THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 MARCH 1972

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005993189
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 13, 1972
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 The President's Daily Brief 13 March 1972 25 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP70T0093-6A010500120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 March 1972 PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS Over the weekend the North Vietnamese launched the most serious attacks in the Sam Thong area in al- most two months. (Page 1) Lon Nol's political moves are discussed on Page 2. Cypriot President Makarios appears to be trying to increase pressure on Athens. (Page 3) Chile( /(Page 4) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 LONG TIENG AREA -- I .0 Governent-held location - ()Communist-held location t 1 0 5 , I ? \ 2 ..r Miles I dan Na / nt positions lost mAT 1 1 Itila ech / ptiOU 1.23NG ?7 Tho Tam Bleun) am Thong I rregular FSB Thunder \ 130mm artillery / Governm \ z Remainin ! s tions 12 NORT VIETNAM LA THAILAND 13 Pa s ST 16 23 23 ne pone 231 aSiti MILES 50 92 DEMILITARIZED ZONE .7" avane VIETNAM ns a .Zjoksang Bolovens Plateau 18 111 4111.. 97 CAMBODIA SF eiscluong Pot J AR ES \ Nom 52 gt \ \ " ha Khao 552669 .3-72 CIA : ?.3 1 Khang ( Ph1-.1.3ong) . Declassified in Part -'ganitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T009-34 6A010500120001-7 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LAOS Elements of the North Vietnamese 141st Regi- ment.drove irregular units from positionsnorth and east of Sam Thong on 11 March in the most serious attacks in this area in almost. two months. Government. forces also abandoned artillery base Thunder, which was,not under heavy attack. Al- though Communist probes and shellings continue, the situation has stabilized for the time being. Most of the 1,500 irregulars in the Sam Thong area are regrouping at. three positions to the southwest. The Long Tieng Valley has been shelled, and the airstrip has been closed sporadically, but no Communist ground attacks have been reported there. The weekend activity could be the be- ginning of an anticipated Communist drive to take the Long Tieng complex. The North Vietnamese are continuing to move forces closer to the Sam Thong and Long Tieng bases. The headquarters of the North Vietnamese 148th Regiment, which was diverted to the Plaine des Jarres area during yang Pao's offensive in February, has now moved back toward Long Tieng, and 130-mm. artillery guns have been moved west from the Plaine to the Tha Tam BZeung area. yang Pao has been preparing an offensive force of some 4,500 men for a new spoiling operation. He will now have to decide whether to reinforce the 6,500 men de- fending Long Tieng and Sam Thong or to go ahead with strikes at Communist rear areas in an effort to lessen the pres- sure on the bases. The government has also suffered a military setback in south Laos. Two irregular battalions over the weekend abandoned positions on the Route 23/231 road junction some 12 miles east,of Pakse city. Afresh irregular force has moved intO the area, where elements of the North Vietnamese 9th Regiment have been active for the Past two weeks, presumably trying to tie down government forces well away from the infiltration corridor. The proximity of the Communists to Pakse is having an, adverse psychological effect on the government. 1 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CAMBODIA Over the weekend Lon Nol dissolved the constit- uent assembly, suspended work on a new constitution, dismissed the cabinet, and assumed the title of president. He told Ambassador Swank yesterday that he intends to restructure the executive branch of government but that he has not yet decided on the specifics. Lon Nol appears to have had only the most cursory consultation with principal fig- ures within the government. He apparently also gave little consideration to the im- pact on political elements already restive at what they consider to be the betrayal of a promise of more democratic government after Sihanouk's ouster. The chances are good, nevertheless, that Lon Nol will bring off the changes without provoking a major political crisis. There will be much grumbling among politicians in the coming days, but Lon NoZ's potential op- ponents Zack a figure around whom they can coalesce. Any serious opposition would need support from the military, and army commanders appear to be strongly be- hind Lon Nol, Lon Nol must now decide what to do with Sink Matak, whose administrative skills are much needed and for whom Lon Nol has considerable personal respect. This could prove troublesome, because Matak is under strong attack from students and intellectuals, who find him a convenient scapegoat for what they regard as the de- linquencies of the regime. Lon Nol's next move is likely to be a gesture to- ward broadening his government, perhaps by offering someone like In Tam, who was president of the constituent assembly, a position of ostensible importance. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CYPRUS President Makarios appears to be orchestrating a campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Athens. He is telling diplomatic callers, according to the US Embassy. in Nicosia, that Athens itself advised' in favor, of the controversial Czech arms delivery to Cyprus but, in the hope of avoiding Turkish crit- icism, requested that, the purchase be represented as a Cypriot initiative. The Archbishop's remarks have been leaked to the press in order to arouse Turkish suspicions of Athens. In the past few days, moreover, the pro-Makarios press in Cyprus has be- gun to needle Athens intensively, suggesting that there are splits within the Greek regime and cast- ing aspersions on Foreign Minister Palamas. At the same time, Makarios is fostering mount- ing opposition to the request of the three Greek Cypriot bishops for his resignation from the pres- idency.. In one district, Greek Cypriots are call- ing for a referendum on replacing the local bishop-- a procedure that, While illegal in church eyes, could prevent, that bishop from returning to his seat.and thus dilute church pressure on Makarios. While this campaign is going on, Makarios has sequestered 'himself to prepare a.for- mal reply,to:the Greeks in which he is expected to seek a compromise. Makarios may delay his reply until letter this week in order to give his campaign time to take effect He runs some risk, 'however, of merely provoking Athens and further jeopardizing prospects for stability on the island. 3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CHILE 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7 i Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500120001-7