CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00975A010700250001-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 15, 2003
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
February 1, 1968
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00975A010700250001-5.pdf369.11 KB
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Approved Felease 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T0001070T*pP6dcret DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE 25X1 Central Intelligence Bulletin State Dept. review completed Top Secret 201. 1 February 1968 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved Fo- 010700250001-5 25X1 25X1 1 February 19 88 Central Intelligence Bulletin CONTENTS South Vietnam. Situation report.. (Page 1) 25X1 Central America: Difficulty over picking new OAS chief is causing strains. (Page 8) USSR-Germany. New note (Page 9) Poland: SA-3 missiles (Page 9) France. Arms embargo (Page 9) Mali-Cuba: Technicians (Page 10) 25X1 Panama. Election campaign trouble (Page 10) 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 NORTH t.( Demilitarized Zone Konturn Ban Me Nt1'1 f \Thuot . ', Tan,S'gnNh,Gt A O N1 y r W~ , , S~D oN) ~~- PHU (JUG) (; l'LF OF SLAM 0 2' V 75 100Wes (1 25 5f1 75 161 Kilometers 25X1 69463 2-68 CIA 25X1 1 Feb 68 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Map Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved Foliase 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T0097540700250001-5 25X1 *South Vietnam: The clandestine Viet Cong Libera- tion Radio in South Vietnam and Hanoi Radio late last night announced the establishment of a "-Revolutionary Administration" in South Vietnam. The "Revolutionary Administration" purportedly would have authority and administrative power in Saigon and in. areas where the Viet Cong have an influence on the people. The purpose of the "Revolutionary Power, according to the Communists, is to act as an authoritative voice to demand the withdrawal of US forces to end the war and to call for negotiations with the Liberation Front. The Hanoi broadcast asserted that "an unprece- dented enthusiastic atmosphere is powerfully mounting throughout Saigon city and its suburbs. " This maneuver appears to be a further step in the overall enemy Tet offensive strategy of creating a stronger Communist position within South Vietnam and discrediting the present South Vietnam government. The Tet offensive--now in its third day--appears to be sputtering. Strong enemy influence is still pre- valent in several major provincial capitals but is mostly limited to scattered pockets of resistance throughout the rest of the country. In the northern half of South Vietnam, Communist main force and local-level units remain entrenched in Hue and the highland cities of Kontum and Ban Me Thuot. New attacks on other key towns yesterday were repulsed, and allied troops are mopping up remnants of enemy forces still resisting in the coastal provinces of South Vietnam's Land II Corps. Sharp fighting flared at several points in the Saigon area on 31 January and early on 1 February. Within the Tan Son Nhut airfield and headquarters complex north- west of the city allied forces met heavy opposition while clearing out a number of enemy strongpoints. In the capital itself, heavy fighting took place in the. race track 1 Feb 68 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved Fir Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975A0 0700250001-5 area, near the South Vietnamese Joint General Staff com- pound, and at several points downtown where enemy forces have established pockets of resistance. The Viet Cong have held one building in Saigon for more than 30 hours and at last report still held the An Quang Buddhist pagoda In the delta area south of Saigon sporadic fighting continued early on 1 February in several provincial cap- itals- -particularly at My Tho and Ben Tre--but nowhere was the situation completely out of hand. Preliminary reports of casualties during the current enemy campaign show more than 6, 000 Communists killed in contrast to some 575 allied. troops killed and 1, 700 wounded. Civilian casualties are expected to be high. Al- though these figures are not complete, the enemy apparently had little regard for losses in their attempt to stage a spectacular countrywide show of force. Although there has been little evidence of panic in Saigon, various reports suggest increased fear among the population of several other major towns and diminished confidence in the government's ability to provide protection. Wild rumors circulated in some northern towns that Presi- dent Thieu may have been killed or that the US permitted the Communist attacks in order to convince Saigon to nego- tiate an end to the war. While these rumors are likely to subside quickly where allied control has been re- established, there is certain to be extensive residual damage to the pacification program and related activities which have been seriously