THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 MARCH 1975

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August 14, 2016
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August 24, 2016
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March 28, 1975
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 The President's Daily Brief March 28, 1975 5 -----74-077-Sef4aL25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Exempt from general declassification schedule of ED. 11652 exemption category511(1),(2).(3) decDssitied only on approval of the Director of Central Intelligence 7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY March 28, 1975 Table of Contents Middle East: We present the major judgments from the special estimate approved yesterday by the intelligence community. (Page 1) Egypt: 25X1 25X1 (Page ) 25X1 South Vietnam: The evacuation airlift continued yesterday, but civil order and military disci- pline in Da Nang have deteriorated drastically. (Page 5) Cambodia: The US airlift was temporarily inter- rupted as communist gunners continue to fire artillery shells and rockets into Pochentong Airport. (Page 7) Greece-Turkey: The Greek government's mild reac- tion last week to alleged Turkish violations of Greek airspace has now hardened to a point that could lead to an incident. (Page 8) Note: USSR (Page 9) Annex: The Situation in South Vietnam FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part.- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY MIDDLE EAST We present here the major judgments from the latest estimate on the Middle East which was approved yesterday by the intelligence community. Military readiness on both the Sinai and the Golan fronts is at an increased level in the after- math of the breakdown in disengagement-negotiations. In this situation, there is a substantial chance that either the Arabs or the Israelis will delib- erately or by miscalculation resume hostilities at any time. Indeed, we have disturbing indica- tions on the Egyptian front that raise the pos- sibility of an Egyptian-initiated attack or an Israeli preemption within the next few days. Barring this eventuality, we believe that if there is no negotiating progress by early sum- mer, the odds are high that Egypt and Syria will open hostilities on both fronts and even higher that Israel will fail or refuse to distinguish between real and imagined provocations and will strike first. If arrangements are well under way within the next few weeks, the Geneva conference could provide the opportunity for further discussion of serious issues and buy time against the re- newal of hostilities. But we believe that un- less the Arabs moderate their terms for attend- ance of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel is unlikely to go to Geneva. Even if the conference can be convened, the respite gained for serious negotiating will be brief--perhaps less than a month--and we have little optimism that significant progress can be made. The po- sitions on both sides are very likely to harden in a Geneva forum. Egypt will probably extend the UN mandate for a limited period if the Geneva conference is in session or a date for it has been set by late April when the mandate expires. Further exten- sions are less likely, however, and would probably be taken only in conjunction with Syria. For its (continued) 1 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY part, Syria will probably renew the mandate on the Golan Heights only for a limited period and only if provision has been made for the PLO to attend the Geneva conference. Cancellation of the mandate could provoke an Israeli attack, but the Syrians can now count on Egyptian military support and both will run this risk in the absence of diplomatic movement by late May. Egypt and Syria might urge Saudi Arabia to im- pose an oil embargo and/or production cut before they ventured to reopen hostilities. It is doubtful, how- ever, that the Saudis would use the oil weapon except in the event of renewed warfare. A war would almost certainly overcome Saudi hesitation. The Saudis are not likely to employ price hikes or their financial power as political weapons. Despite the suspension of the step-by-step negotiating process, we believe President Sadat will try to preserve what he can of Egyptian-US friendship and cooperation. But he is likely to come under heavy pressure both at home and from other Arabs to cool the relationship significantly. This will not necessarily lead to a significant warming in relations with the Soviets. Some surface patching up of differences is likely to be attempted, especially if the Egyptians expect new fighting and anticipate a need for Soviet resupply, but the effect will be limited. In the event of another war and barring a deci- sive defeat, Sadat will probably continue to look, primarily to the US to mediate a settlement, attempt- ing to remain independent of Soviet influence. From the Soviet standpoint, the suspension of disengagement negotiations is a significant plus, but it is not without problems. The Soviets know that, if any progress is made at Geneva, the Arabs will tend to credit the US for Israeli concessions. If, as seems likely, the Geneva conference is unable to narrow Arab-Israeli differences, (continued) 2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY the Soviets will be under some pressure from the Syrians and other Arabs to improve Egypt's capa- bility for war. If war breaks out, the Soviets would resupply. While the Soviets would probably prefer to avoid war, we do not expect that they would make a strong effort to deter the Arabs. Should a deci- sive Israeli victory loom, the likelihood of So- viet military intervention?probably initially in a defensive posture--is higher than in October 1973. