THE 15 AUGUST UPI STORY ON LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R000800110007-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 26, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 16, 1973
• Content Type: MF

MEMORANDUM FOR: Brigadier General Brent Scowcroft., USAF
Deputy Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
proved For RGff,~q"0,4LOITl=LIG 17R0~9OG8~0110007-1
SUBJECT : The 15 August UPI Story on Laos
16 August 1973
1. After our second telephone , 15 August,
e gist of the
15 August UPI ticker item alleging that Communist troops had
launched. heavy attacks on the government positions around Dong-
Hene and at Pak Song. I explained that official traffic available
in Washington did not substantiate this story and asked them for
their detailed comments.
2s 1 1. AS T
suspected was the case, the UPI story seems to be both garbled
and exaggerated. Local action has been in train around Dong
Hene for a week or so, but there was no heavy post-bombing
halt North. Vietnamese attack. As you will, see, the Pak Song
portion of the UPI story seems almost completely fictitious.
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
George A. Carver, Jr.
Special. Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
O/DCI/SAVA:GACarver, Jr/mee
Distribution
Oria - Addressee
1 - A/DDO
1 - AC/EA
.1 - C/EA/TBL
I 4VH Special Projects
1 - VrAS/RAC
1 - GAC Chrono
I - VS Ch ro no
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1. STATION HAS NO INFORMATION TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY
PORTION OF UPI REPORT CITED REFERENT,
2. THERE HAS BEEN NO ,SERJOUf: FIGHTING IN THE PAK
SONG SECTOR OF MR.IV FOR THE PAST 1'1VE MONTHS. PAT. SONG
ITSELF HAS BEEN UNDER ENEMY CON :(`ROIL SINCE EARLY AFTERNOON
22 FEBRUARY, AND THE NVA 9TH AND 19TH REGT2vLENTS CURRENTLY
CONTROL THE NORTHWEST/NORTH-CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE
IBOLOVENS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INDICATIONS OF NVA
INTENTIONS TO RESUME J FENSIVE IN THIS AREA.
3. THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASE IN LOCALIZED
SKIRbiSHIiNG IN THE DONG HENE SECTOR OF MR. III, BUT THIS
APPEARS LARGELY THE RESULT OF ENEMY REACTION TO A FAR
CLEARING OPERATION DOWN ROUTE 9 FROM SENO TO KONG HENE.
THE SPEED AND PRECISION OF THE FAR THRUST APPEARS TO
HAVE SURPRISED THE ENEMY AND PERHAPS CREATED THE FALSE
IMPRESSION THAT GOVERNMENT FORCES INTENDED TO PRESS
EASTWARD TO MUONG PHALANE.
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4. THE ONLY OTHER ACTIONS OF LATE WHICH MIGHT
POSSIBLY ACCOUNT FOR THE UPI STO3,R.Y HAVE OCCURRED IN
SOUTHEASTERN 1R II, THE SO--CA.LLE.D "SPARTACUS" AREA OF
OPERATIONS.
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POSITION AT VF 1082 CAME UNDER Ea. EMY SHELLING AND GROUND
ATTACK 9 AUGUST, BUT FRIENDLY COUNTERATTACKS FORCED
ENEMY TO WITHDRAW. ON 12 AUGUST, ANOTHER CLASH DEVELOPED
VICINITY VF 055864 RESULTING IN A REPORTED SIX ENEMY KIA
AND THE FRIENDLY FORCE WITHDRAWING TO VF 041865. NO
FRIENDLY CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED IN EITHER OF THESE ACTIONS.
5. ASIDE FROM FOREGOING, CEASE-FIRE IN LAOS
CONTINUES, 141PR.E SSIVELY WITHOUT SERIOUS INCIDENTS, EXCEPT
IN MINDS OF JOURNALISTS SUCH AS REF CITED.
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