disrupted in some areas. Vietnamese Communist propaganda is continuing to give heavy play to the upsurge in military activity and to stress that its size and scope demonstrate the Communist capabilities to stand up to US military power. Viet Cong action in the two northern provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien., has received particular attention. In 1 Feb 68 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 2551 Approved Foe 10700250001-5 a broadcast of 31 January Hanoi reported that the popu- lace of these provinces was supporting the Communist efforts. It claimed that the Viet Cong were in control of Hue and were advancing toward seizing control of both provinces. Viet Cong attacks in Saigon have also been singled out as particularly significant in demon- strating Communist ability to strike at the heart of the enemy camp. Hanoi has made no attempt to portray the current offensive as the conclusive phase in the Communist struggle although there are a few propaganda claims that it represents a step toward 'final" or "total" victory. 25M1 1 Feb 68 25[1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Next 4 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved FoMi Central America: [The difficulty in electing a new OAS secretary general has become a source of strain among the Central American republics. LThe lack of consensus is the only certain result of a meeting among the foreign ministers from Panama and Central America held on 26 January. The pro- moters of the meeting had hoped the ministers could agree on how to force the withdrawal of the three present candidates in favor of a more acceptable one. The foreign ministers will meet again on 5 February in a last-ditch attempt to achieve regional unity before the fifth ballot is taken. I None of the present candidates can be sure of a clear-cut victory. Another :impasse or even a close victory would further tarnish the image of the OAS.7 1 Feb 68 25X 25X1 25X Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975A010700250001-5 25X1 Approved Fo *USSR-Germany; Moscow has poured more cold water on West German hopes to negotiate an exchange of declarations with the USSR renouncing the use of force. In a note delivered on 29 January, the Russians indicated that Bonn would have to go a long way toward recognizing East Germany as the price of such an agreement. The note, in addition to mollifying the East Germans, will test how far Bonn will go in its eagerness for progress on its eastern policy. Foreign Minister Brandt is evidently determined to continue the dialogue with the Soviets despite.this latest rebuff, but support for his efforts within the Bonn coalition is bound to diminish as a result of this Soviet action? Poland: [The first SA-3 surface-to-air missile site in Poland has been sighted at Brzeg, near Wroclaw in the southwestern part of the country. Like the 22 SA-3 sites recently deployed with Soviet troops in East Ger- many, the site in Poland is at a tactical airfield. The SA-3 low-altitude air defense missile system probably will be made available to Soviet troops elsewhere in Poland and to the USSR's forces in Hungary. All but a few of the sites in Germany have now received equip- ment, and missiles have been seen at four sites, sug- gesting that they are nearly operational.? France: LDe Gaulle told departing Ambassador Bohlen that France's embargo on arms to Israel is in effect and gave the impression that it would remain so for a long time, De Gaulle confirmed that France would sell Mirages to Iraq, since it was not in his eyes a "battlefield, " He indicated, however, that it would be some years before the planes would be produced. Iraq's President Arif ar- rives in Paris on 7 February, and arms sales are ex- pected to figure prominently in talks then 25X1 25} 25X 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Approved FoiPipasp 200sioai02 - CIA-RnP79TOO975K010700250001-5 25X1 25X1 Mali-Cuba,\Cuba has agreed to send 400 techni- The first contingent of cians to Mali over an extended period of time, Cubans report, y will arrive in March. Some prob- ably will be involved in training the Malian civilian militia. Cuban assistance at the scale indicated would represent a substantial effort by the Castro regime to expand its influence in Mali. Only 25 Cuban technicians, all nonmilitary, are there now. Panama, [Partisans of presidential candidates Samudio and Arias could clash at a campaign rally to be staged by Arias in western Panama on 3 February. Both sides are preparing for trouble, and Samudio's supporters reportedly have plans for a deliberate provocation. National Guard Commandant Vallarino of hand. 25X1 25X1 25X1 guard commander could allow the situation to get out has vowed to maintain order, but the anti-Arias local 10 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5 Top Sat#d Forlease 2003/09/02: CIA-RDP79T0097W10700250001-5 Top Secret Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP79T00975AO10700250001-5