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part --Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A-012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY EGYPT 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 25X11 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25k25X1 25X1 25)(25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T009364012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY SOUTH VIETNAM The evacuation airlift continued yesterday, but civil order and military discipline in Da Nang have deteriorated drastically. Although Saigon reportedly has instructed the regional commander to give the highest priority to security of the airfield, troops that were defending the city reportedly have broken and are out of control. Saigon is hurriedly formulating plans to rede- ploy the four South Vietnamese divisions that are besieged in the northern provinces. General Vien, the chairman of the Joint General Staff, does not believe Da Nang can be held and expects to move the Marines and one division to the Saigon area and relocate two other divisions to the central coast. General Vien believes that the North Viet- namese will rapidly send in-country units southward to exploit the disarray among government forces. The collapse of the government's forces in the northern two thirds of South Vietnam has occurred with such speed that the full magnitude of the dis- aster has not yet registered in Saigon. Official suppression of the worst news has helped to keep the average man in the street only vaguely aware that the situation is serious. President Thieu is apparently concerned over the announcement by former premier and vice presi- dent Ky that he was coming out of retirement to engage in political activity. The arrest hours later of a number of political figures amid press charges of coup plotting was probably intended as a warning to all potential coup plotters, includ- ing Ky and his friends. There is currently no evidence of active plot- ting among those who actually have the capability to stage a coup--the senior military leadership. Indeed, there seems to be some recognition that any instability at this time could be very dangerous. Many senior officers, however, are deeply ashamed at the failure of the armed forces to protect ci- vilians fleeing the communists, and they are bitter at Thieu over the collapse of so much of the mili- tary structure in the north. With this mood growing (continued) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 ? Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY among the military, it is probably only a matter of time before an attempt is made to organize a move to oust Thieu and replace him with a senior military leader. As news of the government's losses spreads in the south, the popular mood in Saigon could turn ugly. The communists are trying to add to the dis- cord by offering amnesty to those who take even limited steps toward accommodation with the Provi- sional Revolutionary Government. 6 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Cambodia: Lower Mekong Oudong 5 "Co 51 Prek Tuol Leap, PHNOM PENH 15 e46,2 o,9Ii- Prek 7 ? Banam Neak Luong River narrows o Miles 10 557564 3-75 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79-r00936P7012500010036-9 Declassified in Part :Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936P7012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CAMBODIA Khmer communist gunners are contin- uing to fire both artillery shells and rockets into Pochentong Airport, tempo- rarily interrupting the US airlift. No US aircraft were at the airport when the shelling resumed early this morning. Cambodian army ground operations to reoccupy the Tuol Leap staging area northwest of the airfield are registering few gains against heavy resistance. Government forces at the isolated lower Mekong River enclave of Neak Luong have recaptured one of the three defensive positions northeast of the town that fell on March 25. There are strong indications, however, that a major communist assault against Neak Luong may be imminent. According to intercepted messages, insurgent forces plan to launch the at- tack tonight and hope to take the town within one week. The Soviet Union is removing its remaining personnel from Phnom Penh. The Soviet embassy has been in caretaker status since 1973, when the USSR allowed Sihanouk's government in exile to open an office in Moscow. The Soviets did not, however, sever formal ties with the Lon Nol government and permitted Cambodia to maintain an embassy in Moscow. 7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 -vierhey?.1 Albania cg IONIAN SEA o , , so,. MILES 557566 3-75 C.; Xc. ATHENS' Crete r Lesbos' Chios Chios} f Samos? r% Turkey 4.40` ? " Rhodes Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY GREECE-TURKEY The Greek government's mild reaction last week to alleged Turkish violations of Greek airspace has now hardened to a point that could lead to an incident. Missile units in Greece are reported to have been ordered to prepare to react fighter aircraft have been moved to the island of Limnos. These are the first fighter aircraft to be sent to any of the Greek islands close to the Turkish main- land. Greek military leaders believe these moves are necessary to ensure that Ankara will not take the previous mild Greek diplomatic protests as a sign of weakness. There was another incident yesterday when Greek planes drove off Turkish aircraft that had briefly passed over Greek islands. The Greek for- eign ministry is studying a detailed report from the defense ministry before proceeding with any diplomatic actions. 