THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010072-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 72
• Publication Date: April 12, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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12 April 1966
A heavy Viet Cong mortar attack on Tan Son
Nhut Air Base apparently has inflicted heavy US
casualties and major damage to aircraft and
facilities; three lesser enemy sabotage/terror-
ist attacks have taken place elsewhere. Mean-
while, the government-sponsored National Politi-
cal Congress convened but was boycotted by Bud-
dhist Institute representatives and the Catholic
hierarchy.
I.
The
Military Situation in South Vietnam:
'
A major
Viet
ong morEar
attac today on Sargon s
Tan Son
Nhut
Air Base has apparently resulted
in heavy
US
casualties and extensive damage to
aircraft
and
equipment (Para. 1). Viet Cong
terror ists/saboteurs.were active yesterday in
the delta province of Ba Xuyen, in Saigon, and
in Ninh Thuan Province (Para. 2). Company-
strength elements of the US 1st Infantry Di-
vision sustained heavy losses yesterday when
engaged by an estimated Viet Cong battalion dur-
ing the conduct of Operation ABILENE in Phuoc
Tuy Province (Para. 3). Two ARVN companies
have favorably terminated reaction/pursuit Op-
eration TUYEN NHON in Kien Tuong Province (Para. 4).
USMC Operation ORANGE has been terminated af-
ter 11 days in Quang Nam Province (Para. 5).
Two new allied search-and-destroy operations
were initiated yesterday in northeast Quang
Ngai Province and along the II/III Corps boundary
in Binh Thuan and Binh Tuy provinces (Para. 6).
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II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The government's National Political Congress was
convened today; attendance was spotty (Paras. 1-2).
Several antigovernment plans and activities were
reported, and one "antistruggle" demonstration
took place in I Corps today (Para. 3). Increasing
strains within the Ky government appear to be de-
veloping between those advocating "hard" and "soft"
measures for the political crisis.(Paras.4-5). The
government's economic program designed to combat
inflation is being postponed (Para. 6).
Communist Political Developments:
(Peking's
People's Daily article of 11 April on the "art of
war" appears to have been aimed at countering Soviet
charges that China is responsible for provoking un-
successful revolutions around the world.(Paras. 2-4).
12 April 1966
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1. Viet Cong forces today launched a heavy mortar
attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base, approximately four miles
northwest of Saigon. Preliminary MACV reportis indicate
that three US personnel were killed and 42 wounded (five
seriously).
Unconfirmed press reports in ica e
a major aircra and structural damage may have been
inflicted in the assault. The air base control tower, the
civilian passenger terminal, the consolidated base per-
sonnel office, POL storage tanks; and trucks have all
been reported ablaze. One USAF RB-57 and two VNAF C-47s
have been reported destroyed. No firm information is pres-
ently available on the number of mortar rounds fired,
although MACV believes that at least 12-15 rounds were
involved. Late MACV spot reports state that a heavy
firefight.':has broken out between friendly reaction forces
and enemy'-,troops northwest of the air base.
2. Viet Cong terrorists/saboteurs were active yester-
day in the delta, in Saigon, and along Vietnam's south-
central coast. In Ba Xuyen Province, 90 miles southwest
of Saigon, a grenade was thrown into the 44th ARVN Ranger
Battalion compound at Soc Trang, resulting in one Viet-
namese civilian killed and 30 wounded (15 ARVN, 15
civilians). Three Viet Cong suspects have been seized.
In Saigon, a grenade and a mine were detonated against
the 35th ARVN Ranger Battalion compound, killing one
ARVN soldier and wounding two soldiers and three civilians.
Government security forces later discovered an unexploded Chi-
nese Communist-.---made 10-pound TNT mine in the compound
area. Three suspects have been detained thus far.
Finally, in Ninh Thuan Province, 150 miles northeast of
Saigon, a Viet Cong plastic explosive charge ruptured an
important POL pipeline running from the beach offload
point to Phan Rang Air Base. The pipeline was repaired
in approximately two hours. Air operations were not af-
fected by the incident.
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Allied Operations
3. Company-strength elements of the US 1st In-
fantry Division participating in the six-battalion
US search-and-destroy Operation ABILENE, southeast
of Saigon in Phuoc Tuy Province, were engaged yester-
day by an estimated Viet Cong battalion heavily
armed with mortars, automatic weapons, and small
arms. Forty-eight Americans were killed, 58 wounded,
and six missing or captured; enemy losses were not
reported. Later in the day, a second US company
skirmished with an estimated Viet Cong platoon in
the same general area, resulting in US losses of two
killed and 12 wounded, and Communist losses of five
killed. Yesterday's actions raised cumulative Ameri-
can casualties in the 15-day ground sweep to 63
killed, 134 wounded, and six missing, in contrast
to total Viet Cong losses of 49 killed, 21 captured,
and 675 suspects apprehended.
4. Operation TUYEN NHON, the ARVN two-company
reaction/pursuit ground sweep targeted against an-'esti-
mated Viet Cong battalion in Kien Tuong Province,
near the Cambodian border, has been terminated.
Cumulative enemy losses were estimated by US advisers
as 228 killed, of which 140 have been confirmed by
US body count. In addition, armed helicopter pilots
supporting the operation estimated that at least 100
Viet Cong were wounded by ai'.strikes and carried
away. Friendly casualties totaled 28 killed (1 US),
24 wounded (2 US), and five missing.
5. Battalion-strength USMC task force elements
have terminated search-and-destroy Operation ORANGE
southwest of Da Nang, in Quang Nam Province, after
11 :days. Viet Cong losses were placed at 57 killed
(US body count), six captured, and 53 suspects de-
tained, as against US casualties of 18 killed and
92 wounded.
