SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS IN TEXT OF 'TALKING POINTS ON LAM SON 719'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R000600100004-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 26, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 30, 1971
• Content Type: MF

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WAS:-::NG+ON, D.C. 20505
30 March 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR: Colonel Richard Kennedy
The White House
SUBJECT : Suggested Modifications in Text of
"Talking Points on Lam Son 719"
Per your request, we have studied the paper entitled,
."Talking Points on Lam Son ?19" and are offering some
suggestions for slight modifications in the text. Our
suggestions are set forth in this note's attachment.
O/DCI/SAVA
GACarver/mee
Distribution
Orig - Addressee w/att
1 - ER w / att
2 - SAVA w/att
Richard Helms
Director
Approved Fo~ 20e4/1'2'?/O'
-Or
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Proposed new words are underlined. Words in present text
that we suggest be excised are enclosed in brackets and
lined through.
1. Paragraph 2, page 2, second sentence:
But reported /~ e ective/ enemy losses were
more than 13, 000 killed and many more were
wounded.
2. Paragraph 2, page 2, fourth sentence:
Exaggerated reports of enemy losses in Vietnam
have been numerous, but this time /t-may
be-low/ the enemy acted more aggressively .......
3. Paragraph 3, page 2, last clause of second sentence plus third sentence:
... food obtained from areas which had previously
been under Viet Cong control in South Vietnam
but which are now /=ix-ily/ under the authority
of the government. Moreover, the Communists
/he/ had suffered great losses ...........
4. Paragraph 4, page 4, second sentence:
Viewed in conjunction with ARVN operations
conducted simultaneously in Cambodia, these
two efforts have probably precluded major
enemy offensive operations in South Vietnam
during the current dry season.
5. After end of paragraph 4 on page 4, suggest you add the following
new paragraph:
Hanoi will of course want to mask the extent to
which its capabilities have been impaired and
will therefore endeavor to act as if it is playing
from strength. To project this image, the
Communists may be willing to spend additional
manpower capital in the days immediately
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ahead by trying to count a sharp flurry of
attacks in the ncrthern part of South Vietnam,
and elsewhere if they can get such attacks
off the ground. Such attacks may be
specifically directed against U. S. units in an
endeavor to increase American casualties,
whatever the cost to Hanoi. Nonetheless, we
still believe the Communists have lost the
ability to mount sustained major offensives
and believe the overall record of Communist
activity over the next few months will support
this contention.
6. Page 7, final paragraph:
The operation has achieved its primary
objective of carrying the fight to the enemy's
sanctuaries and disrupting /destr-oyi3-g/ his
principal lines of communications ........
Approved For Release 2004/12/02 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600100004-7