    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 13 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
    [Pages 444-447]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Consolidated Report on
    the Deployment of United States Combat-Equipped Armed Forces

    March 20, 2004

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

        In the interests of improving the efficiency of the reporting
    process and to increase the utility of reports to the Congress,
    consistent with the War Powers Resolution, I have decided to consolidate
    supplemental reports I provide to the Congress regarding the deployment
    of U.S. combat-equipped armed forces in a number of locations around the
    world. This consolidated report is part of my efforts to keep the
    Congress informed about such deployments and covers operations in
    support of the global war on terrorism (including in Afghanistan),
    Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Haiti. Operations in Iraq are a
    critical part of the war on terror, and it is my intention to continue
    to provide, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, information
    regarding the deployment of U.S. forces in Iraq in the reports to the
    Congress

    [[Page 445]]

    under Public Law 107-243 and Public Law 102-1, as amended.

    The Global War on Terrorism

        Since September 24, 2001, I have reported, consistent with Public
    Law 107-40 and the War Powers Resolution, on the combat operations in
    Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists and their Taliban supporters,
    which began on October 7, 2001, and the deployment of various combat-
    equipped and combat-support forces to a number of locations in the
    Central, Pacific, and Southern Command areas of operation in support of
    those operations and of other operations in our global war on terrorism.
        United States efforts in the campaign in Afghanistan continue to
    meet with success, but as I have stated in my previous reports, the U.S.
    war on terror will be lengthy. United States Armed Forces, with the
    assistance of numerous coalition partners, continue to conduct the U.S.
    campaign to eliminate the primary source of support to the terrorists
    who viciously attacked our Nation on September 11, 2001. These
    operations have been successful in seriously degrading al-Qaida's
    training capability and virtually eliminating the Taliban's ability to
    brutalize the Afghan people and to harbor and support terrorists.
    Pockets of al-Qaida and Taliban forces, however, remain a threat to U.S.
    and Coalition forces and to the Afghan government and Afghan people.
    United States, Coalition, and Afghan forces are actively pursuing and
    engaging remnant Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.
        The United States continues to detain 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 Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay,
        Cuba, in the U.S. Southern Command area of operations since January
    2002, continue to conduct secure detention operations for the
    approximately 610 enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.
        In furtherance of the U.S. worldwide efforts against terrorists who
    pose a continuing and imminent threat to the United States, our friends
    and allies, and our forces abroad, the United States continues to work
    with friends and allies in areas around the globe. For example, combat-
    equipped and combat-support forces deployed to Georgia to assist in
    training and equipping the Georgian government's forces will be
    completing their task in May 2004. United States combat-equipped and
    combat-support forces are also located in Djibouti. The U.S. 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.
    These forces also assist in enhancing counterterrorism capabilities in
    Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The United States is
    engaged in a continuous process of assessing options for working with
    other nations to assist them in this respect.
        Additionally, the United States continues to conduct maritime
    interception operations on the high seas in the U.S. Central, European,
    and Pacific Command areas of responsibility. These maritime operations
    have recently expanded into the U.S. Southern and Northern Command areas
    of responsibility to stop the movement, arming, or financing of
    international terrorists.
        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 in the exercise
    of the U.S. 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.

    NATO-Led Kosovo Force (KFOR)

        As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions in support
    of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, most recently on November 14, 2003,
    the U.N. Security Council authorized member states to establish KFOR in
    U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999. The mission of
    KFOR is to provide an international security presence in order to deter
    renewed hostilities; verify, and, if necessary, enforce the terms

