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Edwin R. Thomas III 
09/20/2002 04;41:04 PM 

L!,e

Record Type:RRecord 
To:RJoan Hunerwadel/NSC/EOP@EOP 
cc: 
Subject TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE 
6-month war powers letters went out today. FForwarded by Edwin R, Thomas IIIANI-10/0P on 09/2012002 04:44 PM 
e 
• 
• 

• Rachael L SunbargerR09/20/2002 04:31:32 PM 
Record Type:RRecord 
cc: 
Subject TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE 

THE WHITE HOUSE 
Office of the Press Secretary 

September 20,

For Immediate Releasee
2002 

TEXT OF'A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE 

September 20, 2002 

Dear Mr. Speaker:F(Dear Mr. President:) 
On September 24, 2001, I reported the deployment of various 
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combat-equipped and combat support forces to a number of locations in the Central and Pacific Command areas of operations. On October 9, 2001, I reported the beginning of combat action in Afghanistan against terrorists and their Taliban supporters. In 
my report to the Congress of March 20, 2002, I provided 
supple-mental infor-oration 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. As a part of my 
efforts to keep the Congress informed, I am reporting further on 

U.S. 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 the al-Qaida 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 and engaged by U.S. and coalition 

forces. 

Due to our success in Afghanistan, we have detained 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 Guantanamo 
Bay Naval Base, Cuba, in the Southern Command area of operations 
since January 2002, continue to conduct secure detention 

opera-tions. We cur-rently hold approximately 550 enemy 

combatants at Guantanamo. All are being treated humanely and, to 
the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessj.ty, 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 to work 
with the Government of the Philippines to protect U.S. and 
Philippine citizens and to defeat international terrorism in 
the Philippines. The combat-equipped and combat support forces 
that were deployed to the Philippines in January 2002 to train 
with, advice, and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines made 

great progress in enhancing the Philippine government's 
counterterrorist capabilities. United States forces have reduced 
their presence in the Southern Philippines, but will continue a 
long-term effort to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

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more 

(OVER) 

2 

interception operations

Additionally, we are conducting maritime 
in the Central and European Command areas of responsibility to 
deny the high seas as a haven for moving, arming, or financing 
international terrorists. 

Combat-equipped and combat support forces also have been deployed to Georgia and Yemen to assist their armed forces in enhancing their counter-terrorism capabilities, including by training and equipping their armed 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 

are

Chief and Chief Executive. In addition, these actions 
As I stated in my previous
consistent with Public Law 107-40. 

at this time either the

reports, it is not possible to know
the scope and duration of the

duration of combat operations or 
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 any 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 effort 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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