U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

99–011 2002

107th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 107–266

REPORT ON UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL 

WAR ON TERRORISM

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

A REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION 

AND PUBLIC LAW 107–40 TO KEEP THE CONGRESS INFORMED 

ON U.S. EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

SEPTEMBER 24, 2002.—Referred to the Committee on International 

Relations and ordered to be printed 


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
(1)

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, September 20, 2002. 

Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: On September 24, 2001, I reported the deployment of various combat-equipped and combat support forces to 

a number of locations in the Central and Pacific Command areas 

of operations. On October 9, 2001, I reported the beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against terrorists and their Taliban supporters. In my report to the Congress of March 20, 2002, I provided 

supplemental information on the deployment of combat-equipped 

and combat support forces to a number of foreign nations in the 

Central and Pacific Command areas of operations. As a part of my 

efforts to keep the Congress informed, I am reporting further on 

U.S. efforts in the global war on terrorism. 

Our efforts in Afghanistan have met with success, but as I have 

stated in my previous reports, the U.S. campaign against terrorism 

will be lengthy. To date, U.S. Armed Forces, with the assistance of 

numerous coalition partners, have executed a superb campaign to 

eliminate the primary source of support to the terrorists who viciously attacked our Nation on September 11, 2001. The heart of 

the al-Qaida training capability has been seriously degraded. The 

Taliban’s ability to brutalize the Afghan people and to harbor and 

support terrorists has been virtually eliminated. Pockets of alQaida and Taliban forces remain a threat to U.S. and coalition 

forces and to the Afghan government. What is left of both the 

Taliban and the al-Qaida fighters is being pursued and engaged by 

U.S. and coalition forces. 

Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained 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 Guantanamo 

Bay Naval Base, Cuba, in the Southern Command area of operations since January 2002, continue to conduct secure detention operations. We currently hold approximately 550 enemy combatants 

at Guantanamo. All are being treated humanely and, to the extent 

appropriate and consistent with military necessity, in a manner 

consistent with the principles of the Geneva Convention of 1949. 

In furtherance of our worldwide efforts against terrorists who 

pose a continuing and imminent threat to the United States, our 

friends and allies, and our forces abroad, we continue to work with 

the Government of the Philippines to protect U.S. and Philippine 

citizens and to defeat international terrorism in the Philippines. 

The combat-equipped and combat support forces that were deployed to the Philippines in January 2002 to train with, advise, 

and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines made great progress 

2

in enhancing the Philippine government’s counterterrorist capabilities. United States forces have reduced their presence in the Southern Philippines, but will continue a long-term effort to assist the 

Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

Additionally, we are conducting maritime interception operations 

in the Central and European Command areas of responsibility to 

deny the high seas as a haven for moving, arming, or financing 

international terrorists. 

Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been deployed to Georgia and Yemen to assist their armed forces in enhancing their counterterrorism capabilities, including by training 

and equipping their armed forces. We continue to assess options for 

working with other nations to assist them in this respect. 

I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief 

and Chief Executive. In addition, these actions are consistent with 

Public Law 107–40. As I stated in my previous reports, 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 to exercise 

our right to self-defense and to protect U.S. citizens and interests. 

Such measure may include short notice deployments of special operations and other forces for sensitive operations in various locations throughout the world 

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution and 

Public Law 107–40. Officials of my administration and I have been 

communicating regularly with the leadership and other Members of 

Congress, and we will continue to do so. I appreciate the continuing 

support of the Congress in our effort to protect the security of the 

United States of America and its citizens, civilian and military, 

here and abroad. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE W. BUSH.

Æ