    [[Page 446]]

    of the Military Technical Agreement between NATO and the Federal
    Republic of Yugoslavia (which is now Serbia and Montenegro); enforce the
    terms of the Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation of the
    former Kosovo Liberation Army; provide day-to-day operational direction
    to the Kosovo Protection Corps; and maintain a safe and secure
    environment to facilitate the work of the U.N. Interim Administration
    Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
        Currently, there are 18 NATO nations contributing to KFOR in
    addition to the 18 non-NATO nations that provide forces. The U.S.
    contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 1,900 U.S. military personnel,
    or approximately 11 percent of KFOR's total strength of approximately
    17,500 personnel. Additionally, U.S. military personnel occasionally
    operate from Macedonia, Albania, and Greece in support of KFOR
    operations. Eighteen non-NATO contributing countries also participate
    with NATO forces in providing military personnel and other support
    personnel to KFOR.
        The U.S. forces have been assigned to a sector principally centered
    around Gnjilane in the eastern region of Kosovo. For U.S. KFOR forces,
    as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and secure environment remains
    the primary military task. The KFOR operates under NATO command and
    control and rules of engagement. The KFOR coordinates with and supports
    UNMIK at most levels, provides a security presence in towns, villages,
    and the countryside, and organizes checkpoints and patrols in key areas
    to provide security, protect minorities, resolve disputes, and help
    instill in the community a feeling of confidence. By the end of 2003,
    UNMIK had transferred all non-reserved competencies under the
    Constitutional Framework document to the Kosovar Provisional
    Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). The PISG includes the President,
    Prime Minister, and Kosovo Assembly, and has been in place since March
    2002.
        NATO continues formally to review KFOR's mission at 6-month
    intervals. These reviews provide a basis for assessing current force
    levels, future requirements, force structure, force reductions, and the
    eventual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO has adopted the Joint Operations Area
    plan to regionalize and rationalize its force structure in the Balkans.
    The KFOR has transferred full responsibility for public safety and
    policing to the UNMIK international and local police forces throughout
    Kosovo except in the area of Mitrovica, where the responsibility is
    shared due to security concerns. The UNMIK international police and
    local police forces have also begun to assume responsibility for
    guarding patrimonial sites and established border-crossing checkpoints.

    NATO-Led Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR)

        As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions in support
    of peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia, most recently on
    January 22, 2004, the U.N. Security Council authorized member states to
    continue SFOR for a period of 12 months in U.N. Security Council
    Resolution 1491 of July 11, 2003. The mission of SFOR is to provide a
    focused military presence in order to deter hostilities, stabilize and
    consolidate the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contribute to a secure
    environment, and perform key supporting tasks including support to the
    international civil presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
        The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina is
    about 1,100 personnel. United States personnel comprise approximately 9
    percent of the approximately 12,000 personnel assigned to SFOR. NATO has
    agreed to reduce the size of the force to 7,000 personnel by June 2004.
    United States participation is expected to be reduced proportionately.
    Currently, 16 NATO nations and 11 others provide military personnel or
    other support to SFOR. Most U.S. forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina are
    assigned to Multinational Brigade, North, headquartered near the city of
    Tuzla. The U.S. forces continue to support SFOR efforts to apprehend
    persons indicted for war crimes and to conduct counterterrorism
    operations.

    Multinational Interim Force in Haiti

        As I reported on February 25 and March 2, 2004, the United States
    deployed combat-equipped and combat-support personnel to

    [[Page 447]]

    Haiti in order to secure key facilities, facilitate the continued
    repatriation of Haitian migrants, help create conditions in the capital
    for the anticipated arrival of the Multinational Interim Force
    authorized by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1529, and for other
    purposes consistent with Resolution 1529. Additional U.S. forces have
    since been deployed to Haiti, bringing the total of U.S. combat-equipped
    and combat-support forces in Haiti to approximately 1,800. It is
    possible that additional U.S. forces will be deployed to Haiti in the
    future; however, it is anticipated that U.S. forces will redeploy when
    the Multinational Interim Force has transitioned to a follow-on United
    Nations Stabilization Force.
        I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in all of
    these operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S.
    foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.
    Officials of my Administration and I communicate regularly with the
    leadership and other members of Congress with regard to these
    deployments, and we will continue to do so.
         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. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 22.