THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 16, 1967
• Content Type: MEMO

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
Top Secret
119
16 November 1967
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Information as of 1600
November 1967
HIGHLIGHTS
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1. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Dak To Airfie d, the scene of four mortar attacks
on 15 November, was hit again on 16 November with
43 rounds (Paras. 1-3).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The Senate has begun to bog down in approving rules
presented by the rules committee, and the process
may continue into December (Para. 1). Saigon has
postponed the execution of three terrorists (Para. 2).
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IV. Other Communist. Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Develo ments: Premier Pham
Van Dong has reaffirmed Hanoi's standard position
on several of the key questions related to the war
and voiced the Vietnamese Communists' determination
to fight on (Paras. 1-3).
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Dak To Airfield, the scene of four enemy
mortar attacks totaling some 90 rounds on 15 No-
vember, was hit the following day with a 43-round
barrage. Little damage was done on the 16th, how-
ever. The attacks on the 15th killed 20 Americans
and wounded 22 in addition to destroying two heavy
transport planes and igniting ammunition dumps.
US artillery, helicopter gunships, and jet air-
craft fired on suspected enemy firing positions
throughout the past two days.
2. US casualties in the two weeks of fighting
in the Dak To area now stand at 121 killed and over
600 wounded. Approximately 700 Communists have
been killed.
3. US forces fanning out south and west of
Dak To have not encountered significant resistance
for the past three days, indicating that the North
Vietnamese 32nd and 66th regiments may be withdraw-
ing to reorganize and resupply. The recent mortar
attacks on Dak To could be intended to cover this
withdrawal. The appearance of the North Vietnamese
24th Regiment north of Dak To--where South Viet-
namese units reported heavy enemy fire during the
past three days--indicates that the focus of the
Dak To fighting may shift to this sector.
4. Sharp fighting was reported on 15 No-
vember northwest of Saigon. Enemy gunners launched
a heavy mortar attack on the base camp of the US
25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, 18 miles north-
west of Saigon. Other 25th Division troops re-
ported heavy fighting farther north in Tay Ninh
Province. Eighteen US soldiers were killed at
Cu Chi and 14 died in the Tay Ninh action. Scat-
tered fighting also continued far to the north
in the central I Corps area, where 13 North Viet-
namese regulars and seven US soldiers of the Ameri-
cal Division were killed.
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1. After an auspicious start, the Senate has
begun to move more slowly in approving rules drafted
by the rules committee. Plenary sessions on 11
and 14 November were devoted to consideration of
only nine articles, all dealing with the duties of
the Senate's standing committees. Forty-one articles
have now been approved, and approximately 150 re-
main. Some optimistic senators had earlier esti-
mated that all the rules could be approved within
two weeks, but it now appears likely that the process
will continue into December.
Front Threatens Retaliation If Terrorists Executed
2. The South Vietnamese Government has ordered
a stay for three Viet Cong terrorists scheduled
to be executed on 17 November. The Liberation Front
in a statement broadcast by Hanoi had threatened
previously to take "appropriate acts of retaliation"
if the executions were carried out. A similar threat
was raised by the Front last. June when the same
three terrorists were scheduled to be put to death.
At that time, however, the Front named FSO "Major"
Douglas Ramsey and the late Gustav Hertz as objects
of such retaliation. In addition to threatening
language, the Front in the present statement con-
trasted the Saigon government's action with the
Front's recent release of three American prisoners.
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IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. North Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong, in
a recent interview with a reporter from the French
periodical Le Nouvel Observateur, reaffirmed Hanoi's
standard position on several key questions related
to the war and voiced the Vietnamese Communists'
determination to continue the struggle until "ulti-
mate victory." In his remarks, carried in the 15
November issue of the magazine, the premier insisted
that the "four points" remained the basis for any
settlement of the conflict and explained that Ha-
noi's demand for an "unconditional cessation of
the bombing" means that the Vietnamese will never
negotiate under the threat of bombs.
2. In response to a question about Ambassador
Goldberg's recent remarks, the premier ruled out
any UN action in the war, but he made no specific
reference to Goldberg's suggestion that the Liber-
ation Front might participate in a Security Council
discussion of the conflict. The premier also
underscored the importance of the Liberation Front's
new political program and again emphasized that
the Front is "the sole authentic representative of
the South Vietnamese people."
3. The remainder of the premier's remarks
were devoted to defending the Communist position
on the Vietnam conflict. He conceded that the
days ahead will undoubtedly be more difficult, but
he insisted, "it does not matter, our people will
pursue the war until victory, regardless of the
duration or its cost."
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 Ok Oft
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Stung Treng >
T H A I LAND L A O S
fA M POT
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Top Secret
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