THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 DECEMBER 1968

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976525
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: December 21, 1968

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AV V.
The President's Daily Brief
21 December 1968
23
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?J?,.//? I
THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRI,EF
21 DECEMBER 1968
1. Brazil The outlook for stability is-get-
ting bleaker.
2. Argentina-
Just what individual or group
among the military leadership is run-
ning the government is not clear.)
/there are at least three con-
tending groups emerging among the gen-
erals.
Two groups, one relatively moder-
ate, and one on the conservative side,
apparently are trying to keep the ex-
treme hard-liners from increasing their
power through harsh new repressions.
Some moderate officers are-said to
believe that the military's actions of
the past week have united nearly all
elements in the country against the
government, leaving President Costa e
Silva too narrow a power base to sur-
vive for long.
The navy has embarked on a program
of expansion and modernization. Follow-
ing the acquisition of a Dutch World War
II - type aircraft carrier, the Argen-
tines have announced purchase of two
1,100-ton submarines from West Germany.
The next step is likely to be the -acqui-
sition-of a modern English destroyer.
The procurement of such hardware
could run afoul of the Conte-Long and
Symington. amendments and threaten the
future of limited US technical aid to
Argentina, with all the undesirable con-
sequences :to our relations this would
entail.
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3. Peru
. Laos
The junta in Peru has recently-es-
tablished relations with Rumania and
has announced its intention to open dip-
lomatic ties with Yugoslavia. Lima has
commercial relations with Czechoslovakia
and has proposed reopening diplomatic
contacts with Prague and Warsaw.
As reported in yesterday's Brief,
Phou Pha Thi, the radar post lost to
the enemy last March, was retaken on
19 December. The fight was a literal
cliff-hanger.
Phou Pha Thi sits on a rugged moun-
tain top on which the Communist defend-
ers were,well dug in, firing.doWn point
blank at.Meo guerrilla attackers. When
the attack stalled near the top, .General,
Vang Pao., military leader of all the.Meo
irregulars in-Laos, promised an instant
field-commissioh.to.anyone who would
strap '20 hand grenades on himself and
attack the-enemy.bunkers. He got two.
volunteers who climbed to the bunkers
and .silenced them,,At that point, the .
main body Of Meo carged for the top and
chased the enemy off.
The Communists are moving reinforce-
ments into the area, however, and the
government's possession of Phou Pha Thi
may be disputed again by next week.
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5. South?Vietnam
6. West Europe
A continued examination of intel?
ligence bearing on Communist units in
the Demilitarized Zone suggests that
probably no more than two company?sized
units are currently involved.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
2.) North Vietnamese Reflections of U S
Political Attitudes
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16
21 December 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
21 December 1968
I. .NOTES ON THE SITUATION
On Secretary Clifford: So far, Hanoi has not
commented publicly on the Secretary's remarks. The
Front did, however, on 19 December, but was unable
to rationalize the possibility of differences be-
tween Washington and Saigon with the "US puppet"
theme. The Front commentary chose to ignore that
issue. Instead, it focused on other aspects of the
Secretary's comments and used these as an excuse
for the standard diatribe against US "aggression."
The Secretary, in fact, was characterized as just
another apologist for Saigon's obstructionism.
* * *
-Front Anniversary Yesterday:. The Communists
are getting considerablepolitical support from
their allies on the occasion of the 'Liberation
.Froni's.8th anniversary. The Vietnamese have pub-
licized the event with important celebrations in.
both North and South Vietnam.' In Hanoi, .Ho Chi..
Minh himself turned out for the celebration. The
math theme of the Vietnamese celebrations was de-
termination to continue or even stepup:the fight-
ing until the Americans withdraw.
Peking staged rallies and sent congratulatory
messages with its usual militant warning that the
Front could count on Chinese support so long as the
Communists "persisted in a protracted war." The So-
viet message of congratulations focused on support-
ing the Communist objectives at the peace talks.
Vinh Airfield: There is now strong evidence
that the Communists plan to conduct air operations
from Vinh airfield in the near future.
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A conversation intercepted on 15 December men-
tioned the transfer of pilots and supplies to the
airfield. The pilots had flown in the Vinh area
previously and were to be sent to the airfield after
completing their training. No date for their ar-
rival was mentioned.
Five railroad cars were also scheduled to ar-
rive at Vinh from Bai Thuong airfield, according
to the same intercepted communication. The cars
probably contain supplies to support eventual air
operations and possibly materials for the recon-
struction now apparently being undertaken at the
airfield. Another recent message indicated that
three North-Vietnamese engineering companies are
located there.
* * *
Another Airfield Progressing: Photography of
9 December reveals that work is continuing at a
fast clip on the new airfield located at Dong Suong
some 16 miles southwest of Hanoi. Extensive por-
tions of the 7,800-foot runway Already have been
graded, and a number of vehicle revetments have
been completed. Construction began in early. Octo-
ber.
Most of
?the 'i-affic moving south out of Hanoi on Route .1A
consisted of fuel trucks and trucks.loaded.with.
"large, black, cylindrical tanks." Coal was being
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shipped south by train. Increasing amounts of
rough lumber used in the construction of concrete
forms are also being transported into the city.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report to-
-3-
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Top Secret
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