THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 FEBRUARY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015020
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 3, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
February 3, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. 11652
exemption category, 58(
declassified onlY on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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February 3, 1976
Table of Contents
Egypt-USSR: President Sadat reportedly has been
told by Moscow that the Soviets will no longer
overhaul Egypt's MIG-21 engines. (Page 1)
USSR-Angola: The latest phase of the Soviet mili-
tary airlift to Angola seems to be ending.
(Page 2)
Notes: Cuba-Mexico; Cuba - Spanish Sahara; Egypt
(Pages 3 and 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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EGYPT-USSR
Our embassy in Cairo reports that
President Sadat recently received a terse
note from Moscow saying that the Soviets
would no longer overhaul Egypt's MIG-21
engines. Some 50 Egyptian MIG engines
reportedly have been in Moscow for repair
since early last year, but no work has
been done on them.
Moscow's decision to stop overhauling engines
is not expected to ground Egypt's 14 squadrons of
MIG-21s immediately, but it will seriously erode
the combat capability of the air force within a
matter of months. The decision undoubtedly will
spur Cairo to seek alternative sources of parts and
maintenance, and a limited capability to manufac-
ture some parts in order to keep its 210 MIG-21s
airborne.
The decision also may force Cairo to attempt
to speed up its conversion from Soviet to Western
arms. Egypt has plans to replace its MIG-21s with
French Mirage fighters, probably the F-1. This
aircraft, which is to be produced locally under li-
cense, will not be available, however, until about
1980 at the earliest.
The Soviets' decision is part of a campaign of
Soviet harassment that has been under way for almost
two years. Moscow has refused to replace Egypt's
losses from the October war and has cut back the
supply of spare parts for Soviet equipment in the
Egyptian inventory.
Moscow's indication that it will reduce the
flow of spare parts already has had a serious ef-
fect on Egypt's forces. The problem was focused
sharply last June when
because of ifie
lack of spare parts, Egypt would either have t6 go
to war before the end of the year or wait several
years until major re-equipment from Western coun-
tries could be absorbed by the armed forces.
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CONGO
BRAllAVILLE
KINSHASA
C BINDA
ATLA,VTIC
559237 2-76
SOUTH-WEST AFRICA
(International Territory)
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USSR-ANGOLA
National Union forces in southern
Angola seem to be holding their own.
The most recent phase of the Soviet
military airlift for the Popular Move-
ment appears to be ending.
The Popular Movement has made little progress
in its advances on three towns held by the National
Union--Huambo, Silva Porto, and Luso. On the coast,
Popular Movement forces have not yet mounted an ef-
fective offensive southward from Novo Redondo to the
railroad at Lobito.
No new Soviet transports have arrived in Africa
since Saturday, and none is en route. The Soviets
have made a total of 66 flights to West Africa since
the airlift began in late October.
No MIG fighter aircraft were detected in recent
satellite photography of five airfields in Angola,
Cabinda, and the Congo. Some of the airfields, how-
ever, have a number of large hangers in which fighter
aircraft could be assembled and concealed.
The Kresta-II guided missile cruiser and the
Alligator-class landing ship that have been oper-
ating together in the Gulf of Guinea separated on
January 30. The landing ship is now en route to
Conakry and should arrive there tomorrow. The
Kresta-II is moving slowly to the southeast and yes-
terday afternoon was located some 500 miles west of
Pointe Noire, Congo.
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NOTES
Cuban Prime Minister Castro has canceled a long-
planned visit to Mexico in March, probably because of
recent criticism ly President Echeverria of Cuba's
Angola policy.
Castro told the Mexicans that the press of Af-
rican affairs at home and his attendance at the Com-
munist party congress in Moscow in late February
would keep him fully occupied. Echeverria is said
to be pleased with Castro's decision. The Mexican
President said recently that he believes Cuba's in-
tervention in Angola is turning world opinion against
Cuba
'Cuba may be shipping arms to the Polisario
Front, an independence movement in Spanish Sahara
On January 14, a Cuban cargo ship was near the
Saharan coast, apparently taking part in the Cuban
military sealift to Angola. Another Cuban ship, em-
ployed in the same sealift, had sailed by the coast
of Spanish Sahara in late December. Both were far
north of the usual route followed by ships taking
men and arms to Angola. We are unable to confirm
that either ship unloaded arms, but the circuitous
route suggests that Cuba is supplying the Front with
Soviet arms.
(continued)
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The semi-official Al-Ahram reported over the
weekend that 12,000 people had been arrested in
Egypt during the preceding week.
Although the arrests were allegedly for criminal
offenses, the coincidence of increased student and
religious agitation suggests that at least some of
the detentions were for political reasons. Two re-
cent student demonstrations at the University of
Cairo probably were motivated by the rising cost of
living. A third involved rightist students demanding
greater application of Islamic law in Egypt's legal
system.
Foreign Minister Fahmi claims that young Muslim
fanatics have begun to establish contacts with left-
ists. An alliance between right and left extremists
has long been a particular fear of the government.
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