THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 16, 1967
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1.pdf396.7 KB
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Approved F rRelease 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T009WA00290Wa 5dcret DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM The Situation in Vietnam Top Secret 119 16 November 1967 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 25X1 Approv Information as of 1600 November 1967 HIGHLIGHTS 25X1 25X1 25X1 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). 25X1 25X1 25X1 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). 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 25X1 0 25 50 75 IOOMites 0 25 5I1 75 160 K-,_t", Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Approves 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. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Appro 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. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 25X1 IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS 1. There is nothing of significance to report. 25X1 Approv Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 Appro 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." 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 Ok Oft Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 Stung Treng > T H A I LAND L A O S fA M POT Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826A002900210001-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1 25X1 aFor Rase 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T008262900210001-1 Top Secret Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00826AO02900210001-1