THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 25 AUGUST 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993483
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 25, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
The President's Daily Brief
25 August 1972
4 5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 58( I
declassifted only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
25 August 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The South Vietnamese have committed additional troops
to their campaign to recapture the Que Son Valley.
(Page 1)
Moscow is beginning to show its resentment of criti-
cism in the Cairo press. (Page 2)
Bonn is moving ahead rapidly with its bid to normal-
ize relations with Peking. (Page 3)
Yemen (Sana)
Soviet
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
(Page 4)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
OR74J4
V ETfIA
UA
DEMILITARIZED ZONE
Fighting
ansgqri
/ Hue ?
"?-? 5 c I
I ? \ Phu\Bal.
, THItN
?. ?
11c.1
havane
L
ttO
eu
MILES 25
Vilpa Nang
.1 ?
/11 -
I k 6
'
'???(' e
?-?-?
?
) '
I
?
?-???-??'
-FSB Battly
M
Clue S
FSB/lio
,
111\111
SOUTH
VIETNAM
Bien Hoe
1111111
SOUTH
\,Hoi An-
Enemy-held
tiang Binh
Shelling
ortittsi
ts ./14 A
19GAI
SAIGON
CHINA
SEA
ung Ngai
1
1
'
Pkie
/
J
Enemy build u
Du
rr"
PLEI
?
ontum ,
ti1 '
? 1
leiku
Ift
Bting,SonBNtH;
1
DI,TscH
e
vi QNh
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Additional government troops have been moved
to Quang Nam Province to strengthen the campaign
to recapture the Que Son Valley. A South Vietnam-
ese Army regiment has been added to the government
task force at Fire Support Base Baldy, and a re-
newed effort to retake positions lost to the Commu-
nists over the weekend has been scheduled. In addi-
tion, a new commander has been named for the ARVN
2nd Division to replace General Hiep)
/ His replacement is Colonel Nhut,
who was responsible for holding the garrison at An
Loc.
Elements of the North Vietnamese
have, moved closer to the staging area around Baldy,-
howeverl'and may try to pre-empt the government in7
itiative. In addition, a sharp enemy attack north-
west of Baldy on Wednesday and the use of heavy ar-
tillery against populated areas in the coastalarea--
including a rare shelling of Tam Icar the provincial
capital of Quang Tin Province--may be intended to
mask, further infiltration of Communist regulars into
the Coastal lowlands.
There were several ground clashes in and around
Quang Tri City yesterday, and the enemy is continu-
ing its heavy artillery shelling of government posi-
tions. Ground action remains light around Hue and
intercepts indicate that the North Vietnamese 324B
Division elements in the area have been ordered to
use economy-of-force tactics.
There are signs that harder fighting is ahead
in some relatively quiet areas, however. Radio di-
rection-finding indicates that a buildup of enemy
forces is under way in western Pleiku Province, near
Duc Co. In the Saigon area, a North Vietnamese regi-
ment has been detected about 15 miles northeast of
Bien Hoa Airfield.
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-EGYPT
Criticism of the USSR appearing in Cairo's
press-isJoeginning to bring resentment to.the sur,
face in Moscow.. Until recently,-the USSR?sought
to avoid public recriminations that. could harm its
longer-term.intereats in the Middle East, but after
publication of editorials considered to be' "anti-
Soviet" in Cairo's two main newspapers, the Soviets.
reacted.- The first riposte appeared in this week's.
issue -of.New-Times. Pravda and Izvestiya followed-
up with articles reflecting concern about?a. possible
Egyptian turn to the USfor support,
Moscow
is particularly embittered by Cairo's publication
Of Egyptian complaints, which, could
only have come about with the approval of Egypt's
leaders.
The Soviet press comments are only mildly
reflective of the views expressed by So-
viet diplomats in the Middle East.
the US Embassy in Lebanon has heard of
other derogatory remarks by Ambassador
Azimov and other Soviet diplomats.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY
Bonn. is moving ahead rapidly with its bid to
normalize relations with Peking. West-German and
Chinese negotiators meeting in Bonn have agreed-on
late October or earlyNovember as the time for For-
eign Minister Scheel's visit to China. Moreover,'
they have already worked out an agreement in prin-
ciple on a,communique to be issued at that time an-
flouncing that. the two countries intend to establish
relations soon..
In another decisive foreign policy move, the
Cabinet on 23 August decided to make ratification.
of last spring's inter-German traffic treaty an
"urgent matter.. This helps to clear the way for
prompt approval of the,treaty.before the Bundestag
is dissolved in. anticipation of elections this?
fall,- According to the press, the opposition Chris-
tian Democrats have already decided they cannot af-
ford to oppose the treaty, which provides forcer-
tamn travel improvements between the two countries.
These moves reflect Chancellor Brandt's
desire to seize the initiative in the
election campaign and reverse the opposi-
tion's early lead.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Yemen (Sono) - USSR:
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated
as a result of Moscow's failure to make good on its
promises of new arms for Sana's largely Soviet-
equipped military forces. The Yemeni Government is
also unhappy over the USSR's expanded military aid
program to Sones adversary, Yemen (Aden).
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
25X1
25X1
_
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011000220001-0