8 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 25X1 25X1 Declassified Tn Part ':Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15: CIA-RDP79T00936A-012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTE The US-USSR joint commercial commission will meet in Moscow on April 10 for the first time since the termination of the 1972 trade agreement at the turn of the year. The Soviets will probably be more confident negotiators than in past,. acting on the con- viction that their bargaining position vis-a-vis the US has improved considerably in recent months. They expect economic recession in the West to spur the US to seek Soviet orders, and anticipate that competition for:the Soviet market from other West- ern countries will also stimulate American trade concessions. The Soviets remain keenly interested in expanded trade with the US, and continue to prefer the US as the source of most capital, goods and technology. 9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 104 168 110 -14 Tonle Sap -12 Gulf of Thailand 104 C575f.9 i-Z5 116 Capitol Special Zone South China Sea MILES 100 16-- 14- 12-- 10-- Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY VIETNAM The situation in South Vietnam has rapidly deteriorated since President Thieu's decision in mid-March to shift to a strategy of military retrenchment. The following assessment of the situation and analysis of South Vietnam's prospects for this dry season was approved yester- day as a special estimate by the United States Intelligence Board. I. THE MILITARY SITUATION The Northern Coast The situation is especially bleak in Military Region 1. The government has conceded virtually the whole region to the communists, and South Viet- namese forces are now moving to an enclave around Da Nang. The remnants of two of the four South Vietnamese divisions in Military Region I are scat- tered, and the communists are harassing them as they pull back toward Da Nang. It is questionable if the bulk of these troops will reach Da Nang, and the government will be hard pressed to defend the city without them. The communists, on the other hand, have two fresh divisions west of the city, and they are preparing to attack Da Nang. In addition, the North Vietnamese 320B Division--one of Hanoi's five remaining reserve divisions--is moving south. The Central Coast The government's military position in Military Region 2 has also deteriorated rapidly. The South Vietnamese have abandoned five highland provinces and large parts of several others, and government troops do not appear to be capable of standing up to the communists. The South Vietnamese 23rd Divi- sion and two ranger groups were badly mauled in the fighting in Darlac Province, and five of the six ranger groups withdrawing from Kontum and Pleiku are in disarray. Large quantities of munitions and fuel were abandoned at Kontum and Pleiku cities. (continued) Al FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 A X Declassified in -Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T06936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Communist attacks on the retreating column destroyed or damaged hundreds of pieces of equipment, and South Vietnamese troops abandoned large amounts of hardware along the road--all of which was needed to defend the coastal lowlands. The North Vietnamese are far stronger than the remaining government forces and are in a position to deal a decisive blow in this region. The government has just over one effective division in Military Region 2, compared to five North Vietnamese divi- sions; moreover, large numbers of replacements have arrived in the highlands from North Vietnam.- Nha Trang, the military headquarters for the region, is lightly defended and probably will fall. The South? The fighting has eased somewhat north of Saigon, but the situation remains serious. The government is in the process of withdrawing from Binh Long Prov- ince and has had losses in western Binh Duong Prov- ince. The communists have thus far avoided a frontal assault on Tay Ninh City, but several communist divi- sions and independent regiments are pressing against government troops from three sides. Since the city will be costly to support and defend and most of the population has already fled, serious consideration is being given to abandoning this provincial capital and drawing new defensive lines in the southeastern portion of the province. In addition, recent com- munist gains east of Saigon have forced the South Vietnamese region commander to divert some troops from the Tay Ninh front and Saigon, and this has limited his capabilities to launch a counterattack north and west of the capital. In the delta, the situation is, for the moment, relatively stable. Many of the communist main force units suffered heavy losses in the fighting around the turn of the year, but they are now rebuilding. This stable situation, however, could quickly change should Saigon move any sizable forces from the delta to bolster the defenses of Military Region 3. (continued) A2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY II. THE IMPACT OF THIEU'S STRATEGY Thieu decided to evacuate the highlands and con- centrate his forces along the populated coast and around Saigon because he felt they were overextended, faced with a greatly superior North Vietnamese army force, and confronted with the prospect of dwindling US aid. He clearly hoped to take the communists by surprise, extracting his forces intact and ready to fight before the communists could react. Thieu prob- ably also calculated that by making his decision secretly and presenting it to his senior military commanders as a fait accompli, he would forestall any coup plotting by them or a direct refusal to carry out his orders. The result, however, was that Thieu took his own forces by surprise as much as he did the commu- nists. / /without any prior planning or clear indication of the limits of the withdrawal, the re- deployments have been generally disorderly. In the northern two thirds of the country, most government forces are cut off from each other and seized with an evacuation mentality. Under these conditions, some units have refused to fight. The senior military leadership clearly has been caught off balance by the direction which events have taken, and their reaction has been one of dis- may and depression. These attitudes also are re- flected through the ranks. Grumbling against Thieu's leadership has grown in the wake of military reverses, but events have moved so rapidly that there has been little coup talk. It is widely recognized that a coup at this time would be disastrous.