THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 JULY 1970

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005977577
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
11
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
July 21, 1970
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PDF icon DOC_0005977577.pdf351.6 KB
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 The President's Daily Brief 21 July 1970 48 Top Secret5?x1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 July 1970 PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS Recent developments in Cambodia are discussed on Page 1. In Laos, combat activity has increased in several scattered areas. (Page 2) /North Vietnam I (Page 3) The Libyans have received their first delivery of Soviet combat equipment. (Page 4) East German leader Ulbricht has linked a third East German - West German summit meeting with the success- ful conclusion of a nonaggression pact between Bonn and Moscow. (Page 6) Yesterday Israeli planes flew reconnaissance missions over SAM sites in the UAR in what may be a prelude to another air attack against the sites. (Page 6) Chii North Vietnam age FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Cambodia: Current Situation ?1 At ?12: mon 0? Vecpenh Kompon't (Sihonoukville)? GULF g. OF THAILAND 0 Communist-controlled location Communist-controlled 0 50 MILES 10,1 Of, SOUTH CHINA SEA ?10- 99296 7-70 CIA 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CAMBODIA Communist forces continue to be active in Kom- pong Chhnang Province. Kompong Chhnang city was harassed by enemy fire on 19 July, and on the same day a government position north of the city on the Tonle Sap was overrun by a large Communist force. some 2,000.-3,000 North Vietnamese troops passing through a rubber planta- tion east of Kompong Chhnang city between 12-14 July. At the time, the troops appeared exhausted but well equipped. They probably came from the Kom- pong Thom area where fighting has eased in recent weeks. The. government has sent two Khmer Krom bat- talions to strengthen defenses at Kompong Chhnang. To the east, in Kompong Cham Province, the Com- munists launched a mortar attack on Tbrile Bet on 19 July. The headquarters of the 9th Viet Cong Divi- sion has moved to within seven miles northeast of Kompong Cham city. In the south,' the district administration cen- ter at Srang in Kompong Speu Province, 30 miles southwest of Phnom Penh, was overrun ,blvithe Commu- nists on 19 July. Fighting continues in this area and late press reports indicate that government forces have recaptured .Srang. I 1 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Laos: Current Situation 102 , ) BURMA Govern ent - ..,---- ...Phou - ? - - yieng Pou ff ?mwrg:" , Kha if ? it STA, '?'1 ''Y ..), _e' -.Major/ 46 "" -:"I'S4-mnie,u t.,V I E 77%".A M G overnment :../ ,..., Li / base F}.(0, fabang ,/v1, e V , 1/./,' / /- / (0.-,-;--------- Nis , 106 CHINA' 22- THAILAND L'taine?,./... , t----": des- ' Jarr,e'S/-,,,,H".?.?\ ,Sem Thong . Th Long 'it ,_ 14' ' . Tieng ' \ Vientiane Communist-Controlled territory Contested territory THAILAND 100 MILES Ca \\y fi).,Mucing Sanannakhe-1//4' Prhi-t`h! \Th23 .Sarajne Heavy fighting reported - GULF OF TONKIN 18- DE ARCA TION i?-?1/4LINE SOUTH ? s\ VIETNAM ?------s 1-,,. ---,_ .80160ens urther g expected CAMBODIA 14- 99295 7-70 CIA Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LAOS The level of fighting has increased at several scattered locations throughout the country in recent days. In the far northwest, two Pathet Lao companies overran a government outpost at Phou That. This outpost had provided outlying protec- tion for a major government base at Vieng Pou Kha, one of the principal government sites near the Chinese roadbuiZders along Route 46. Combat activity in the area is rare. North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao troops, follow- ing recent raids along the west bank of the Mekong, mounted a battalion-sized attack on government posi- tions to the east of Khong Island on 18 July. The enemy assault was repulsed, but enemy propaganda statements suggest the Communists will try again. The government has flown in reinforcements for the Khong Island garrison, but it is , doubtful that they will be effective if the Communists choose to employ the four-bat- talion force they are believed to maintain in the immediate area. Elsewhere in the panhandle, three irregular bat- talions involved in the government's effort to harass the Communists' Route 23 supply line south of Muong Phine were forced to break contact with the enemy on 18 July after two days of fighting. Enemy casualties were substantial, however, and significant quantities of ammunition, weapons, food, and documents were re- ported captured or destroyed. 2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY USSR NORTH VIETNAM 3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 50X1 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY USSR-LIBYA A Soviet freighter offloaded military equipment-- including 32 T-54/55 medium tanks and 18 armored scout cars--in Tripoli on 18 July. A second Soviet arms carrier was awaiting berthing space in the harbor at the time. This is Russia's first delivery of combat equipment to Libya, although the Libyans have previously received some Soviet arms from the (JAR. Moscow has been anxious to enlist Libya as an arms client ever since the coup in September 1969. Benghazi may have turned to the Soviets for ground forces equipment following London's refusal in April to sell the Chieftain tank. Egyptian pressure to standardize Libyan arms was probably another factor in Libya's looking to Moscow as the supplier. 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY EAST GERMANY - WEST GERMANY Party chief Ulbricht reiterated East Germany's Willingness to participate in a third summit meeting in a conciliatory speech last Friday. He indicated the meeting could convene as soon as Bonn signs the nonaggression pact under negotiation with Moscow. Noting Christian Democratic opposition to Ostpolitik, Ulbricht implied that Pankow might be willing to compromise on some points but not on basic issues. He again stressed, for example, that the talks should lead to diplomatic relations between the two Germanies. Ulbricht's remarks indicate he is well briefed on the progress of Bonn's talks with Moscow and Warsaw, and does not wish- to give the impression that his regime is a stumbling block to Brandt 'a efforts at normalizing relations with the East. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTES Israel-UAR: Israeli planes reconnoitered new concentrations of surface-to-air missile sites in Egypt yesterday, drawing fire from both SA-2's and SA-3's. The miss' n ma ?resa e a second strike at the sites toda North Vietnam - Communist China 6 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY 50X1 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27: CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3 , Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008500190001-3