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[House Document 108-129]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                     

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
                                           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 combat-equipped 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 financing 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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