[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

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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

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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

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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.