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[House Document 107-115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                     

107th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-115

 
             REPORT ON THE U.S. ARMED FORCES IN EAST TIMOR

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

   A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION, 
               REGARDING U.S. ARMED FORCES IN EAST TIMOR

    September 5, 2001.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 31, 2001.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of March 2, 
2001, I provided information regarding the continued deployment 
of U.S. Armed Forces in support of East Timor's transition to 
independence. I am providing this supplemental report, 
consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to help ensure that 
the Congress is kept fully informed regarding U.S. Armed Forces 
in East Timor.
    As you are aware, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1272 
established the United Nations Transitional Administration in 
East Timor (UNTAET) on October 25, 1999. The UNTAET's mandate 
includes providing security and maintaining law and order 
throughout East Timor, establishing an effective 
administration, ensuring the coordination and delivery of 
humanitarian assistance, and supporting capacity-building for 
self-government. The United States currently contributes three 
military observers to UNTAET. These personnel are assigned to 
the United Nations pursuant to the United Nations Participation 
Act (Public Law 79-264) and operate under U.N. operational 
control.
    The United States also maintains a military presence in 
East Timor that is separate from UNTAET. This includes the U.S. 
Support Group East Timor (USGET), comprised of approximately 20 
U.S. personnel, including a security detachment, which 
facilitates and coordinates U.S. military activities in East 
Timor, and a rotational presence of U.S. forces through 
temporary deployments to East Timor. These rotational presence 
operations include monthly U.S. Navy ship visits, and 
deployments of military medical and engineering teams that 
conduct humanitarian and civic assistance activities in areas 
critical to East Timor's citizens. United States forces 
assigned to USGET and those conducting rotational presence 
operations operate under U.S. command and control and U.S. 
rules of engagement. The United Nations, and Australia as a 
leading contributor to UNTAET, have indicated that East Timor 
has benefitted greatly from U.S. military deployments to and 
engagement activities in East Timor. Both the United Nations 
and Australia strongly support continued U.S. presence in East 
Timor.
    At this point, U.S. rotational presence operations are 
envisioned to continue through December 2001. We are reviewing 
options for our military presence in 2002. My objective is to 
reduce the rotational presence operations, as well as to 
redeploy USGET, as circumstances permit, giving due regard to 
the situation on the ground and the views of our friends and 
allies in the region, including Australia.
    I have authorized the continuation of 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 fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this 
action.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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