09 October 2001
Text: Bush Informs Congress on Combat Operations in Afghanistan
(Says campaign against terrorism will be lengthy) (530)
President Bush October 9 reported to the U.S. Congress on the U.S.
military action that began October 7 in Afghanistan "against Al Qaida
terrorists and their Taliban supporters."
In a letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the
president pro tempore of the Senate, Bush said 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. But he stressed
that it is likely the campaign against terrorism will be lengthy.
Following is the text of the letter as issued by the White House:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
October 9, 2001
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
At approximately 12:30 p.m. (EDT) [1630 GMT] on October 7, 2001, on my
orders, U.S. Armed Forces began combat action in Afghanistan against
Al Qaida terrorists and their Taliban supporters. This military action
is a part of our campaign against terrorism and is designed to disrupt
the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations.
We are responding to the brutal September 11 attacks on our territory,
our citizens, and our way of life, and to the continuing threat of
terrorist acts against the United States and our friends and allies.
This follows the deployment of various combat-equipped and combat
support forces to a number of locations in the Central and Pacific
Command areas of operations, as I reported to the Congress on
September 24, to prepare for the campaign to prevent and deter
terrorism.
I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority to
conduct U.S. foreign relations as Commander in Chief and Chief
Executive. 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. As I have stated previously, it is likely that the
American campaign against terrorism will be lengthy. I will direct
such additional measures as necessary in exercise of our right to
self-defense and to protect U.S. citizens and interests.
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, including its enactment of Public Law 107-40, in these
actions to protect the security of the United States of America and
its citizens, civilian and military, here and abroad.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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