    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 20, 2003]
    [Page 666]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 666]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on United States
    Individuals Involved in the Antinarcotics Campaign in Colombia
    June 20, 2003

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Consistent with section 3204(f), title III, chapter 2 of the
    Emergency Supplemental Act, 2000 (the ``Act''), as enacted in the
    Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106-246, I am
    submitting a report prepared by my Administration that provides ``the
    aggregate number, locations, activities, and lengths of assignment for
    all temporary and permanent U.S. military personnel and U.S. individual
    civilians retained as contractors involved in the antinarcotics campaign
    in Colombia.''
        This report is classified because of force protection considerations
    and the high level of terrorist threat in Colombia. However, the
    aggregate numbers given below are unclassified.
        The report indicates that as of May 13, 2003, the end of this
    reporting period, there were 358 temporary and permanent U.S. military
    personnel and 308 U.S. civilians retained as individual contractors in
    Colombia involved in supporting Plan Colombia. This report further
    indicates that during March, April, and May 2003, these figures never
    exceeded the ceilings established in section 3204(b) of the Act, as
    amended.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate.