THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 SEPTEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977686
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 17, 1970

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008700160001-4
The President's Daily Brief
17 September 1970
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008700160001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008700160001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 September 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The situation in Jordan is discussed on Page 1.
Government reinforcements have reached the Cambodian
Army task force along Route 6. (Page 2)
The cabinet shake-up in Libya strengthens military
control of the regime but implies no policy changes.
(Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
JORDAN
Heavy fighting began at dawn in Amman. Accord-
ing to an embassy eyewitness report, armored cars
and small tanks, accompanied by a company of infan-
try, were moving into the city.
Amman radio, which had earlier this morning
charged that Jordanian Army headquarters in Amman
had been fired on by artillery, subsequently broad-
cast an appeal to the Jordanian Army not to fire on
the Palestine Liberation Army unless fired on, call-
ing it "a fraternal army which has closely cooper-
ated with us in crises." This is presumably an at-
tempt to limit the bloodshed and ensure that army
operations are carried out in a disciplined manner.
It is still too early to tell whether the
outbreak of fresh fighting is, in fact, a
concerted move by the government against
the fedayeen, or whether it reflects ac-
tivity by unauthorized army elements, as
has happened in the past.
Beirut press reports claim that the Jordanian
ambassador was summoned to the Syrian Foreign Min-
istry today and warned that Syria cannot stand idly
by while the commandos were "massacred" in Jordan.
Yesterday, the Iraqi Baath Party stated that it was
ready to fight side by side with the fedayeen in
Jordan. The Iraqis did not specifically threaten
the intervention of their 17,000 troops in Jordan.
In previous clashes between the government and the
fedayeen, Iraqi troops have carefully stood aside.
The Jordanian cabinet was meeting on the crisis
last evening. Ambassador Brown was informed that
King Husayn's inclination to take vigorous action
against the fedayeen was tempered by concern over
possible intervention by Syria or Iraq. The cabi-
net was discussing contingency plans, including the
possibility of seeking air strike support from either
the US or Israel should Jordan's Arab neighbors in-
tervene.
There has been no break in the negotiations for
the release of the hostages. The PFLP may now at-
tempt to use the hostages as pawns in defending them-
selves against Jordanian forces.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Current Situation
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Government reinforcements have reached the
Cambodian Army task force along Route 6, but the
Communists are maintaining the pressure.
Latest reports indicate that two battalions
joined the main column on 14 September and that the
Cambodians repaired a key bridge to the south on
15 September. According to still unconfirmed press
reports, however, the enemy has moved in behind the
government column, occupying a village between Tang
Kauk and Skoun.
There is mounting evidence that elements of
the Viet Cong 275th Regiment are involved in the
fighting. Documents to this effect were found on
the bodies of enemy troops, and an intercepted.Cam-
bodian Army message reports that the Communists
are trucking men and supplies westward toward' Tang
Kauk from a. major staging area for the headquarters
of the 275th.
In the northwest, there are reports of Commu-
nist attacks in Battambang Province, which until
recently was free of significant enemy activity.
The Communists overran and occupied two government
outposts between 20 and 30 miles northeast of Bat-
tambang city on 13 September. Reinforcements have
been sent to conduct clearing operations around the
outposts.
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FRANCE - WEST GERMANY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LIBYA
Yesterday's cabinet changes have strengthened
the control of the military men, who now have a ma-
jority in the cabinet. Major Jallud, number two man
in Colonel Qaddafi's government, retains his title
as deputy prime minister but no longer controls the
internal security forces as minister of interior.
That job has gone to Major Huni, who now also be-
comes a deputy prime minister and; in effect, the
third most powerful figure in the regime.
The partial downgrading of Major Jallud
could be significant if there is anything
to the rumors that he has been Colonel
Qaddafi 's chief rival. The shuffle im-
plies no basic change in the Libyan re-
gime's policies.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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