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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 14, 2007
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
December 14, 2007
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
I am providing this supplemental consolidated report, prepared by my
Administration and consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law
93-148), as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about
deployments of U.S. combat-equipped Armed Forces around the world. This
supplemental report covers operations in support of the war on terror and
Kosovo.
THE WAR ON TERROR
Since September 24, 2001, I have reported, consistent with Public Law
107-40 and the War Powers Resolution, on the combat operations in
Afghanistan against al-Qaida terrorists and their Taliban supporters, which
began on October 7, 2001, and the deployment of various combat-equipped and
combat-support forces to a number of locations in the Central, Pacific,
European, and Southern Command areas of operation in support of those
operations and of other operations in our war on terror.
I will direct additional measures as necessary in the exercise of the U.S.
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. It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or the
duration of the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces necessary to counter the
terrorist threat to the United States.
United States Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous coalition
partners, continue to conduct the U.S. campaign to pursue al-Qaida
terrorists and to eliminate support to al-Qaida. These operations have
been successful in seriously degrading al Qaida's training capabilities.
United States Armed Forces, with the assistance of numerous coalition
partners, ended the Taliban regime and are actively pursuing and engaging
remnant al Qaida and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The total number of
U.S. forces in Afghanistan is approximately 25,900, of which approximately
15,180 are assigned to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
in Afghanistan. The U.N. Security Council authorized the ISAF in U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1386 of December 20, 2001, and has reaffirmed
its authorization since that time, most recently, for a 12-month period
from October 13, 2007, in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1776 of
September 19, 2007. The mission of the ISAF under NATO command is to
assist the Government of Afghanistan in creating a safe and secure
environment that allows for continued reconstruction and the exercise and
extension of Afghan authority. Currently, 37 nations contribute military
and other support personnel to the ISAF, including all 26 NATO nations.
The United States continues to detain several hundred 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 U.S. Southern Command area of
operations since January 2002, continue to conduct secure detention
operations for the enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay.
The U.N. Security Council authorized a Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq
under unified command in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1511 of October
16, 2003, and reaffirmed its authorization in U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1546 of June 8, 2004, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1637 of
November 8, 2005, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1723 of November 28,
2006, set to expire on December 31, 2007. Under Resolutions 1546, 1637,
and 1723, the mission of the MNF is to contribute to security and stability
in Iraq. These contributions have included assisting in building the
capability of the Iraqi security forces and institutions as the Iraqi
people drafted and approved a constitution and established a
constitutionally elected government. The U.S. contribution to the MNF
fluctuates over time depending on the conditions in theater as determined
by the commanders on the ground; the U.S. contribution to the MNF is
approximately 159,529 U.S. military personnel.
In furtherance of our efforts against terrorists who pose a continuing and
imminent threat to the United States, its friends and allies, and our
forces abroad, the United States continues to work with friends and allies
in areas around the globe. These efforts include the deployment of U.S.
combat-equipped and combat-support forces to assist in enhancing the
counter-terrorism capabilities of our friends and allies. United States
combat-equipped and combat-support forces also continue to be located in
the Horn of Africa region.
In addition, the United States continues to conduct maritime interception
operations on the high seas in the areas of responsibility of all of the
geographic combatant commanders. These maritime operations have the
responsibility to stop the movement, arming, or financing of international
terrorists.
NATO-LED KOSOVO FORCE (KFOR)
As noted in previous reports regarding U.S. contributions in support of
peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, the U.N. Security Council authorized Member
States to establish KFOR in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 of June
10, 1999.
The original mission of KFOR was to monitor, verify, and when necessary,
enforce compliance with the Military Technical Agreement (MTA) between NATO
and Serbia (formerly the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), while maintaining
a safe and secure environment. Today, KFOR deters renewed hostilities and,
with local authorities and international police, contributes to the
maintenance of a safe and secure environment that facilitates the work of
the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
Currently, there are 24 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. Ten non-NATO
contributing countries also participate by providing military personnel and
other support personnel to KFOR. The U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo
is about 1,498 U.S. military personnel, or approximately 10 percent of
KFOR's total strength of approximately 15,251 personnel.
The U.S. forces have been assigned to the eastern region of Kosovo. For
U.S. KFOR forces, as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and secure
environment remains the primary military task. The KFOR operates under
NATO command and control and rules of engagement. The KFOR coordinates
with and supports UNMIK at most levels; provides a security presence in
towns, villages, and the countryside; and organizes checkpoints and patrols
in key areas to provide security, to protect minorities, to resolve
disputes, and to help instill in the community a feeling of confidence.
In accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, UNMIK continues
to transfer additional competencies to the Kosovo Provisional Institutions
of Self-Government, which includes the
President, Prime Minister, multiple ministries, and the Kosovo Assembly.
The UNMIK retains ultimate authority in some sensitive areas such as
police, justice, and ethnic minority affairs.
NATO formally continues to review KFOR's mission at 6-month intervals.
These reviews provide a basis for assessing current force levels, future
requirements, force structure, force reductions, and the eventual
withdrawal of KFOR. NATO has adopted the Joint Operations Area plan to
regionalize and rationalize its force structure in the Balkans. The UNMIK
international police and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) have full
responsibility for public safety and policing throughout Kosovo. The UNMIK
international police and KPS also have begun to assume responsibility for
guarding patrimonial sites and established border-crossing checkpoints.
The KFOR augments security in particularly sensitive areas or in response
to particular threats as needed.
I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in all of these
operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign
relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. Officials of my
Administration and I communicate regularly with the leadership and other
Members of Congress with regard to these deployments, and we will continue
to do so.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
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