    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [September 24, 2001]
    [Page 1157]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1157]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Deployment of Forces in
    Response to the Terrorist Attacks of September 11
    September 24, 2001

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four U.S.
    commercial airliners. These terrorists coldly murdered thousands of
    innocent people on those airliners and on the ground, and deliberately
    destroyed the towers of the World Trade Center and surrounding buildings
    and a portion of the Pentagon. In response to these attacks on our
    territory, our citizens, and our way of life, I ordered the deployment
    of various combat-equipped and combat support forces to a number of
    foreign nations in the Central and Pacific Command areas of operations.
    In the future, as we act to prevent and deter terrorism, I may find it
    necessary to order additional forces into these and other areas of the
    world, including into foreign nations where U.S. Armed Forces are
    already located.
        I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority
    to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive. It is not now possible to predict the scope and duration of
    these deployments, and the actions necessary to counter the terrorist
    threat to the United States. It is likely that the American campaign
    against terrorism will be a lengthy one.
        I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the
    Congress informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution and Senate
    Joint Resolution 23, which I signed on September 18, 2001. As you know,
    officials of my Administration and I have been regularly communicating
    with the leadership and other Members of Congress about the actions we
    are taking to respond to the threat of terrorism and we will continue to
    do so. I appreciate the continuing support of the Congress, including
    its passage of Senate Joint Resolution 23, in this action to protect the
    security of the United States of America and its citizens, civilian and
    military, here and abroad.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of
    the Senate.