    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [September 20, 2002]
    [Pages 1627-1628]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Deployment of Forces in
    Response to the Terrorist Attacks of September 11
    September 20, 2002

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        On September 24, 2001, I reported the deployment of various combat-
    equipped and combat support forces to a number of locations in the
    Central and Pacific Command areas of operations. On October 9, 2001, I
    reported the beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against
    terrorists and their Taliban supporters. In my report to the Congress of
    March 20, 2002, I provided supplemental information on the deployment of
    combat-equipped and combat support forces to a number of foreign nations
    in the Central and Pacific Command areas of operations. As a part of my
    efforts to keep the Congress informed, I am reporting further on U.S.
    efforts in the global war on terrorism.
        Our efforts in Afghanistan have met with success, but as I have
    stated in my previous reports, the U.S. campaign against terrorism will
    be lengthy. To date, U.S. Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous
    coalition partners, have executed a superb campaign to eliminate the
    primary source of support to the terrorists who viciously attacked our
    Nation on September 11, 2001. The heart of the al-Qaida training
    capability has been seriously degraded. The Taliban's ability to
    brutalize the Afghan

    [[Page 1628]]

    people and to harbor and support terrorists has been virtually
    eliminated. Pockets of al-Qaida and Taliban forces remain a threat to
    U.S. and coalition forces and to the Afghan government. What is left of
    both the Taliban and the al-Qaida fighters is being pursued and engaged
    by U.S. and coalition forces.
        Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained several hundred
    al-Qaida and Taliban fighters who are believed to pose a continuing
    threat to the United States and its interests. The combat-equipped and
    combat support forces deployed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, in
    the Southern Command area of operations since January 2002, continue to
    conduct secure detention operations. We currently hold approximately 550
    enemy combatants at Guantanamo. All are being treated humanely and, to
    the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity, in a
    manner consistent with the principles of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
        In furtherance of our worldwide efforts against terrorists who pose
    a continuing and imminent threat to the United States, our friends and
    allies, and our forces abroad, we continue to work with the Government
    of the Philippines to protect U.S. and Philippine citizens and to defeat
    international terrorism in the Philippines. The combat-equipped and
    combat support forces that were deployed to the Philippines in January
    2002 to train with, advise, and assist the Armed Forces of the
    Philippines made great progress in enhancing the Philippine government's
    counterterrorist capabilities. United States forces have reduced their
    presence in the Southern Philippines, but will continue a long-term
    effort to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
        Additionally, we are conducting maritime interception operations in
    the Central and European Command areas of responsibility to deny the
    high seas as a haven for moving, arming, or financing international
    terrorists.
        Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been deployed to
    Georgia and Yemen to assist their armed forces in enhancing their
    counterterrorism capabilities, including by training and equipping their
    armed forces. We continue to assess options for working with other
    nations to assist them in this respect.
        I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority
    to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive. In addition, these actions are consistent with Public Law
    107-40. As I stated in my previous reports, it is not possible to know
    at this time either the duration of combat operations or the scope and
    duration of the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces necessary to counter the
    terrorist threat to the United States. I will direct additional measures
    as necessary to exercise our right to self-defense and to protect U.S.
    citizens and interests. Such measures may include short notice
    deployments of special operations and other forces for sensitive
    operations in various locations throughout the world.
        I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the
    Congress informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution and Public
    Law 107-40. Officials of my Administration and I have been communicating
    regularly with the leadership and other Members of Congress, and we will
    continue to do so. I appreciate the continuing support of the Congress
    in our effort to protect the security of the United States of America
    and its citizens, civilian and military, here and abroad.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

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