THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977240
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 12, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900090001-1
The President's Daily Brief
12 January 1970
25
5 OX1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
12 January 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
General Ojukwu's departure from Biafra will probably
speed up what now appears to be the inevitable fed-
eral occupation of the secessionist enclave. Organ-
ized Biafran resistance, however,- appearsto be con-
tinuing. (Page 1)
Communist forces in Laos have taken some important
steps toward erasing government rainy season gains.
(Page 2)
The Lebanese Government is facing a new crisis over
fedayeen operations in southern Lebanon and Israeli
reprisals. (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NIGERIA
General Ojukwu left Biafra yesterday morning,
possibly for Ivory Coast, after announcing on the
radio that he was going in quest of peace. He evi-
dently had concluded that the Biafrans could not
stop an eventual federal drive into the enclave, al-
though military messages prior to his departure did
not indicate a general collapse of organized resist-
ance.
The Nigerians may have taken Owerri by now, but
it appears doubtful that they could have pushed on
to Ihiala airstrip, some 30 road miles away. Biafran
messages over the weekend indicated that the seces-
sionists--although hard pressed--were holding near
Onitsha and east of Umunal two critical areas with
road access to Ihiala airstrip. The Biafrans have
another airstrip at Uga, which could receive arms
supply aircraft, provided pilots remain willing to
fly into the enclave. There are no signs that Uga
is as yet under federal attack.
There are still large numbers of Biafran
troops in organized military units within
the enclave. Some of these troops may
give up organized resistance in the wake
of Ojukwu's departure, but they cannot be
expected to surrender in large numbers.
Most Biafrans, especially the soldiers,
probably still genuinely fear that fed-
eral troops are bent on massacring them.
Ojukwu probably will try to get some kind
of "peace" that the Biafrans can claim is
not a surrender. The Nigerians probably
will continue fighting at least until Bi-
afra's airstrips are overrun, however,
and may refuse to deal with Onukwu at all.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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NIGERIA: Federal Overrun of Biafra Likely
I ..11.1.11?111=???
Vat
Ape
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GERIA-7.2
sr,
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.12
BIAFRA
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WIC
Abakaliki
Federal driv
Afikpo
CONTROLLED
Arochu
Owerri N a
Ahoada
alaba
Degema
Port Harc urt
id Site of heavy fighting
BIGHT OF BIAFRA
97143 1-70 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Communist forces have taken some important steps
toward erasing government rainy season gains. On 9
January a multibattalion North Vietnamese force over-
ran two of the three government outposts atop Phou
Nok Kok, a highpoint northeast of the Plaine des
Jarres.
Weather conditions, which ruled out any
close air support, probably contributed
heavily to the government's inability to
hold these key outposts.
The enemy failed to capture the remaining
position on a follow-up attack the next
day but its fall appears to be only a mat-
ter of time.
Communist forces also appear to be preparing a
move against government defensive positions along
the northern edge of the Plaine. Intercepted mes-
sages and reports from government patrols indicate
fresh enemy troops are now moving into this area.
Further south, there has been little signifi-
cant military activity following the rocket attack
against Pakse on 9 January. New activity may be in
the offing, however. (
/Last year Communist forces
destroyed a large government weapons depot on the
outskirts of the city.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: Communist Forces Score Gains in the North
CHINA
BURMA
Government
outposts.
overrun
NORTH
VIETNAM
CHINA
THAILAND
Communist-controlled territory
Contested territory
Limit of area claimed under
Communist and Neutralist
control, June 1962
100
MILES
97142 1-70 CIA
DEMARCATION
1-? LINE
SOUTH
VIETNAM
THAILAND
Communist
rocket attack
CAMBODIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LEBANON
Beirut's announcement on 8 January that the
Palestinian guerrillas had agreed to new restric-
tions on their operations in Lebanon has brought a
sharp denial from a group of fedayeen organizations.
The government statement claimed that the fedayeen
had agreed not to fire at Israeli targets from Leb-
anese territory and had also agreed not to train
terrorists inside Lebanese refugee camps. The Pal-
estinian answer, as quoted by Damascus Radio, de-
nounced any such restrictions on fedayeen activities
and called for continued Lebanese popular support
of fedayeen efforts against Israel.
Both President Hilu and Foreign Minister
majdalani told Ambassador-Porter on Saturday that
Israeli air attacks were continuing even though
there had been no fedayeen attacks from Lebanon
over the last few days. These Israeli actions,
they said, were hampering efforts to control the
guerrillas; moreover, the air attacks also had led
them to believe that Israel was planning ultimately
to occupy parts of southern Lebanon.
The replacement of army commander in
chief Bustani by the tough former com-
mander of the southern district, General
Jean Nujaym, may indicate the government's
resolve to take a firmer line with the
fedayeen. If the government attempts to
force its new restrictions on the feda-
yeen, civil disturbances will be the
likely result, bringing on a crisis of
more serious proportions.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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