U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

19–011 2003

108th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 108–129

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

SEPTEMBER 24, 2003.—Referred to the Committee on International 

Relations and ordered to be printed


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, September 19, 2003. 

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 operation. On October 9, 2001, I reported the beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists and their 

Taliban supporters. In my reports to the Congress of March 20 and 

September 20, 2002 and March 20, 2003, 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 and other areas. As a part of 

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

on United States efforts in the global war on terrorism. 

Our efforts in Afghanistan continue to meet with success, but, as 

I have stated in my previous reports, the United States 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’s 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 al-Qaida and Taliban forces remain a threat to United 

States and coalition forces and to the Afghan government. What is 

left of both the Taliban and the al-Qaida fighters is being pursued 

actively and engaged by United States and coalition forces.

Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained hundreds 

of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters who are believed to pose a continuing threat to the United States and its interests. The combatequipped and combat support forces deployed to Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the Southern Command area of operations 

since January 2002 continue to conduct secure detention operations. We currently hold more than 650 enemy combatants at 

Guantanamo Bay. 

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 operations in 

other areas around the globe. We continue to work with the Government of the Philippines to protect United States and Philippine 

citizens and to defeat international terrorism in the Philippines. 

We continue to conduct maritime interception operations on the 

high seas in the Central and European Command areas of responsibility and have expanded these efforts to the Pacific Command 

areas of responsibility to prevent the movement, arming, or financVerDate jul 14 2003 06:45 Sep 26, 2003 Jkt 019011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HD129.XXX HD129
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ing of international terrorists who pose a continuing threat to the 

United States. 

Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been deployed to Georgia and Djibouti to assist in enhancing 

counterterrorism capabilities. The United States 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. 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 United States 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 United States 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. 

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 efforts 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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