[House Document 108-175]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-
175
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION AND PUBLIC LAW 107-
243 AND PUBLIC LAW 102-1, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT
INFORMED ON THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM
March 23, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations
and ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, March 20, 2004.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: 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 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. andCoalition 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 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 for 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
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.