6. Two new search-and-destroy operations were
initiated in South Vietnam yesterday. Two reinforced
USMC battalions and three reinforced airborne, ranger,
and marine battalions of the 2d ARVN Division launched
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Operation NEVADA/LIEN KET 34 along the northeastern
coast of Quang Ngai Province. The enemy order of
battle in the operational sweep area is estimated
to total 3,800 (21st PAVN Regiment - 2,000; 1st
Viet Cong Regiment - 1,400; 195th PAVN AA Battal-
ion - 400). Farther south, Operation AUSTIN II
was mounted by three battalions of the US 101st
Airborne Division along the II/III Corps boundary
in Binh Thuan and Binh Tuy Provinces. No enemy
contact has been reported thus far in either opera-
tion.
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. The government-sponsored National Political Con-
gress was convened in Saigon today, with 92 of some 170per-
sons invited in attendance. Buddhist institute representa-
tives, including the inactive southern wing led by Mai Tho
Truyen, boycotted the session, as did Archbishop Nguyen
Van Binh and other members of the Catholic hierarchy. Three
prominent Catholic lay leaders were in attendance, however,
Among provincial and municipal councils, 39 of-'48 invited
were reportedly present. The US Embassy believes it possi-
ble that some of those present today may not have been in-
vited, and it is reserving its judgment on the over-all im-
portance of the membership until a list of names of those
attending becomes available.
2. The congress was addressed by Directorate chair-
man General Thieu, who stressed the armed forces' goodwill
and desire to return to purely military duties when a com-
petent and responsible civilian government is established.
He implied that the Directorate was willing to accede to a
shorter timetable for the establishment of a civilian gov-
ernment, and then asked the congress to put forth its most
realistic ideas for such a government. The congress is
scheduled to meet for about three days to consider the ques-
tion of a civilian government.
3. Saigon was quiet today, although reports reaching
the US Embassy indicate that Buddhist leaders may now be
planning large-scale demonstrations in the capital on 14
April in protest against the National Political Congress
and the continued existence of the Ky government. Else-
where today, antigovernment demonstrations were reported in
Hue and Da Nang. At a press conference in Da Nang today,
Colonel Dan Quang Yeu, an antigovernment military commander,
expressed his lack of confidence in the Ky government, and
at the same time declared that his troops would obey the
orders of the new I Corps commander, General Ton That Dinh.
A demonstration of some 1,000 persons in the provincial
capital of Quang Ngai today was reportedly organized by
the VNQDD (Nationalist) Party in support of the Ky govern-
ment. The theme of the demonstration was apparently to urge
the present government to remain in office in order to im-
plement an orderly transfer of power to a civilian govern-
ment.
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4. Evidence of increasing splits within the
Ky government continues to be received. Seven
cabinet members have reportedly threatened to re-
sign if the government follows through with its
plan to replace National Police Director Lieu.
These cabinet members apparently believe that Lieu
commands some support from moderate Buddhist leaders,
which would be withdrawn should Lieu be ousted.
They also favor the return of General Thi to a posi-
tion of some importance, and are generally unhappy
about the lack of influence they have been able to
exert on Premier Ky during the current political
crisis. The US Embassy views the potential resig-
nation of these cabinet ministers with alarm and is
apparently attempting to head off any such mass ac-
tion.
5. Lieu's dismissal was ordered by Premier Ky
after he had been informed that Lieu was still main-
taining communications with General Thi. Other mem-
bers of the government who generally maintain that
forceful action should be taken by Ky in regard to
antigovernment activity, have previously implied
that Lieu could not be trusted.
6. Recent economic developments, aggravated
by the political crisis, have led the US Mission to
revise its anti-inflationary strategy which was de-
voloped in late 1965 and agreed upon at the Hono-
lulu conference. The complete program of measures
to combat inflation. has not materialized because of
port congestion, the attitudes of top-level GVN
economic personnel, and GVN reluctance under polit-
ical attack to implement five of the six agreed
tax measures. US officials feel that greater in-
flation is probable and have recommended the follow-
ing revisions: improved import procedures, tax in-
creases, financed increases in imports, and a 40
percent wage increase for military and civilian gov-
ernment personnel by June or July.
12 April 1966
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
2. The Peking People's Daily on 11 April car-
ried an article on "the art of war" apparently de-
signed to answer Soviet charges that Peking was
responsible for provoking unsuccessful Communist
revolutions around the world. Asserting that after
the publication of Lin Piao's article on "people's
war" on 3 September China had been slanderously ac-
cused of "calling for a change of world order by
force and violence," the article declared that it
was the "imperialists" and not Peking who compelled
the "oppressed people" to take up arms to secure
their own "liberation."
3. People's Daily argues that revolutionaries
must work out tactics and strategy appropriate to the situa-
tion in which they find themselves--"learning" from
the enemy and developing a "range of effective mili-
tary principles." The Chinese cite their own revo-
lutionary experience as an example but do not presept
it as more than a general guide--suggesting sensitiv-
ity to possible charges that they are treating for-
eign parties like puppets and demanding compliance
with detailed instructions sent out from Peking,
12 April 1966
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4.,, Like the articles early last month concern-
ing "twists and turns" in the road to ultimate vic-
tory, this latest one takes note of Communist re-
verses during recent months. It admits that to ask
a revolutionary army to win every battle "is asking
the impossible," and asserts that defeats as well
as victories would furnish the "revolutionary army"
with the necessary experience to defeat the "imperial-
ists" ultimately. The article avoids linking this
idea with Vietnam, which was mentioned only once--
as one of many countries whose people had correctly
chosen to take up arms against the "imperialists."
Peking on 10 April asserted that the situation in
South Vietnam was "excellent," and it is very un-
likely that the Chinese view Vietnam as one of the
areas in which the revolutionary struggle is`going
poorly,
12 April 1966
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