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[House Document 108-53]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

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
                                           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 al-Qaida 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 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 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 Government 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 United States of 
America and its citizens, civilian and military, here and 
abroad.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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