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[House Document 107-184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-184 

 
                A REPORT REGARDING FORCES IN EAST TIMOR

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

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

    February 28, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
99-011                     WASHINGTON : 2002

                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, February 28, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of August 
31, 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 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 (USGET0), comprised of approximately 
10 U.S. personnel, 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 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 benefited greatly from U.S. military deployments to and 
engagement activities in East Timor. The United Nations, East 
Timor, and Australia strongly support a continued U.S. 
presence.
    At this point, we plan to continue our rotational presence 
operations through 2002. The U.S. objective is to gradually 
reduce the rotational presence operations, as well as to 
redeploy USGET, as circumstances permit.
    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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