June 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008

Statement on the Death of Timothy J. Russert June 13, 2008

Laura and I are deeply saddened by the Tim was a tough and hard-working news- sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of man. He was always well informed and us who knew and worked with Tim, his thorough in his interviews, and he was as many friends, and the millions of Ameri- gregarious off the set as he was prepared cans who loyally followed his career on the on it. air will all miss him. Most important, Tim was a proud son As the longest serving host of the longest and father, and Laura and I offer our deep- running program in the history of tele- est sympathies to his wife Maureen, his vision, he was an institution in both news son Luke, and the entire Russert family. and politics for more than two decades. We will keep them in our prayers.

Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Deployments of United States Combat-Equipped Armed Forces Around the World June 13, 2008

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. I will direct additional measures as nec- President:) essary in the exercise of the right of the I am providing this supplemental consoli- United States to self-defense and to protect dated report, prepared by my Administra- U.S. citizens and interests. Such measures tion and consistent with the War Powers may include short-notice deployments of Resolution (Public Law 93–148), as part of special operations and other forces for sen- my efforts to keep the Congress informed sitive operations in various locations about deployments of combat-equipped throughout the world. It is not possible to U.S. Armed Forces around the world. This know at this time the precise scope or the supplemental report covers operations in duration of the deployment of U.S. Armed support of the war on terror and in Kosovo. Forces necessary to counter the terrorist threat to the United States. United States Armed Forces, with the THE WAR ON TERROR assistance of numerous coalition partners, Since September 24, 2001, I have re- continue to conduct the U.S. campaign to ported, consistent with Public Law 107– pursue al-Qaida terrorists and to eliminate 40 and the War Powers Resolution, on the support to al-Qaida. These operations have combat operations in Afghanistan against al- been successful in seriously degrading al- Qaida terrorists and their Taliban sup- Qaida’s training capabilities. United States porters, which began on October 7, 2001, Armed Forces, with the assistance of nu- and the deployment of various combat- merous coalition partners, ended the equipped and combat-support forces to a Taliban regime and are actively pursuing number of locations in the Central, Pacific, and engaging remnant al-Qaida and Taliban European, and Southern Command areas fighters in Afghanistan. The total number of operation in support of those operations of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is approxi- and of other operations in our war on ter- HEARING ror. mately 31,122, of which approximately with

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14,276 are assigned to the International Se- over time, depending on the conditions in curity Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghani- theater as determined by the commanders stan. The U.N. Security Council authorized on the ground; the current U.S. contribu- ISAF in U.N. Security Council Resolution tion to the MNF is approximately 155,230 1386 of December 20, 2001, and has re- U.S. military personnel. affirmed its authorization since that time, In furtherance of our efforts against ter- most recently for a 12-month period from rorists who pose a continuing and imminent October 13, 2007, in U.N. Security Council threat to the United States, its friends and Resolution 1776 of September 19, 2007. allies, and our forces abroad, the United The mission of ISAF under NATO com- States continues to work with friends and mand is to assist the Government of Af- allies in areas around the globe. These ef- ghanistan in creating a safe and secure en- forts include the deployment of U.S. com- vironment that allows for continued recon- bat-equipped and combat-support forces to struction and the exercise and extension of assist in enhancing the counterterrorism ca- Afghan authority. Currently, more than 40 pabilities of our friends and allies. United nations contribute to ISAF, including all States combat-equipped and combat-sup- 26 NATO Allies. port forces continue to be located in the The United States continues to detain Horn of Africa region. several hundred al-Qaida and Taliban fight- In addition, the United States continues ers who are believed to pose a continuing to conduct maritime interception operations threat to the United States and its interests. on the high seas in the areas of responsi- The combat-equipped and combat-support bility of all of the geographic combatant forces deployed to Naval Base, Guanta- commanders. These maritime operations namo Bay, Cuba, in the U.S. Southern have the responsibility to stop the move- Command area of operations since January ment, arming, or financing of international 2002 continue to conduct secure detention terrorists. operations for the enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay. The U.N. Security Council authorized a Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq under NATO-LED KOSOVO FORCE (KFOR) unified command in U.N. Security Council As noted in previous reports regarding Resolution 1511 of October 16, 2003, and U.S. contributions in support of peace- reaffirmed its authorization in U.N. Secu- keeping efforts in Kosovo, the U.N. Secu- rity Council Resolution 1546 of June 8, rity Council authorized Member States to 2004, U.N. Security Council Resolution establish KFOR in U.N. Security Council 1637 of November 8, 2005, U.N. Security Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999. Council Resolution 1723 of November 28, The original mission of KFOR was to 2006, and U.N. Security Council Resolution monitor, verify, and when necessary, to en- 1790 of December 18, 2007, set to expire force compliance with the Military Tech- on December 31, 2008. Under Resolutions nical Agreement between NATO and Ser- 1546, 1637, 1723, and 1790, the mission bia (formerly the Federal Republic of of the MNF is to contribute to security Yugoslavia), while maintaining a safe and and stability in Iraq. These contributions secure environment. Today, KFOR deters have included assisting in building the ca- renewed hostilities and, with local authori- pability of the Iraqi security forces and in- ties and international police, contributes to stitutions as the Iraqi people drafted and the maintenance of a safe and secure envi- approved a constitution and established a ronment that facilitates the work of the constitutionally elected government. The United Nations Interim Administrative Mis- HEARING U.S. contribution to the MNF fluctuates sion in Kosovo (UNMIK), the European with

