CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00975A008800120001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 23, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

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23 February 1966
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CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
RELATING TO NATIONAL SECURITY
DEPT OF STATE review(s) completed.
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GROUP 1
EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
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23 February 1966
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Pd4
1. Viet
nam
:
CONTENTS
Current situation report. (Page 1)
3. Indo
nes
ia:
Cabinet reshuffle announced by Sukarno
appe
4. Syri
5. Liby
to m
6. Dom
give
ars
a:
a:
ake
inic
n no
to
Ha
Ki
L
an
i
be major defeat for the army. (Page 4)
rd-line Baath faction seizes power. (Page 6)
ng apparently will not carry through on plans
ibya a republic. (Page 7)
Republic: Army and air force chiefs have
ndication they will step down. (Page 8)
9. Uganda: Prime minister has assumed all government
powers. (Page 12)
10. Notes:
(Page 13)
(Burundi.
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a>T TO
i
ty
N aIng
I CORPS
Laic
ang Nga
.Attopeu
?.,,Kantum
Ton1?
soR
-Tay Nini1
Sihan kviIle
d1 _
SOUTH VIETNAM
CURRENT SITUATION
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
23 February 1966
*Vietnam: (Information as of 4:30 AM EST)
The Military Situation in South Vietnam: The
tempo of military activity has increased significantly
in the three northern provinces of I Corps during the
past two days.
Early yesterday, an estimated battalion of Viet
Cong attacked a Regional Force company about six
miles northeast of the provincial capital of Quang Tri
city. A government relief force established enemy
contact, which was reported continuing last night.
Preliminary government casualties are 20 killed or
missing and seven wounded. Viet Cong losses are
unknown.
Meanwhile, a Regional Force platoon several
miles further north was virtually annihilated by an-
other enemy battalion, losing 20 killed, 14 wounded,
seven missing, and 20 weapons.
In Thua Thien Province, South Vietnamese troops
operating several miles northwest of Hue for the past
two days have encountered stiff opposition from pos-
sibly three or four Communist battalions. Govern-
ment casualties thus far have been reported as 10
killed, 73 wounded, 71 missing, and 40 weapons lost.
Viet Cong losses are 74 killed. Yesterday, B-52
Stratofortresses bombed the suspected nearby loca-
tion of the headquarters of these and other enemy
forces in the area.
In Quang Nam Province, two companies of Viet
Cong early yesterday attacked government forces
guarding a bridge near Hoi An. A South Vietnamese
relief column subsequently engaged the enemy force
throughout the day. Government losses were 10 killed,
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46 wounded, 10 missing, and 14 weapons lost. US
A
advisors at the scene counted 20 Viet Cong killed;
the South Vietnamese reported 114 enemy dead.
Elsewhere, a South Vietnamese platoon on a
resupply mission in Binh Thuan Province was am-
bushed by an estimated battalion of Viet Cong on 21
February. Government losses were 38 killed or
missing, seven trucks destroyed, and an unknown
number of weapons lost. South Vietnamese reinforce-
ments and subsequent air strikes, however, resulted
in 148 Viet Cong killed. Casualties to the government
relief force totaled five killed and 11 wounded.
Yesterday the Viet Cong hit the US Military Com-
mand compound at Ca Mau in southernmost An Xuyen
Province with an estimated 27 rounds of 81-mm. mor-
tar fire, damaging radar and communications equip-
ment. Two light aircraft and several buildings also
received minor damage. One US airman was killed
and another wounded,
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Indonesia: The cabinet reshuffle announced by
Sukarno on21 February appears to be a major defeat
for the army and perhaps the definitive step in Sukar-
no's reassertion of his pre-eminent authority.
The army command seems unlikely to contest
the President's removal of General Nasution as de-
fense minister. Sukarno has also abolished Nasution's
other post as chief of staff of the armed forces.
Nasution was regarded by all Indonesian elements
as leader of the army's anti-Communist political cam-
paign. Sukarno's removal of him is a bold stroke of
showmanship and strategy designed to dramatize to the
nation his ability to prevail over the army.
Nasution plans to
remain quietly in Bandung, West Java. He apparently
continues to feel that in an open confrontation with Su-
karno, the army would lose and that part of the army's
strategy must be simply to wait for Sukarno's death. .
Nasution's successor as defense minister is Ma-
jor General Sarbini, formerly territorial commander
in Central Java and for the past year and a half minister
for veterans and demobilization affairs. He will be
assisted in his new post by Major General Mursjid,
formerly the first deputy army commander. Both offi-
cers are anti-Communist and are regarded as "Nasu-
tion men." Army leaders may rationalize that by
these appointments they retain reliable individuals in
the defense department.
Sukarno has also succeeded in reorganizing the
Supreme Operations Command (KOTI) which several
months ago the army briefly tried to expand into a super
cabinet and which it had continued to use as a channel
for political action. Suharto and other service chiefs
have now agreed to limit its mission to military opera-
tions against Malaysia.
(continued)
23 Feb_ 66
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The move against Nasution is only one of a number
of cabinet changes. The complexion of this cumbersome
body, numbering about 100 ministers, is slightly more
to the left. Several moderates have beeA dropped and
a few, leftists added and most of the pro- or crypto-
Communists who already held posts remain undisturbed.
Two of the three known Communists who held minis-
terial posts are now dead; the third has been dropped.
Sukarno has announced that he will install the cabinet
tomorrow.
*There are reports of demonstrations by both leftist
and anti-Communist students in Djakarta. The violence
included a brief attack by 300 leftists on the US Embas-
sy early today and damage to an Indonesian Government
building by anti-Communists. In the latter action two
anti-Communist students were reported killed. ~
MEN
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*Syria: (Information as of 4:30 AM EST)
A dissident hard-line faction of the Baath Party
backed by key military units seized power today in
Damascus.
