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[House Document 108-82]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-82

 
          A REPORT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

    A REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO KEEP THE 
  CONGRESS INFORMED ON CLASHES BETWEEN LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL 
   FORCES IN THE VICINITY OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN MONROVIA, 
                                LIBERIA

 June 10, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, DC, June 9, 2003.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Clashes between Liberian government and 
rebel forces in the vicinity of the United States Embassy in 
Monrovia, Liberia and the potential for further deterioration 
of the security environment in Liberia render and the safety of 
the United States Embassy and its occupants uncertain.
    On June 7, 2003, an assessment team and standby response 
and evacuation force of approximately 35 U.S. military 
personnel from the U.S. European Command were pre-positioned in 
Freetown, Sierra Leone. On June 8, 2003, these forces moved 
into Monrovia, Liberia to augment the Embassy security forces 
and to aid in the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Liberia if 
required.
    Additionally, on June 8, 2003, a coup attempt occurred in 
Mauritania. Fighting has been reported in the vicinity of the 
United States Embassy. This fighting continued during the 
morning of June 9 in the center of Nouakchott, about three 
kilometers from the Embassy. At the request of the United 
States Embassy, an assessment team and standby response and 
evacuation force of an estimated 34 U.S. military personnel 
from the U.S. European Command are being sent to Nouakchott, 
Mauritania and are expected to arrive on June 10, 2003. Their 
mission is to augment the Embassy security forces and to aid in 
the evacuation of American citizens from Mauritania if 
required.
    In addition to the forces noted above, several fixed wing 
aircraft and their aircrew have been pre-positioned in Dakar, 
Senegal in order to shorten the response time should an 
evacuation of American citizens from either Liberia or 
Mauritania be required.
    Although in both cases the U.S. forces are equipped for 
combat, these movements were undertaken solely for the purpose 
of protecting American citizens and property. United States 
forces will redeploy as soon as it is determined that the 
threats to the Embassy compounds have ended or an evacuation, 
if necessary, is completed.
    I have taken 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 informed, consistent with 
the War Powers Resolution.
    I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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