THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001800010038-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 38
• Content Type: MEMO

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Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
State Dept. review completed
ARMY review(s) completed.
Top Secret
.110
9 April 1967
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Information as of 1600
9 April 1967
HIGHLIGHTS
Local elections in South Vietnam proceeded
smoothly for the second consecutive Sunday. On the
national level, Premier Ky is apparently cooperating
actively with the largest bloc in the Constituent
Assembly in an effort to further his presidential
candidacy. US officials feel that his chances for
becoming the military's nominee remain slightly
better than those of Chief of State Thieu. No
major ground actions were reported in South Viet-
nam over the weekend, although Communist forces
did carry out a mortar attack on the headquarters
of the US 1st Air Cavalry Division.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Ground action in South Vietnam on 8 and 9 April was
highlighted by a mortar attack on the 400 helicopters
and observation planes stationed at the base camp of
the lst Air Cavalry Division at An Khe (Para. 1).
Units of the US 9th Infantry Division made contact
with an estimated VC battalion 15 miles southwest
of Saigon on 9 April and may have surrounded the
enemy force (Para. 2). B-52 raids over the weekend
were concentrated on Communist infiltration routes
and logistic areas in Laos and South Vietnam's Z
Corps (Para. 3).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
Local elections for village councils on 9 April pro-
ceeded smoothly for the second successive Sunday.
There was a high voter turnout and minimal Viet
Cong interference. (Para. 1). The US Embassy con-
tinues to believe that Premier Ky's chances for
becoming the military's presidential nominee are
slightly better than those of Chief of State Thieu,
although it is uncertain when he might be named
(Para. 2).
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uring the pas wee x,
least eight ons i uen Assembly deputies have
received threatening letters. There is suspicion
in some quarters that Police Director Loan is the
instigator (Paras. 5-7).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
There is nothing of significance to report.
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: There is
nothing of significance to report.
9 April 1967
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. A Communist force of unknown size attacked
the base camp of the US 1st Air Cavalry Division
near An Khe on 9 April killing nine troopers and
wounding 17 others. The attack opened at night with
a mortar barrage directed at the camp airfield where
more than 400 helicopters and observation aircraft
are stationed. Countermortar radar located the enemy
positions and aerial rocket fire suppressed the bar-
rage within eight minutes, and only 12 helicopters
were damaged. Most of the US casualties occurred in
a subsequent brief firefight during an enemy attack
on one of the camp's perimeter security posts.
2. Preliminary reports from MACV on 9 April
indicated that elements of the US 9th Infantry Divi-
sion were heavily engaged with an estimated Commu-
nist battalion approximately 15 miles southwest of
Saigon. The US units, searching parts of Long An
Province as part of Operation ENTERPRISE, are believed
to have surrounded the enemy force, and additional
friendly troops have been called in. Initial casualty
reporting lists 16 US wounded and 40 Communists dead.
The enemy troops, wearing steel helmets and khaki
uniforms, have been tentatively identified by a cap-
tured Viet Cong as members of the 211th VC battalion.
3. B-52 raids over the weekend were concentrated
on Communist base camps and supply routes in Laos and
South Vietnam's northern provinces. Twenty-seven
B-52s hit storage areas and infiltration routes north
and south of the 17th parallel in Laos. Twenty-one
bombers carried out five attacks on several enemy
positions approximately 10 and 25 miles west-southwest
of Hue.
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Local elections for some 252 village
councils on 9 April proceeded smoothly for
the second successive Sunday, with voter turn-
out remaining high and few Viet Cong counter-
election incidents reported. Returns thus far
indicate that the proportion of eligible voters
casting ballots on 9 April will probably be
somewhat higher than the 80.5 percent turnout
on 2 April. The few major election incidents
occurred prior to 9 April, but included the
assassination of one ethnic Cambodian candidate
in Vinh Binh Province. Although Viet Cong
military action was widespread near Quang Tri
city last week, there were no reports of voter
harassment in that area on election day.
Thieu-Ky Presidential Candidacies Remain Un-
solved
It he US Embassy continues
to believe that Ky's prospects for becoming the
military nominee are slightly better than those
of General Thieu, and that their current competi-
tion will most likely be resolved by a private
arrangement between the two men. In view of
various conflicting reports, however, the embassy
has commented that the timing of the decision
remains very much in doubt, but that pressures
are mounting and that it will likely occur
within the next few weeks, and perhaps within
the next few days.
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Harassment of Constituent Assembly Members
5. since
3 April at leas eig Constituent ssem deputies
have received threatening letters, four of which
were accompanied by boxes containing hand grenades.
The letters were generally critical of the constitu-
tion, and warned the assemblymen that unless they
changed their "opportunistic ways" they would face
strong measures.
6. The source of these threats remains unknown,
although a police investigation is reportedly under
way. The local Vietnamese press has avoided labeling
these incidents as examples of Viet Cong terrorism.
There has been some speculation in Saigon that they
are either the result of pre-election infighting be-
tween nationalist political factions or an attempt by
the military to keep civilian politicians off balance.
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7. The latter theme was discussed by Lt.
Colonel Pham Van Loi, who is secretary general
of the Peoples Armed Forces Advisory Council and
also close to Premier Ky, in a conversation with
a US Embassy officer on 7 April. Lai said that
there is widespread belief that Police Director
Loan is involved in the affair, because of Loan's
reputation for mounting similar operations in the
past and his well-known critical attitude toward
the constitution and the Constituent Assembly. Loi
said that such speculation about Loan could harm Perrier
K~:r's reputation and his presidential prospects and
that he planned to talk soon to both Ky and Loan
to express his concern.
9 April 1967
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Top Secret 1*0
Top Secret
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