THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976960
• 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 30, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400260001-7
The President's Daily Brief
30 August 1969
19
Top Seci5?x1
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? FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOVIET AFFAIRS
SYRIA
? Damascus has said it intends to hold "for the time being"
the six Israeli nationals aboard the hijacked TWA plane but
plans to release other passengers shortly. The Palestinian
fedayeen group that asserts it was responsible for seizing the
aircraft claims it will try one of the Israelis for crimes
against "many Palestinians." We have no evidence that the
Syrian Government is a party to this plan.
Israel is unlikely to take any retaliatory action so long
as the fate of its nationals is in doubt, but we would expect
some punitive measures eventually.
EL SALVADOR - HONDURAS
The feeling is growing in both countries that a resump-
tion of hostilities is inevitable. Honduras has been follow-
ing Salvadoran arms purchases with alarm, and border incidents
such as yesterday's shallow incursion by about 90 Salvadoran
troops are likely to feed its concern. El Salvador is skeptical
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: Current Situation
C 1 IN A
105
CHINA
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BUR MAI
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ji Co,mmunist and Neutralist
cdntrol, June '1962
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Communist-controlled territory
A Contested territory
.2.5 59 75 lf.)0 Miles
75 100 Kilometers
14;2
95943 8-69 CIA
CAMBODIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
of the OAS's ability to protect Salvadorans residing in Hon-
duras or to moderate the climate of anti-Salvadoran feeling.
Moreover, continued press coverage of Honduran mistreatment
of Salvadorans may lead to strong pressure on the government
to seek by force
gotiation.
what it apparently is unable to gain by ne-
Although President Sanchez and
not favor aggressive action at this
has openly advocated another attack.
July left many Salvadorans with the
would be an easy nut to crack.
most military leaders do
time, the chief of staff
Military successes in
feeling that Honduras
Salvador's aggressiveness may also be
superiority in military equipment.
more aircraft
encouraged by its
It has recently acquired
LAOS
Meo leader yang Pao's guerrilla forces have pushed deep
into the Plaine des Jarres and have taken some positions in
Communist hands since 1962. The government advances came
with unexpected ease, suggesting that the offensive may have
taken the enemy by surprise. North Vietnamese forces in the
area may have been thinned out in recent weeks, as villagers
in the area have reported.
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Vang Pao has long talked about retaking the entire Plaine.
The momentum of the Plaine des Jarres operation, which was
originally intended as a diversion, may lead him to expand his
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
objectives. A similar situation developed in late April when
yang Pao, after initial successes against the Route 4 area,
pressed on to capture the enemy stronghold of Xieng Khouang-
ville. That offensive precipitated a sharp enemy rebuff and
led to the loss of a number of government holdings near the
Plaine.
yang Pao's current efforts are not directed toward re-
gaining his bases in Samneua and northern Xieng Khouang Prov-
inces, from which the guerrillas were driven during the past
dry season. yang Pao has successfully retaken these bases
every year during the rainy season, and unless he does so
again fairly soon, the Communists will be in a stronger posi-
tion in the north than they have been since 1962. The rainy
season will end in early October.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007400260001-7