THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 MAY 1972
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0005993314
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
T
Document Page Count:
10
Document Creation Date:
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date:
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
Publication Date:
May 23, 1972
File:
Attachment | Size |
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DOC_0005993314.pdf | 336.18 KB |
Body:
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700210001-5
A
The President's Daily Brief
23 May 1972
46
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010700210001-5
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
23 May 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The military situation in South Vietnam is discussed
on Page 1.
The threat of a breakdown in civil order in Chile
was averted last weekend when President Allende's '
Socialist Party withdrew its support from left-wing
extremists. (Page 3)
Chinese irregular forces are again buying and trans-
porting opium in the Burma-Thailand border area.
(Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Demilitarized Zone
\...harp fighting
"My Chanh River
rine
MR 1
Gulf of
Thailand
104
MR 4
116
R3
Capitol Special Zone
118
MR 2
South
China
.Sea
1.6-
14-
12-
10 ?
SOUTH VIETNAM
MILES
190
1110
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
The North Vietnamese-continued strong probes
against government lines along the Quang Tri - Thua
Thien Province border yesterday for the second day.
Most of the North Vietnamese forces have been.pushed
back but only after sharp fighting.
The attacks do not appear to be an enemy
attempt-to make a major breakthrough to-
ward Hue, but rather an effort to keep the
South Vietnamese off balance. Intercepts
last week indicated that the North Viet-
namese were concerned that government
forces were planning to carry out further
raids in Quang Tri Province.
The North Vietnamese may be awaiting the arrival
of the 325th Division before mounting a major new drive
against the defenses of Hue. Communications continue
to indicate that the 325th is moving into South Viet-
nam from the southern panhandle of North Vietnam. One
regiment of the division is already south of the DMZ,
and another regiment and the division headquarters
also appear to be getting ready to move.
Kontum City was quiet on 22 May following the
enemy's reconnaissance in force on the previous day.
To the south, on Route 14, initial reporting indi-
cates the Communists have overrun Fire Support Base
41, midway between Kontum and Pleiku. South Viet-
namese rangers have been trying to reopen Route 14.
Two ranger battalions have been airlifted close to
an enemy-held position that commands the route, and
a third unit is moving up the road about four miles
away.
Debriefings of enemy prisoners and ralliers in
Military Region 2 suggest that the Communists have
lost as many as 2,000 troops in the fighting around
Kontum in the last two montir. chiefly from B-52
strikes and artillery fire.
the Communists have experienced heavy losses
of equipment and supplies, especially among armored
units. They also appear to be having difficulty
coordinating their support units for the campaign
against Kontum City.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Farther south, Communist shelling of An Loc
continues. Intercepts indicate that elements of
two North Vietnamese divisions and a senior rear
services authority have moved back across the
border to base areas in Cambodia, presumably for
rest and refitting. Other enemy units have only
recently been committed to the fighting around An
Loc, however, and are expected to maintain pressure
on the South Vietnamese forces in the area.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHILE
The threat of a breakdown in civil order last
weekend
was averted when President Allende's
?Socialist Party withdrew its support from the ex-
tremist Movement of the Revolutionary Left. The
Socialists took this unprecedented action under
pressure from the Communists, and then joined the
Communists in criticizing the violent aspects of
the MIR.
The Socialists' denunciation of the MIR
may make Allende more willing to move
against armed extremist groups of both
left and right. Until now he has felt
inhibited in disarming the leftists be-
cause they largely support the aovern-
ment's declared aims.
Al-
lende may still agree to disarm ex-
tremists if he believes this would
reduce the threat from both the right
and the MIR.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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553118 5-72 CIA
50
Statute Wes
tit
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND
in the Burma-Thailand border
area Chinese irregular forces again are
buying opium in the Lashio area of Burma and trans-
porting it to refineries controlled by the irregulars
in northern Thailand. The trade is man-
aged by the same Chinese leaders who agreed last
summer to get out of the narcotics business in re-
turn for Bangkok's assistance in resettling 4,000
irregular troops and dependents. Bangkok subse-
quently purchased their stock on hand and in March
publicized the burning of 26 tons of opium.
The lucrative opium trade has been the
irregulars' main source of income in the
20 years since they left China after the
Communist takeover. They presumably cal-
culate that they can afford to renege on
last year's agreement because Bangkok
would have great difficulty in deploying
and supporting enough troops to close
the long, remote border. They also are
aware that the government values their
cooperation against Communist insurgents
in northern Thailand.'
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Turkey: President Sunay, no doubt speaking
for Turkey's military leaders, yesterday approved
the cabinet proposed by Prime Minister - designate
Melen. The next step is for parliament to approve
the new government's program, and this appears likely
to happen within seven days. Most of the 25 cabinet
members are holdovers.
5
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Top Secret
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