THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 MARCH 1970

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005977340
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
12
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 10, 1970
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon DOC_0005977340.pdf280.63 KB
Body: 
_ Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 ',U???-? The President's Daily Brief 10 March 1970 46 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 March 1970 PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS In Laos, an enemy buildup is threatening two gov- ernment posts southwest of the Plaine des Jarres. (Page 1) (Page 3) The oil drilling rig that was en route to Israel has been sabotaged in an African port. (Page 4) Honduras The Soviets (Page 5) (Page 6) Soviet (Page 6) Egypt (Page 6) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Communists Threatening Key Government Positions Heavy Communist attack Muong Nguen L. Sayaboury Province ? ? 1 AREA OF MAIN MAP tSla is hhoctuu. n Nam Ktla LAOS Phou "4. Mu ng ..f),(A I N E S Bouam Longs k Enem Atroops move into area 71 Sant% Luang' Non 7 if)rXie Khou 7-1 JA R R S ? Ban Na. q???? Enemy v Tha Tama, ao ?1Bleung 10 20M les ' lb 2.0 K !greeters ng Tie g Phou he... ui v up nearby Xieng Khouangville ,0 Government-held location 0 Communist-held location 97826 3-70 CIA 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LAOS Communist forces are moving into position to threaten two important government outposts southwest of the Plaine des Jarres. Intercepts point to a significant enemy buildup near Ban Na and Tha Tam Bleung. In addition, a government soldier who re- cently escaped from the Plaine has reported that a large North Vietnamese troop concentration was lo- cated about five miles east of Ban Na on 7 March. There is as yet no clear indication of when the enemy intends to move in strength against these posts. Heavy air strikes in the area and aggressive patrolling by government forces no doubt are complicat- ing the enemy's timing. Northeast of the Plaine, Communist forces ap- pear to be making preparations to attack the govern- ment staging base at Bouam Long. The capture of this position would elimi- nate the last significant government pres- ence north of the Plaine. Bouam Long has been supporting guerrilla operations against Communist supply convoys on Route 7 In northern Sayaboury Province,, enemy forces recently launched a heavy attack against the govern- ment base of Muong Nguen. Some outer defense posi- tions were overrun, but government units are prepar- ing a counterattack to reoccupy them within the next few days. This is the second government post of consequence near the Thai border to come under enemy attack within the past two weeks. On the political scene, initial Lao Government reaction to the Communist peace proposal of 6 March has been carefully restrained. Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs Khampan Panya has characterized the Communist initiative as a "nasty sugarcoated Khampan told Ambassador Godley, however, that he recognizes the political value of not ap- pearing to slam the door on any aspect of the ex- change. (continued) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP-79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY The Pathet Lao representative in Vientiane yes- terday met with Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma, ap- parently to confirm Prince Souphanouvong's suggestion of an exchange of views between the Laotian leaders (noted in yesterday's Daily Brief)./ 2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 50X1 , Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDLP-79T06936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CYPRUS 3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 A TLA IC Oi drilling rig badly \ damaged by. explosives OCEAN 1 Cape To / INDIAN OCEAN I. 97825 3-70 CIA Equal-AreaP ojection Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP-79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY ISRAEL-EGYPT The Canadian oil drilling rig under contract to Tel Aviv has been sabotaged in Abidjan harbor. The US Embassy in Abidjan reports that the rig was se- verely damaged below the waterline by explosives said to have been set by three frogmen. 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized dopy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY HONDURAS 5 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T06936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTES USSR: Arab States: USSR-Egypt: (continued) 6 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Communist China: Chairman Mao and his desig- nated heir Lin Piao have not been noted in public for five months. Infrequent appearances, however, have become characteristic of China's leadership style. Although Mao may well be slowing down, we have had no reports that his current period of ab- sence has been caused by ill health. 7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9 Declassified in Part - 'SangZed Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : Clk-RDR7-9T00936A008100080001-9 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008100080001-9