[House Document 110-81]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 110-81
A SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS
RESOLUTION
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
transmitting
A SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS
RESOLUTION, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT FULLY INFORMED ON
U.S. MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR ON TERROR AND KOSOVO,
PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 93-148
December 17, 2007.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and
ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, December 14, 2007.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Speaker: I am providing this supplemental
consolidated report, prepared by my Administration and
consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148),
as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about
deployments of U.S. combat-equipped Armed Forces around the
world. This supplemental report covers operations in support of
the war on terror and Kosovo.
the war on terror
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, European, and
Southern Command areas of operation in support of those
operations and of other operations in our war on terror.
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.
It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or
the duration of the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces necessary
to counter the terrorist threat to the United States.
United States Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous
coalition partners, continue to conduct the U.S. campaign to
pursue al-Qaida terrorists and to eliminate support to al-
Qaida. These operations have been successful in seriously
degrading al-Qaida's training capabilities. United States Armed
Forces, with the assistance of numerous coalition partners,
ended the Taliban regime and are actively pursuing and engaging
remnant al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The total
number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is approximately 25,900,
of which approximately 15,180 are assigned to the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The U.N.
Security Council authorized the ISAF in U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1386 of December 20, 2001, and has reaffirmed its
authorization since that time, most recently, for a 12-month
period from October 13, 2007, in U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1776 of September 19, 2007. The mission of the ISAF
under NATO command is to assist the Government of Afghanistan
in creating a safe and secure environment that allows for
continued reconstruction and the exercise and extension of
Afghan authority. Currently, 37 nations contribute military and
other support personnel to the ISAF, including all 26 NATO
nations.
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 enemy combatants at Guantanamo
Bay.
The U.N. Security Council authorized a Multinational Force
(MNF) in Iraq under unified command in U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1511 of October 16, 2003, and reaffirmed its
authorization in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546 of June
8, 2004, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1637 of November 8,
2005, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1723 of November 28,
2006, set to expire on December 31, 2007. Under Resolutions
1546, 1637, and 1723, the mission of the MNF is to contribute
to security and stability in Iraq. These contributions have
included assisting in building the capability of the Iraqi
security forces and institutions as the Iraqi people drafted
and approved a constitution and established a constitutionally
elected government. The U.S. contribution to the MNF fluctuates
over time depending on the conditions in theater as determined
by the commanders on the ground; the U.S. contribution to the
MNF is approximately 159,529 U.S. military personnel.
In furtherance of our efforts against terrorists who pose a
continuing and imminent threat to the United States, its
friends and allies, and our forces abroad, the United States
continues to work with friends and allies in areas around the
globe. These efforts include the deployment of U.S. combat-
equipped and combat-support forces to assist in enhancing the
counterterrorism capabilities of our friends and allies. United
States combat-equipped and combat-support forces also continue
to be located in the Horn of Africa region.
In addition, the United States continues to conduct
maritime interception operations on the high seas in the areas
of responsibility of all of the geographic combatant
commanders. These maritime operations have the responsibility
to stop the movement, arming, or financing of international
terrorists.
nato-led kosovo force (kfor)
As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions
in support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, the U.N. Security
Council authorized Member States to establish KFOR in U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999.
The original mission of KFOR was to monitor, verify, and
when necessary, enforce compliance with the Military Technical
Agreement (MTA) between NATO and Serbia (formerly the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia), while maintaining a safe and secure
environment. Today, KFOR deters renewed hostilities and, with
local authorities and international police, contributes to the
maintenance of a safe and secure environment that facilitates
the work of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
Currently, there are 24 NATO nations contributing to KFOR.
Ten non-NATO contributing countries also participate by
providing military personnel and other support personnel to
KFOR. The U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 1,498
U.S. military personnel, or approximately 10 percent of KFOR's
total strength of approximately 15,251 personnel.
The U.S. forces have been assigned to 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, to protect
minorities, to resolve disputes, and to help instill in the
community a feeling of confidence.
In accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244,
UNMIK continues to transfer additional competencies to the
Kosovo Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, which
includes the President, Prime Minister, multiple ministries,
and the Kosovo Assembly. The UNMIK retains ultimate authority
in some sensitive areas such as police, justice, and ethnic
minority affairs.
NATO formally continues 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 UNMIK
international police and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) have
full responsibility for public safety and policing throughout
Kosovo. The UNMIK international police and KPS also have begun
to assume responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and
established border-crossing checkpoints. The KFOR augments
security in particularly sensitive areas or in response to
particular threats as needed.
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.