    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [September 19, 2003]
    [Pages 1183-1185]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Efforts in the Global War
    on Terrorism
    September 19, 2003

    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 operation. On October 9, 2001, I
    reported the beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against al-Qaida
    terrorists and their Taliban supporters. In my reports to the Congress
    of March 20 and September 20, 2002 and March 20, 2003, 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 and other areas. As a part of my efforts to
    keep the Congress informed, I am reporting further on United States
    efforts in the global war on terrorism.

    [[Page 1184]]

        Our efforts in Afghanistan continue to meet with success, but, as I
    have stated in my previous reports, the United States 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
    al-Qaida's training capability has been seriously degraded. The
    Taliban's ability to brutalize the Afghan people and to harbor and
    support terrorists has been virtually eliminated. Pockets of al-Qaida
    and Taliban forces remain a threat to United States and coalition forces
    and to the Afghan government. What is left of both the Taliban and the
    al-Qaida fighters is being pursued actively and engaged by United States
    and coalition forces.
        Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained hundreds of 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 Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the
    Southern Command area of operations since January 2002 continue to
    conduct secure detention operations. We currently hold more than 650
    enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.
        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 operations in other areas
    around the globe. We continue to work with the Government of the
    Philippines to protect United States and Philippine citizens and to
    defeat international terrorism in the Philippines.
        We continue to conduct maritime interception operations on the high
    seas in the Central and European Command areas of responsibility and
    have expanded these efforts to the Pacific Command areas of
    responsibility to prevent the movement, arming, or financing of
    international terrorists who pose a continuing threat to the United
    States.
        Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been deployed to
    Georgia and Djibouti to assist in enhancing counterterrorism
    capabilities. The United States forces headquarters element in Djibouti
    provides command and control support as necessary for military
    operations against al-Qaida and other international terrorists in the
    Horn of Africa region, including Yemen. 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 United States 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 United States 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 efforts to protect the security of the United States of America
    and its citizens, civilian and military, here and abroad.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

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