SECRETARY LAIRD'S 6 JANUARY MEMORANDUM ENTITLED 'IMPROVEMENT OF INDIGENOUS FORCES IN LAOS'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R000700040062-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 62
• Publication Date: January 12, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approv66I.For Release 200 A-RDP80FlV1720R000700040062-9
12 January 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: Secretary Laird's 6 January Memorandum Entitled
"Improvement of Indigenous Forces in Laos"
1. Secretary Laird's 6 January Laos memorandum is, ._,ver-
all, a rather confused and somewhat confusing document.
part, the confusion derives from the fact that the memorarc..um's
argument and position are not very well thought out or clearly
expressed. It also derives from the fact that, typically,
Laird is trying simultaneously to work both sides of several
streets, some of which crisscross.
2. His opening paragraph is proforma and can really be
ignored. All he is trying to do there is get onto the record
that the Defense Department has provided all the support anyone
could have (or has) asked for since the NVA offensive began on
17 December. Its object is simple skirt cleaning.
3. The second paragraph stumbles on an unrecognized,
at least unacknowledged, dilemma. Lao capabilities, in pl
of fact, are a direct function of U.S. involvement. Henc