUF-controlled territory, RUF forces
    initiated military activity in those areas, killing at least four
    peacekeepers, and capturing or isolating hundreds of UNAMSIL personnel.
    The situation is critical. The United States is consulting with the
    United Nations, members of the U.N. Security Council, troop-contributing
    countries and West African States on ways to resolve the crisis.
        The U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has drawn down its Embassy
    personnel and evacuated U.S. citizens to minimize the number of U.S.
    citizens exposed to risk. The Ambassador and a small support staff will
    remain in Freetown for the time being to monitor the situation. As a
    prudent planning measure, a U.S. coastal patrol vessel, USS THUNDERBOLT
    (PC 12), has deployed to the region to participate in an evacuation
    operation of U.S. personnel should such action become warranted. This
    vessel and her crew are equipped with the normal complement of weapons.
        The United Kingdom informed us that it was deploying an aircraft
    carrier and an amphibious readiness group to Sierra Leone to prepare to
    participate in evacuation operations if necessary. Some of the units
    identified to participate in such an operation include U.S. military
    personnel on exchange programs with the British military. The British
    government requested permission for a small number of U.S. military
    exchange personnel to deploy with their units if they were directed to
    participate in evacuation operations in Sierra Leone. Secretary of
    Defense Cohen has authorized these U.S. exchange personnel to deploy to
    Sierra Leone with their host units in support of these activities.
        On May 12, a U.S. C-17 aircraft is scheduled to deliver urgently
    required ammunition and other supplies and equipment to Sierra Leone for
    the Jordanian contingent in UNAMSIL. The United States will provide
    further transportation support for the U.N. mission and its contingents.
    Such transportation support may result in the temporary presence of
    logistics aircraft and associated support personnel, including, as
    appropriate, force protection elements at the international airport near
    Freetown. In addition, the United States has sent an advance party of
    military logistics planners of the U.S. European Command to Nigeria to
    discuss with Nigerian officials their specific airlift requirements
    should it become necessary to move military forces from Nigeria into
    Sierra Leone.
        These actions have been taken 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 fully informed, consistent with the War Powers
    Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in these matters.
             Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of
    the Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on May 15.