[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Page 1372]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.