THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 30 DECEMBER 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977219
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 30, 1969

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007800250001-4
The President's Daily Brief
30 December 1969
48
Top Secret 50)(1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
30 December 1969
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The final installment of General Giap's recent the-
oretical article on the war provides further evidence
?that Hanoi is now, concentrating on. protecting and
building up its forces for the longer term struggle.
Party first secretary Le Duan's failure to play an
active public role, in'contrast to General Giap and
other ranking North Vietnamese leaders, has called
into question his political standing within the post-
Ho regime. (Page 1)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NORTH VIETNAM
We have received the final installment of De-
fense Minister Giap's article, the summary version
of which was reviewed in The President's Daily Brief.
The article contains little that was not covered be-
fore.
Basically, Giap calls for continued strong mili-
tary action by the Communists but urges adequate po-
litical preparations before engaging in "climactic
phases of the struggle"--indicating his belief that
the Communists are not ready for an all-out military
effort.
As he has in past articles and utterances, Giap
stresses guerrilla warfare, but he also cites the
need for big-unit actions and for such tactics as
attacks on cities. He makes clear, however, that
large-scale actions and urban attacks must be car-
ried out "rationally"--that is, not in ways that
will decimate Communist forces or undercut Communist
capabilities for dragging out the war indefinitely.
Giap's article fits in with other evidence
that the Communists are now concentrating
on protecting their over-all position for
the longer term struggle. Giap seems to
echo the gradual, step-by-step strategy
for the war set forth by Hanoi after the
costly 1968 offensives and reflected in
Communist military tactics since last
spring.
First secretary Le Duan, the ranking Communist
party official among Ho Chi Minh's successors, has
not played a significarit public role since Ho's
funeral last September. His absenteeism was most
notable during the recent celebrations in Hanoi of
three important Communist anniversaries. Defense
Minister Giap, National Assembly chairman Truong
Chinh, and Premier Pham Van Dong played important
parts as usual. Whatever Le Duan has been doing
since Ho's death has gone virtually unnoticed in
North Vietnam's press and radio. His activities
have been noted only twice in recent months, neither
time a significant occasion.
(continued)
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
We do not have a firm explanation for Le
Duan's removal from the public eye. There
have been reports that he has been making
an extended tour of the countryside, but
such a trip has never been mentioned in
official media. Le Duan may be preoccupied
with behind-the-scene work in connection
with the war or other secret party matters,
but his absenteeism also could imply that
his standing in the post-Ho regime is less
than his nominal party position would sug-
gest.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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50X1
-
. .
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
France-Israel:
50X6
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? Israel: The armed forces began major military
exercises in the Sinai on 29 December. The maneu-
vers will last for several days. Since taking Sinai,
the Israelis have often conducted exercises in the
Peninsula and are building elaborate defensive posi-
tions along the Suez Canal and at the entrance to
the Gulf of Aqaba. We have no indication-that the
exercises are a prelude to a major thrust into Egypt,
but at a minimum they serve to impress the Arabs.
Ethiopia: No further trouble has been reported
from Addis Ababa following the serious clash yester-
day between university students and police. This
latest incident, however, has given new dimension to
the tension that has been building since last fall
between students and the government. A major con-
frontation could be forthcoming.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007800250001-4
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007800250001-4