U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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99–011 2002

107th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 107–193

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

AND PUBLIC LAW 107–40, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT INFORMED ON THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES

EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

APRIL 9, 2002.—Referred to the Committee on International Relations and

ordered to be printed

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THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, March 20, 2002.

Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT,

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: On September 24, 2001, I reported to the

Congress concerning the deployment of combat-equipped and combat support forces to a number of foreign nations in the Central

and Pacific Command areas of operations. I also reported that in

the future, as we act to prevent and deter terrorism, I may find it

necessary to order additional forces into these and other areas of

the world. On October 9, 2001, I reported the beginning of combat

action in Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists and their Taliban

supporters. As a part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed,

I am reporting on the status of United States efforts in the global

war on Terrorism.

Our efforts in Afghanistan are succeeding, but as I 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 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 sharply reduced. Pockets of al-Qaida and Taliban

forces remain as threats to U.S. and coalition forces and to the Afghan Interim Authority. What is left of both the Taliban and the

al-Qaida fighters is being actively pursued and engaged by U.S., coalition, and Afghan forces. We are also conducting maritime interception operations on the high seas to locate and detain suspected

al-Qaida or Taliban leadership fleeing Afghanistan by sea.

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. To provide a secure environment for the continued detention of many of these detainees, in

January 2002, I ordered the deployment of combat-equipped and

combat support forces to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, in

the Southern Command area of operations, to establish a detention

facility. We currently hold 300 detainees at Guantanamo. All detainees are being treated humanely and, to the extent appropriate

and consistent with military necessity, in a manner consistent with

the principles of the Geneva Conventions 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 are working with the

Government of the Philippines to protect U.S. and Philippine citizens and to defeat international terrorism in the southern part of

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the country. At the invitation of the Government of the Philippines,

in January 2002, I ordered the deployment of combat-equipped and

combat support forces to train with, advise, and assist the Armed

Forces of the Philippines to enhance their existing counterterrorist

capabilities. We currently anticipate that U.S. forces, at a projected

strength of some 600 personnel, will work with the Philippine

forces for several more months.

We are also currently assessing options for working with a number of other nations, including Georgia and Yemen in the European

and Central Command areas of operations, to assist them to enhance their counterterrorism capabilities, including by training and

equipping their armed forces. Combat-equipped and combat support forces will be necessary for these efforts and to conduct the

train and equip programs, as those programs are developed and approved. I will report these and similar deployments in periodic reports to the Congress on the status of our campaign against terrorism.

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 such additional measures as necessary in exercise of our right to self-defense and to protect U.S. citizens and interests. As may be necessary to counter the terrorist threat, such

measures 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 these actions to protect the security of

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

here and abroad.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH.

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