U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

39–011 2004

108th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 108–231 

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, 

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 

NOVEMBER 16, 2004.—Referred to the Committee on International 

Relations and ordered to be printed 


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, November 4, 2004. 

Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I am providing this consolidated supplemental 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 global war on terrorism, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

On March 21, 2003, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, 

I reported that I had directed U.S. Armed Forces, operating with 

other coalition forces, to commence combat operations on March 19, 

2003, against Iraq. Thereafter, I included information regarding 

the deployment of U.S. forces in Iraq in reports on Iraq to the Congress under Public Laws 107–243 and 102–1, as amended. On July 

2, 2004, I delegated to the Secretary of State the authority to make 

these detailed reports on Iraq, but I am including information 

about the deployment of U.S. forces in Iraq in this consolidated war 

powers report. 

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. 

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 either the precise duration of combat operations or the precise 

scope and 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 seriously degraded al-Qaida’s training capabilities. 

United States Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous coalition partners, ended the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and are actively pursuing and engaging al-Qaida and remnant Taliban fightVerDate Aug 04 2004 16:38 Nov 24, 2004 Jkt 039011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\HD231.XXX HD231
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ers. United States forces also have supported the International Security Assistance Force in providing security in connection with the 

Afghan elections. 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 

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, noting the Iraqi Interim Government’s request to retain the presence 

of the MNF. The mission of the MNF is to contribute to security 

and stability in Iraq, including by assisting in building the capability of Iraqi security forces and institutions, as the Iraqi people 

plan democratic elections and as reconstruction continues. The U.S. 

contribution to the MNF is more than 135,000 military personnel. In furtherance of our 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 world. U.S. combatequipped and combat-support forces are located in the Horn of Africa region, and 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. 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 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-today 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 23 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. 

Eleven 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 1,800 U.S. miliVerDate Aug 04 2004 16:38 Nov 24, 2004 Jkt 039011 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HD231.XXX HD231
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tary personnel, or approximately 10 percent of KFOR’s total 

strength of approximately 18,000 personnel. In addition, U.S. military personnel occasionally operate from Macedonia, Albania, and 

Greece in support of KFOR operations. 

The U.S. forces have been assigned to a sector principally cen- tered 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. In accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, the UNMIK continues to transfer additional competencies to the 

Kosovar 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 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 UNMIK international police and the 

Kosovo Police Service (KPS) have full responsibility for public safety and policing throughout Kosovo except in the area of Mitrovica, 

where the KFOR and UNMIK share this responsibility due to security concerns. The UNMIK international police and KPS also have 

begun to assume responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and 

established border-crossing checkpoints. The KFOR often augments 

security in particularly sensitive areas or in response to particular 

threats. 

NATO-LED STABILIZATION FORCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (SFOR)

Regarding U.S. contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts 

in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the U.N. Security Council authorized, 

in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1551 of July 9, 2004, Member 

States to continue SFOR for an additional period of 6 months in 

anticipation of the conclusion of SFOR’s operations, and the commencement of a European Union (EU) mission, including a military 

component, in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2004. The 

mission of SFOR is to provide a deterrent presence to help 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 approximately 1,000 personnel. United States personnel comprise approximately 12 percent of the approximately 8,500 personnel assigned to SFOR. Currently, 20 NATO nations and 8 others provide military personnel or other support to SFOR. Most U.S. 

forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina are assigned to Multinational 

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Task Force, North, headquartered near the city of Tuzla. United 

States forces continue to support SFOR efforts to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes and to conduct counterterrorism operations. 

In June 2004 at the Istanbul Summit, NATO Heads of State and 

Government welcomed the offer of the EU to establish a new and 

separate mission in Bosnia, including a military component, and 

decided to establish a new NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo at the 

end of SFOR’s operations. This NATO Headquarters, to which U.S. 

forces will be assigned, will have the principal task of providing advice on defense reform. The NATO headquarters also will undertake certain supporting operational tasks, including 

counterterrorism and supporting the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia with regard to the detention of 

persons indicted for war crimes. 

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. 

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