U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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19–011 2003

108th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 108–53

REPORT ON 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 KEEP THE CONGRESS INFORMED 

ON UNITED STATES EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

MARCH 24, 2003.—Referred to the Committee on International Relations 

and ordered to be printed


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, March 20, 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 terrorists and their Taliban supporter. In my reports to the Congress of March 20 and September 

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 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 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 

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 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 actively and engaged by U.S. and coalition forces. Additionally, training missions 

and combat operations with Pakistani special forces are ongoing 

near the Afghan/Pakistan border. 

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 600 enemy combatants at 

Guantanamo Bay. 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 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 continue operations in 

other areas around the globe. Our relationship with the GovernVerDate Jan 31 2003 04:09 Mar 25, 2003 Jkt 019011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HD053.XXX HD053
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ment and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) developed and 

matured throughout 2002. Last year’s actions from February to 

July 2002 on Basilan Island, with AFP in command and with U.S. 

forces in a support role, helped to drive hundreds of Abu Sayyaf 

Group terrorists from the island, restoring order and reestablishing 

government services. To ensure that the AFP has the skills to fight 

terrorism over the long term, we have a robust security assistance 

training program and a variety of exercises that will provide the 

AFP much needed counter-terrorism training and equipment. 

There are approximately 300 combat-equipped and combat support 

U.S. military personnel working with the AFP and U.S. forces continue to plan with the AFP for possible future activities. Continued 

U.S. support is warranted as the Government of the Philippines 

has provided unwavering support in the global war on terrorism. 

Additionally, we continue to conduct maritime interception operations on the high seas in the Central and European 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 Yemen to assist the armed forces of those 

countries in enhancing their counter-terrorism capabilities, including by training and equipping their armed forces. Similar U.S. 

forces have deployed to Djibouti to command and control operations 

and other activities as necessary against al-Qaida and other international terrorists in the Horn of Africa region. These activities include providing oversight for urban and maritime counter-terrorism 

training with the Yemen special operations 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 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 

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

here and abroad. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE W. BUSH.

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