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Union (EU)-led International Civilian Of- tual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO adopted fice, and the evolving EU Rule of Law the Joint Operations Area plan to region- Mission (EULEX). alize and rationalize its force structure in Currently, there are 25 NATO nations the Balkans. contributing to KFOR. Eight non-NATO The UNMIK international police and contributing countries also participate by Kosovo Police Service (KPS) have primary providing military and other support per- responsibility for public safety and policing sonnel to KFOR. The U.S. contribution to throughout Kosovo. The UNMIK inter- KFOR is about 1,500 U.S. military per- national police and KPS also have assumed sonnel, or approximately 9 percent of responsibility for guarding some patrimonial KFOR’s total strength of approximately sites and operating border crossings. The 16,000 personnel. KFOR supports these police forces when The U.S. forces participating in KFOR requested and augments security in particu- have been assigned to the eastern region larly sensitive areas or in response to par- of Kosovo, but also have operated in other ticular threats as events on the ground dic- areas of the country based on mission re- tate. The relationship among UNMIK po- quirements. For U.S. KFOR forces, as for lice, EULEX, KPS, and the Government KFOR generally, helping to maintain a safe of Kosovo will likely be adjusted after June and secure environment remains the prin- 15, 2008, when the constitution of the Re- cipal military task. The KFOR operates public of Kosovo comes into force. under NATO command and control and I have directed the participation of U.S. rules of engagement. The KFOR currently Armed Forces in all of these operations coordinates with and supports UNMIK pursuant to my constitutional authority to within means and capabilities and, pending conduct the foreign relations of the United decision by the North Atlantic Council, may States and as Commander in Chief and offer this same cooperation to EULEX. The Chief Executive. Officials of my Adminis- KFOR provides a security presence in tration and I communicate regularly with towns, villages, and the country-side and the leadership and other Members of Con- organizes checkpoints and patrols in key gress with regard to these deployments, and areas to provide security, to protect all ele- we will continue to do so. ments of the population living in Kosovo, Sincerely, and to instill a feeling of confidence in GEORGE W. BUSH all ethnic communities throughout Kosovo. NATO continues periodically to conduct NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Nancy a formal review of KFOR’s mission. These Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representa- reviews provide a basis for assessing current tives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of force levels, future requirements, force the Senate. This letter was released by the structure, force reductions, and the even- Office of the Press Secretary on June 14.

The President’s News Conference With President Nicolas Sarkozy of France in Paris, France June 14, 2008

President Sarkozy. Ladies and gentle- us on this Saturday morning. I wanted to men, thank you for coming to work with thank President Bush for his visit to Paris HEARING with

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