The coup was led by Major General Salah Jadid,
former army chief-of-staff. Sporadic gunfire was
reported in Damascus but there is no evidence as yet
that the move has met with significant resistance.
The military group has announced the arrest of Presi-
dential Council Chairman Hafiz and the party's civilian
leaders and proclaimed the formation of a new "provi-
sional regional command" of the Baath Party.
Jadid and his military supporters had been de-
prived of most of their influence during the past three
months. In December, Hafiz and the civilian leaders
dissolved the Jadid-dominated Baath regional organi-
zation. Salah al-Din Bitar, a comparative moderate,
was appointed to form a new government. The Jadid-
ists' power was further dissipated last week when the
regime purged the party's legislative body of its mili-
tary members.
The extent of the new regime's military backing
is still uncertain, and some countermove is possible.
In any event, the Jadid clique will maintain Syria's
basic anti-West orientation and "anti-imperialist"
propaganda attacks will probably become even more
virulent than in the past.
23 Feb 66
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 Libya- [King Idris evidently has abandoned, at
least for the time being, his plan to turn Libya into
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CRumors that the aging Idris was again consider-
ing a republican constitution have been spreading for
the past week or two. Conservative Cyrenaican
tribal leaders, who have traditionally formed the
backbone of Libyan support for the monarchy and the
royal family, have been reacting negatively. Pro-
monarchical elements organized demonstrationsiin
Cyrenaica early this wee ~j
.he King nevertheless retains his poor opinion
C111
of the present Crown Prince, his nephew, and it re-
mains doubtful whether the King even now will take
any significant steps toward assuring an undisputed
succession.
23 Feb 66
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 Dominican Rep
air ublics The chiefs of the army and
force have given no indication that they will step
down despite intense pressure put upon them to accept
the President's latest offer of advisory positions on a
general staff board.
Garcia Godoy is himself under pressure from
those who led last week's general strike to exercise
his authority over the militaryCand has told Ambas-
sador Bunker that he hopes to announce a solution to
the problem in a radio television appearance sched-
uled for today. He admitted, however, that the posi-
tion of the army chief has apparently hardened to the
point where General Martinez Arana believes that with
the full support of his troops he can successfully defy
the President
some leading Dominicans now believe
that arch odoy is not anxious to hold elections in
June. They feel that he is consciously attempting to
create a climate unfavorable, to elections and then call
for a referendum to prolong his provisional govern-
ment. Garcia Godoy, however, has given no indica-
tion that he plans to stay in office past 30 June 1960
Hector Aristy and other former "constitutionalist"
civi ian leaders are continuing their efforts to organize
a political party to be called the 24th of April Revolu-
tionary Movement AMR-24 de Abril).
23 Feb 66
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*Uganda: The unconstitutional seizure of power by
radical Prime Minister Obote yesterday has inaugurated
an era of political turmoil in Uganda and may have un-
leashed forces which he will be unable to control.
Ell
Ugandan special police acting on Obote's orders
placed five moderate southern :ministers under deten-
tion pending investigation of their activities. In assum-
ing all government powers, Obote apparently acted in
desperation after the cabinet's moderate majority
forced him to agree last week to an impartial investi-
gation of government corruption. Obote and three of
his close associates, all radical northerners, are
accused of receiving some $300,000 in gold last year
from the Congolese rebels in return for Ugandan Army
support.
The moderate ministers in conjunction with the
parliamentary opposition had become increasingly ag-
gressive in their efforts to curb Obote's radical tend-
encies,eandObote apparently decided that his political
survival lay in militant action. To justify his move
and to discredit his accusers Obote may charge the
arrested ministers with plotting to overthrow the gov-
ernment and accepting foreign financial assistance.
Obote's move, if successful, would upset the
delicate tribal balance that has given Uganda relative-
ly stable, democratic government. It will be strongly
opposed by the traditional southern leaders whose
restraining influence Obote has long resented, but it
remains to be seen what assets they can employ.
to the Obote faction.
The well disciplined, apolitical special police are
commanded by a northerner and appear to be following
the prime minister's orders. The less effective army
suffers from bad morale and questionable loyalties.
Its moderate southern commander took precautions
last week to secure most of the automatic weapons in
the Kampala area, but it is unclear whether the troops
that moved into the city last night were loyal to him or
23 Feb 66
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Burundi: Tutsi tribal conservatives and pro-Com-
munist extremists are again increasing their pressure
j.,
on the regime of King Mwambutsa. They may be uniting
behind former premier Muhirwa who apparently hopes
to make himself king or proclaim a republic with him-
self as president. As long as Mwambutsa continues his
present sojourn in Europe, the rospect for a Tutsi 25X1
VIMMIN, coup attempt remains serious.
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THE PRESIDENT
The Vice President
Executive Offices of the White House
Special Counsel to the President
The Special Assistant for National Security Affairs
The Scientific Adviser to the President
The Director of the Budget
The Department of State
The Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State
The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The Counselor and Chairman of the Policy Planning Council
The Director of Intelligence and Research
The Treasury Department
The Secretary of the Treasury
The Under Secretary of the Treasury
The Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Air Force
The Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
The Chairman, The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
Chief of Staff, United States Army
Commandant, United States Marine Corps
U.S. Rep., Military Committee and Standing Group, NATO
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Commander in Chief, Pacific
Commander in Chief, Atlantic
The Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
The Director, The Joint Staff
The Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of Army
The Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of Navy
The Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Air Force
The Department of Justice
The Attorney General
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Director
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Administrator
The Atomic Energy Commission
The Chairman
The National Security Agency
The Director
The United States Information Agency
The Director
The National Indications Center
The Director
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