THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 JANUARY 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005974253
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: January 31, 1968

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015/07/24: CIA-RDP79T00936A005800110001-1
The President's Daily Brief
-Thp?Se-czel_31january 1968
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DAILY BRIEF
31
JANUARY
1968
1.
South Vietnam
At last word, Communist
forces
(as of
5:30 AM
were continuing their attacks
against
EST)
various cities and key allied
military
2. North Korea
and civil installations. In Saigon it-
self, sporadic sniping was continuing
in various parts of the city well into
the day, but many of the Viet Cong ter-
rorists were withdrawing across the
river.'
So far the area around Khe Sanh
remains relatively quiet, but the Com-
munist build-up there remains the most
ominous in the country.
The spectacular series of Communist
attacks seems designed mainly for the
shock effect. The Communists are ap-
parently out to demonstrate to all con-
cerned that they are still a powerful
force capable of seriously disrupting
the country, if only temporarily.
The extensive harassment of US air-
fields, logistical centers, and command
and communications centers appears de-
signed also to inhibit immediate allied
reaction and retaliation. It could be
preparatory to or intended to support
early Communist offensive operations
just south of the Demilitarized Zone.
The situation remains on dead cen-
ter as Pyongyang continues to flaunt
its determination to stand firm against
US "machinations" in the United Nations
and elsewhere.
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LAOS
CHINA
THAILAND
NORTH
VIETNAM
Hoo
Binh
Moung Hiem?
Na?
Khans
.Cuci Rao
Udon Thani
?c. hammou
Thikhe
1:21 Communist-controlled
? territory
THAILAND
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3, Laos
4. Cambodia
5. Israel-Egypt
Signs are growing that the Commu-
nists are preparing for a major effort
to drive government forces from the
key counterinsurgent base at Phou Pha
Thi. Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese
troops have already taken up positions
encircling the base, which provides im-
portant navigational support for US
air operations over North Vietnam. (Map)
Yesterday's heavy exchange of fire
across the Suez Canal began after the
Israelis halted an Egyptian survey at-
tempt in the northern sector of the
canal. Israel had given its okay for
operations to free the 15 trapped ships
near the southern end, but had warned
Egypt against any operations in the
north.
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6. Yemen
7. Brazil
Costa e Silva has evidently de-
cided to take action against Carlos
Lacerda, shrill critic of the adminis-
tration and of the military establish-
ment. The generals have been urging
the President to throw the book at
Lacerda this time, and he may do just
that. If so, there will be a storm of
public protest, but at least the gen-
erals will be happy.
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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31 January 1968
16
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
31 January 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
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* * *
Front to Open Office in Tanzania: The Libera-
tion 'Front's continuing effort to improve its dip-
lomatic representation abroad has taken another
step forward. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere,
announced on 29 January that his government has
agreed to allow the Front to set up a permanent
representation in Dar Es Salaam. When staffed,
this post will be the first Front representation
in sub-Sahara Africa, the third on the continent,
and the fifth in the Free World. The Front also
has representations or agreements for representa-
tions in all Communist countries except Yugoslavia.
* * *
Foreign Visitors: Hanoi may be easing its re-
strictions of the past several weeks on admitting
foreign visitors.
Since early December the North Vietnamese had con-
sistently turned down requests from foreign writers
for permission to enter the country.
Manpower:
* * *
although the war had taken many of the young men
away from the area, there were sufficient women and
children to take their places on the farms; crops
did not seem to have suffered. This report is in
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line with other information which has suggested that
manpower problems are not yet a significant factor
affecting agricultural production.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Nothing significant to report at this time.
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