THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 25 JULY 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976897
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 25, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
The President's Daily Brief
25 July 1969
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
MAJOR PROBLEMS
MIDDLE EAST
Israel apparently has decided to escalate the exchanges
with Egypt across the Suez Canal. Until last Sunday the Israelis,
chary as always of risking too many casualties, avoided using
aircraft on this front. They have mounted three air strikes since
then, however, arid their spokesman left a strong impression yes-
terday that this would be the pattern in the future.
For their part, the Egyptians seem not at all inclined to
scale down the level of hostilities. Even before his blustery
speech on Wednesday, Nasir indicated he felt compelled to harass
the Israelis along the canal. The Egyptians seem so eager to have
something they can point to as a victor Y that at least for the
moment they are willing to ignore their own heavy losses. In the
face of Israeli pounding, their air force has kept up its high)
rate of activity in recent days and has now begun its own strikes
against Israeli positions near the canal.
The welter of conflicting claims makes it almost impossible
to reach a firm estimate of the damage the to sides are inflict-
ing on each other. For what it is worth, however, the Israelis
now claim to have shot down 20 Egyptian planes this month. They
admit to losing two of their own.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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II. OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
SOUTH KOREA
President Pak last night laid his prestige on the line in
announcing his support of a constitutional amendment that would
permit him to run for a third term in 1971. After assembly
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
passage, the amendment would be put to a national referen-
dum--possibly late this year. In a tactic reminiscent of
De Gaulle, Pak said he would "step down immediately" if the
referendum vote were negative.
BOLIVIA
Armando Escobar, a retired general who has been mayor
of La Paz since 1964, has decided to run for president next
year. He has no following in the military, but he is extremely
popular with Bolivian civilians--so much so that he would have
a good chance of beating Armed Forces Chief Ovando in a fair
election. His announcement could even trigger a pre-emptive
coup ty, Ovando.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007300220001-2