    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 9, 2003]
    [Page 615]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 615]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Deployment of United States
    Military Forces in Response to Security Concerns for United States
    Embassy Personnel in Liberia and Mauritania
    June 9, 2003

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Clashes between Liberian government and rebel forces in the vicinity
    of the United States Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia and the potential for
    further deterioration of the security environment in Liberia render the
    safety of the United States Embassy and its occupants uncertain.
        On June 7, 2003, an assessment team and standby response and
    evacuation force of approximately 35 U.S. military personnel from the
    U.S. European Command were pre-positioned in Freetown, Sierra Leone. On
    June 8, 2003, these forces moved into Monrovia, Liberia to augment the
    Embassy security forces and to aid in the evacuation of U.S. citizens
    from Liberia if required.
        Additionally, on June 8, 2003, a coup attempt occurred in
    Mauritania. Fighting has been reported in the vicinity of the United
    States Embassy. This fighting continued during the morning of June 9 in
    the center of Nouakchott, about three kilometers from the Embassy. At
    the request of the United States Embassy, an assessment team and standby
    response and evacuation force of an estimated 34 U.S. military personnel
    from the U.S. European Command are being sent to Nouakchott, Mauritania
    and are expected to arrive on June 10, 2003. Their mission is to augment
    the Embassy security forces and to aid in the evacuation of American
    citizens from Mauritania if required.
        In addition to the forces noted above, several fixed wing aircraft
    and their aircrew have been pre-positioned in Dakar, Senegal in order to
    shorten the response time should an evacuation of American citizens from
    either Liberia or Mauritania be required.
        Although in both cases the U.S. forces are equipped for combat,
    these movements were undertaken solely for the purpose of protecting
    American citizens and property. United States forces will redeploy as
    soon as it is determined that the threats to the Embassy compounds have
    ended or an evacuation, if necessary, is completed.
        I have taken this action 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 informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
        I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

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