[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 38 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Pages 1588-1590]
[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 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.

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    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 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. An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this letter.

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