THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976936
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 16, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
The President's Daily Brief
16 August 1969
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM 50X1
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MIDDLE EAST
The Israelis are still preventing the repair of Jordan's
East Ghor canal, which normally provides water for up to 40
percent of the East Bank's agricultural production. Our
analysis suggests, however, that the immediate effects of the
break will not be too severe. Much of the irrigated area was
planted in grains and vegetables which already have been
harvested. There are also sizable citrus and banana planta-
tions, but sufficient water apparently is available from
secondary sources for most of the citrus trees and some of
the bananas. The Jordanians have also benefited this year
from good harvests in non-irrigated areas.
Jordan will begin feeling the economic pinch much more
sharply if the canal is not repaired within a month. (Polit-
ical pressures, of course, are already acute as the Jordanians
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
suffer yet another demonstration of their vulnerability.) By
mid-September most of the banana trees will have died and it
will be impossible to start the next crop cycle. Replacement
of the banana orchards would take at least seven years.
EUROPE
The main trend in the money markets since the French
devaluation has been a shift from sterling to marks. Pressure
on sterling decreased late in the week, partly because many
foreign exchange markets were closed yesterday. The French
franc has been holding its own, but the flow of foreign ex-
change back to the Bank of France has been relatively moderate.
We expect the mark to remain strong, and the signs are
clear that next week will be another one of tension, especially
for the pound. A full-scale crisis is always possible.
SOVIET AFFAIRS
Satellite photography has detected construction of another
group of six silos for the SS-9 ICBM, the seventh new group
started in 1969. About 175 silos are believed to be opera-
tional now. When all identified groups are completed--by mid-
,
1971--270 SS-9 launchers will be in service.
SOVIET UNION - COMMUNIST CHINA
No new fighting has been reported along the border, but
both sides are beginning to exploit the propaganda aspects of
the incident. Soviet commentary has been sparse but Moscow is
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beginning to elaborate on its version, while refraining from
the emotionalism which characterized its propaganda after the
March incidents. Peking's reaction has also shown restraint
and reveals no intention to widen the scope of the dispute.
COMMUNIST CHINA
LAOS
The Communists continue to maintain pressure on govern-
ment forces in north Laos, although they have not mounted a
major attack since the fall of Muong Soui almost two months
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ago. On the government side, poor flying weather and the
difficulty of moving troops overland have forced a temporary
postponement of yang Pao's efforts to move against the enemy
in the southern portion of the Plaine des Jarres.
NORTHERN IRELAND
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400140001-0