THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 JANUARY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992447
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 28, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
28 January 1971
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
28 January 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The US Embassy in Phnom Penh believes that Communist
military strategy still calls for a holding opera-
tion in Cambodia. (Page 1)
On Page 2, we comment on the progress of the Chinese
Nationalist irregulars operating against Communist
insurgents in northern Thailand.
Egypt
(Page 3)
Armed forces commanders in Argentina are becoming
more dissatisfied with President Levingston's poli-
cies. (Page 4)
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CAMBODIA
A new assessment by the American Embassy of the
situation in the wake of the recent enemy harassment
of the capital area concludes that Communist strat-
egy still calls for a military holding operation in
Cambodia. Enemy action appears to be aimed at pinning
down Cambodian Army units and at ensuring the Commu-
nists access to bases and sanctuaries essential to
their objectives in South Vietnam.
In the embassy's view, as long as the Commu-
nists economize in their commitment of main force
units in Cambodia, the army will be able to cope
with the situation. There is no immediate threat
to Phnom Penh that cannot be dealt with by Cambo-
dian forces now in place, -together with available
air power. The army's morale continues to be good
despite recent setbacks, and its capabilities should
soon increase with the acquisition of more modern
equipment and with the return of battalions now un-
dergoing training in South Vietnam.,
Theassessment warns that the Cambodian Army's
resources, however, are limited. These resources
will be under further strain if--as cannot now be
ruled-out--there is significant development of the
military potential of the Khmer Communists who
played a part in this week's attacks around Phnom
Penh.
The embassy also notes that, while the in-
creased enemy pressure on the capital has caused
no break in the essential unity or determination
of Cambodia's leaders, it has brought forth new
strains and carping among them. There has also
been open criticism of the army's effectiveness
and this is likely to intensify in the event of
further Communist terrorism or successful sapper
and mortar attacks against the capital area.
1
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NORTH THAILAND: Chinese Irregulars Battle Insurgents
BURMA ito
AREA
OF
C ang
hong' \
Chinese irregular ,
?periling areas /
/
Afl L A N
VIENTIANE -18
? Udon Thani
(Udorn)....
Phitsanulok
,MIles
162
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THAILAND
The President's Daily Brief of 15 December reported
Bangkok's decision to move some 750 Chinese Nation-
alist irregulars from the Burmese border to a Commu-
nist insurgent area in northern Chiang Rai Province.
Since then, despite stiff resistance, these irregu-
lars--remnants of forces driven from China two dec-
ades ago--have captured two insurgent bases and siz-
able quantities of military equipment and field sup-
plies. The Chinese irregulars were operating under
the direction of the Thai 3rd Army. Bangkok's con-
fidence that the northern insurgency was well in hand
has been shaken by these operations, which have re-
vealed a greater degree of Communist strength in this
region than the Thais anticipated, but there is no
evidence that the Thai Army is willing to join ranks
with the Chinese to drive the insurgents out of
Chiang Rai. Three hundred additional Chinese irregu-
lars are undergoing training and may be available to
reinforce the operation by April.
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EGYPT - ARAB STATES
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NOTE
Argentina: army
commander in chief General Lanusse and the air force
andnavy commanders are grumbling about the policies
of President.Levingston, and hope to meet with him
early next week to air their complaints. The major
source of their disenchantment lies in the manner'
and timing of the plannecTreturn to "constitutional
processes.'" Levingston plans to hold elections in
four to five years, but Lanusse believes they should
be held sooner and that they must be carefully con-
trolled to prevent victory by a leftist coalition.
Lanusse admits that Levingston's removal would cause
grave damage to Argentina but maintains that the
service commanders are prepared to. take:this risk if
the President does not accept their. recommendations.
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Top Secret
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