[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 24 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Pages 739-740]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Deployment of U.S. Military 
Forces in Response to Security Concerns for U.S. 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.

[[Page 740]]

    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.