Bill to mandate review of war on terror

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., introduced legislation Tuesday requiring a semiannual administrative review of the war on terror.

The measure, an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill, will require reporting on the U.S. effort against terrorism and al-Qaida affiliates.

"The administration has repeatedly stated that the U.S. has made significant progress in the global war on terrorism, but these claims of success come without sufficient information or transparency," Casey said.

There are no requirements for the U.S. government to assess the status of the fight against al-Qaida, a joint statement released by the senators said.

"Providing a comprehensive assessment to Congress will help ensure that all elements of national power are being used to defeat one of the greatest threats of the 21st century," said Hagel.

The report will provide Congress with updates on the scope and progress of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts across the world.

It also will assess how effective the use of government funds is in the fight against terrorism and provide a review of the number of al-Qaida members killed, captured or injured.