* But the situation is such that pressures for Thieu's resignation or forc- ible removal could quickly emerge. *The South Vietnamese government move on March 27 to arrest "plotters" against the government was basically a warning to opposition elements; those involved did not represent any serious threat to Thieu. (continued) A3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in -Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T06936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY A source of disorder lies in the refugee prob- lem which has caught the government ill-prepared to cope with the massive numbers of refugees generated in military regions 1 and 2. According to the latest estimates, there may now be upwards of a million displaced persons crowded into Da Nang awaiting evacuation to coastal Military Region 2. But the government has inadequate resources to accomplish this mass evacuation in a short period, and there is a serious risk of riots and fighting in the rush to evacuate. Moreover, those who are brought out- may have to be moved again--thereby creating addi- tional pressures on the government. Apart from the reverses suffered in South Viet- nam, there are external factors which could further undermine the South Vietnamese government. The col- lapse of Cambodia, for example, would bring added psychological pressure on Saigon. The continuing debate in the US on the question of US aid to South Vietnam is ?also an unsettling factor. Thieu prob- ably assumes that he will have to rely on what he already has; but if the South Vietnamese in general come to believe that the US will not respond with? additional assistance to meet the new situation, this will fuel defeatism. III. PROSPECTS The communists have the capability to exploit their gains, and we believe they will. In so doing, they will try to destroy the remaining government forces in military regions 1 and 2. At the moment, the situation in Da Nang is chaotic. Considering the forces that North Vietnam can bring to bear against Da Nang, the poor state of South Vietnamese armed forces defenses there, and the widespread panic in the city, its defenses could simply col- lapse. In any event, it will be lost within two weeks to a North Vietnamese attack, perhaps within a few days if the Marine division is removed from the city's defense. Thieu is already considering this move; his strategy has been to save his forces from being destroyed in overextended positions. In Military Region 2, the thinly stretched government forces will be no match for the five North Vietnamese divisions. There are already (continued) A4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY indications that the communists are planning to at- tack several major population centers in the region. In the face of strong communist attacks, the South Vietnamese will be unable to maintain these enclaves In military regions 3 and 4, the government currently has a substantial edge in forces and is expected to maintain a strong defense line around the heavily populated and rice growing areas, but some retraction of defenses is probable. Tay Ninh City has been a major goal of the communists this dry season. The South Vietnamese have fought hard to hold the city thus far, and we believe they can continue to do so, although they may decide to abandon ?the city because of the risks and costs in- volved in defending it. In sum, the South Vietnamese withdrawals amount to a major defeat. As matters now stand, Thieu is faced with: --Reasserting effective control over his com- manders. --Extracting key force elements and equipment from military regions 1 and 2. --Organizing a strong defense of the Saigon area and Military Region 4. Communist momentum, however, will be hard to stop, and the North Vietnamese may be tempted to commit the remaining portion of their strategic re- serve to exploit the situation. Even if they do so, we believe that the South Vietnamese govern- ment's military strength in the southern part of the country will enable it to survive the current dry season, although additional losses are certain. Logistic factors, for example, would probably bar a quick assault on Saigon since the communists now lack supply stocks in forward positions in Mil- itary Region 3, and their prepositioning will be (continued) A5 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T05936A012500010036-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY time consuming. In addition, even the decision to commit the strategic reserve means that forces will have to be marshaled and deployed. In so doing, the communists will run into time and distance fac- tors, and the complexities of assembling units and moving them over long lines of communications in an environment where rapid or orderly deployment is in- hibited. Finally, the South Vietnamese forces in military regions 3 and 4--including the territorial forces--remain intact and able to give a good ac- count of themselves. Even so, the South Vietnamese government will probably be left with control over little more than the delta and Saigon and surrounding populated areas. It would thus face further communist pressure from a position substantially weaker than our previous estimates, with the result likely to be defeat by early 1976. The communists will keep up their mili- tary pressure to topple the South Vietnamese gov- ernment by outright defeat, unless there have been political changes in Saigon that open the way to a new settlement on near-surrender terms. A6 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Declassified in Pari =Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/15 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012500010036-9