THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 JUNE 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977514
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: June 17, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
17 June 1970
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Top Secreoxl
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 June 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
(Page 1)
Yasir- Arafat is facing a challenge to his leader-
ship of the fedayeen. (Page. 2)
Egypt.
(Page 3)
In Laos, the rain has practically halted military
operations, although government and Communist
troops are still keeping up what pressure they can.
(Page 4)
The Communists continueto gain ground west of the
Mekong River in CaMbodia.. (Page 5)
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JORDAN
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FEDAYEEN
George Habbash and his radical Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine appear set-to chal-
lenge Yasir Arafat and Fatah for leadership of the
entire fedayeen movement. Habbash played a key role
in the recent difficulties in Jordan. During the
crisis, Arafat cooperated with Husayn who sought to
arrange a cease-fire that would re-establish the
status quo antebellum. Habbash, however, held out
until his group's demand for the removal of certain
army leaders was met.
The incident has served to sharpen differ-
ences between the two groups. The future
of fedayeen relations with other Arab gov-
ernments and, by extension, the relative
position of fedayeen leaders, will depend
on the nature of the arrangement yet to
be worked out between Husayn and the guer-
rillas.
2
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(
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USSR - MIDDLE EAST
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Laos: Current Situation
CHINA
BURMA
THAILAND
GULF
OF
TO K I N
fri Communist-controlled territory
Contested territory
OENIA RCA TION
r LINE
VIETNAM
THAILAND
98877 6-70 CIA
CAMBODIA
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LAOS
Two North Vietnamese companies yesterday drove
a joint Laotian Army and irregular force out of Ban
Kok My, a small outpost that was to be the jumping-
off point for the recapture of Saravane. In taking
the base the Communists also captured several heavy
weapons
The government still has a number of units
in the Saravane area, including a 150-man
force which is moving north of the town to
interdict Route 23. The seizure of Ban
Kok My, however, will set back the Laotian
military effort in this area for several
days.
In the north, adverse weather has brought mili-
tary activity to a virtual standstill. With the ad-
vent of the rainy season the civilian population of
the Long Tieng area apparently has convinced itself
that the Communist threat has receded. As of mid-
June, more than half of the inhabitants of the Long
Tieng Valley had returned to their homes and resumed
normal commercial activity.
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Cambodia: Current Situation
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194
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
106 98876 6-70 CIA
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CAMBODIA
Rumors are building that some sort of enemy at-
tack will be made against Phnom Penh on 18 June,
three months from the date of Sihanouk 's ouster.
Refugees from Kompong Speu claim that Communist
forces there said they would strike Phnom Penh on
that date. There is no hard evidence to support
this.
Senior Cambodian Army officers are increasingly
concerned over the military, situation around Phnom
Penh, but they lack firm intelligence on the strength
and identification ofthe Communist units. Hasty
steps are being taken in and around the city to im-
prove its .defenses. Government officials view the.
airfield, the radio station, and the electric power
plant--all of which are outside the city proper--
as likely Communist targets. '
This sudden attack of war nerves probably
has been brought on by recent enemy at-
tacks against Siem Reap, Kompong Speu, and
Kompong Chhnang, and by the government's
dawning recognition of its now almost com-
plete isolation from the countryside.
Some Communist forces are close enough to
Phnom Penh to stage sudden harassing at-
tacks. The increasing boldness of the
enemy west of the Mekong suggests that the
Communists may make some move against the
capital, but they do not appear prepared
for a major infantry assault.
South Vietnamese troops reoccupied Kompong Speu
city yesterday in the face of another Communist disap-
pearing act Enemy forces reportedly retreated to
the south and west, leaving only pockets of resistance.
in-the city. The South Vietnamese probably sullied
their support considerably in Cambodian eyes when they
engaged in extensive looting in Kompong Speu. Despite
the city's recapture Route 4 a..arentl is still
closed.
(continued)
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In the adjacent-province of Kompong Chhnang,
government defenders ofthe capital claim they drove
three enemy columns out of the city yesterday. West-
ern journalists returning from Kompong Chhnang city
indicate that its defenders may have exaggerated the
severity of the Communist attack there. Additional
Communist- attacks probably can be expected in this
province, however; on,15 June, 400 Cambodian Commu-
nist insurgents reportedly were moving toward the,
government's main military supply depot at Lovek.
Government forces defending Kompong Thom city-,
aided by air support, withstood heavy Communist ar-
tillery and infantry attacks yesterday
, Kompong Cham town is also still in trouble.
Fighting was reported yesterday aroundthe university,
and the Communists apparently attempted to seize
bridges in the town. The government, anticipating
additional attacks against Kompong Cham, claims the
Communists-have-received important reinforcements -
from Kratie and'Chhlong-towns in Kratie Province.
Substantial elements of the Viet Cong.9th Division
are still near Kompong Cham.
Subordinate elements of the Communists' B-3
Front--the enemy's over-all command authority in
South Vietnam's central highlands--have been moving
deeper into Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces in
northeastern Cambodia, as well as shifting positions
along the border.
While some of these relocations are due to
allied operations into long-time enemy
sanctuaries, some of the combat units may
have been used for attacks against Cambo-
dian targets in Ratanakiri Province Some
of these units are probably now setting up
a new and less vulnerable system of base
areas and supply routes deeper in Cambodia.
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NOTES
USSR: The latest satellite photography mission
provided at least partial coverage of 14 of the 25
ICBM complexes. No new launch groups were identi-
fied, but six new SS-11 silos and one new SS-13 silo
were detected in existing groups.
USSR-China: The latest satellite photography
shows that the Soviets are continuing to augment
their forces opposite Sinkiang.
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SouthVietnam:, The police have learned of stu-
dent plans for new and moreviolent agitation in
Saigon within the next_few days Having extracted
sOme concessions from the government in response to
earlier demands, militant leaders are now Shifting-
their:Sights to the peace issue .and. the American
presence. The US Embassy is mentioned in the police
reports asone possible target.of new demonstrations-
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s'
Top Secret
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