THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                   October 14, 2000

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

                            October 14, 2000


Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

At approximately 5:15 a.m. eastern daylight time, October 12, 2000, a
small boat exploded alongside the USS COLE (DDG 67) while the USS COLE
was mooring to a harbor fueling island during a refueling stop in the
port of Aden, Yemen.  A number of American sailors were killed or
wounded, and the USS COLE suffered extensive damage.  Department of
Defense assets were immediately identified to provide medical, security,
and disaster responses.

Later in the day on October 12, 2000, approximately 45 military
personnel from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command deployed to Aden to
provide medical, security, and disaster response assistance.  In
addition, a team of approximately 50 U.S. military security personnel
arrived in Aden in the early morning hours of October 13, 2000.  It is
also anticipated that additional similar security elements may be
deployed to the area.  The security personnel will enhance the ability
of the United States to ensure the security of the USS COLE and the
personnel responding to the incident.  Although the security personnel
are equipped for combat, their presence is solely for the purpose of
assisting in on-site security.  Finally, two U.S. Navy surface
combatant vessels are operating in or near Yemeni territorial waters to
provide communications and other support, as required.  United States
forces will redeploy as soon as the additional security support is
determined to be unnecessary.

I have taken this action pursuant to my constitutional authority to
conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
Executive.  I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the
Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.

I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action to assist in
ensuring security of U.S. military forces and other personnel overseas.

                              Sincerely,

                              WILLIAM J. CLINTON


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