THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 23 JANUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977260
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 23, 1970

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900190001-0
The President's Daily Brief
23 January 1970
26
Top Secret
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900190001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
23 January 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Sino -Soviet
(Page 1)
Fighting in Laos intensifies as the enemy's
counterattack begins. (Page 2)
West Germany continues its overtures toward
in spite of Berlin troubles. (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
seasonal
the east,
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR COMMUNIST CHINA
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NORTHERN LAOS
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The latest from Vientiane in-
dicates that enemy forces, mainly North Vietnamese,
have seized the initiative east and north of the
Plaine des Jarres and now threaten Lao government
forces with a multipronged offensive. Enemy strength
for this expected drive could be as many as 14,000
North Vietnamese troops and 8,000 Laotian Communist
and pro-Communist neutralist forces. Against this
force General yang Pao has only about 6,000 widely
scattered and battle weary troops.
So far the Communists have limited themselves
to mopping up pockets of government troops on the ex-
treme approaches to the Plaine; major attacks could
commence, however, before Tet begins on 6 February.
By then the Communists will have had time to replace
their heavy losses taken earlier, this month while
capturing Phou Nok Kok, the government hill position
which had barred Communist progress toward the Plaine
from the east along Route 7.
'The resistance of government units to determined
North Vietnamese attacks will, according to observers
in the field, probably be shortlived. The speed of
enemy progress will depend to a considerable degree
on the amount of air support government forces re-
ceive. An important key to slowing down the offen-
sive lies in destroying the enemy's supply depots
and headquarters units from the air; rarely do the
North Vietnamese launch major attacks before a more
adequate supply base has been established.
To this we would only add
that the government never expected to hold
the Plaine des Jarres. In that area, as
in the rest of Laos, there is a definite
seasonal pattern to the ebb and flow of
territorial control by the opposing forces.
This year, however, there is a danger that
the Communists might not stop at the Plaine
They might be tempted to push southward
against Vang Pao's main headquarters. His
Meos have become formidable antagonists to
whom the North Vietnamese might hope to
administer a decisive defeat.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
WEST GERMANY
In the face of Soviet criticism aimed at the
Bundestag committee meetings in Berlin, the West Ger-
mans are adopting a conciliatory attitude. Although
contending the present level of political activities
is not provocative, they remain willing to negotiate
with the Communists on the problem.
Persistent difficulties in Berlin notwithstand-
ing, Chancellor Brandt sent off a letter to East Ger-
man Premier Stoph yesterday proposing formal talks .
on the renunciation of force. Brandt's state-of-the-
nation address last week had included an announcement
of his intention to send such a message. The letter
suggests that the foundation for an all-German agree-
ment be the series of principles in Brandt's speech
instead of Ulbricht's draft treaty of last December
or a West German "countertreaty."
Meanwhile, East German officials have continued
to harass West German travelers on the autobahn to
West Berlin. Rail traffic has not yet been disrupted,
and allied travelers have not been disturbed.
The harassment on the highway has been
fairly mild thus far, but it could be
stepped up--to include, for instance, a
complete stoppage of traffic--during
Brandt's visit to Berlin on 25 and 26
January.
The West Germans are convinced that the
Communists do not want any really serious
trouble over Berlin right now, however.
Brandt's letter to Stoph--sent earlier
than expected--is partly a sign that
Bonn is ready for talks in spite of all
the transitory difficulties.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900190001-0
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ISRAELIS RAID EGYPTIAN RED SEA ISLAND
?32
Alexandri
?30
30
32
Mediterranean Sea
Tant
?
Qu aysina
Al Mansurah
?Banha
Ismailia
Port Said
SUEZ
CANAL
UNITED ARAB REP LIC
Al Fayyum ?
50
MILES
Cairo
Bani Suwayf
(EGYPT)
Suez
34
Al SArish
SINAI
,(Isradi-occupied)
Gulf
of
Suez
Sharm ash-
Shaykh
Shadwan Island raided by
Israeli forces, 22 January
Tel Aviv-Yafo
ISRAEL
Gaz
Beersheba
SNARM
ASH-SHAY
AREA OF
%
INSET
j
Strait of
Tiran
Red
itu.rg hada J Sea
.3r
97340 1-70
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Israel-Egypt: Conflicting claims by spokesmen
for both sides have obscured the details of the Is-
raeli invasion of Shadwan Island. During the night
the Egyptians made no serious effort to retake the
island, and the Israeli troops set about to remove
or destroy whatever military items they found there.
The Israeli force does not seem adequate to occupy
the island for a prolonged period.
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/08/08 : CIA-RDP79T00936A007900190001-0