THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 NOVEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977790
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 10, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
10 November 1970
49
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
10 November 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Communists attacked Cambodian positions in.Kom-
pong Cham Province with renewed intensity yesterday.
(Page 1)
The proposed union between Egypt, Libya-I-and Sudan
may nurture more problems than unity. (Page 2)
Some.cOmments on gradual shift in the past
two years from amain force offensive in South Viet-
nam to small unit actions throughout most of Indo-
china appear on Page 3.
Upcoming cabinet changes have whetted the appetite
of Thailand's political factions. (Page 4)
President Yahya has decided to devalue the Pakistan
rupee. (Page 5)
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THAILAND
?14-
E nein Iraffil
-Cha
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ttadl.Y.
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-10?
- "
Kornpongan
? "A Kern-FEU
.(Sihanoukville)
GULF R.
OF
THAILAND
SOUTH
*Saigon
VIETNAM
?12-
Cambodia
o Principal city (10,000 or over)
Population over 125 per sq. mi.;
rTyl Communist-controlled area
-
. MILES
104 106
SOUTH
CHINA SEA
?10
550488 11-70 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Enemy troops launched a series of attacks on
government positions in and near Kompong Cham city
yesterday. The heaviest fighting was at the city's
airfield, where three Khmer Krom battalions were
forced to call for air strikes. In addition, Tonle
Bet and two nearby villages? on the east side of the
Mekong were subjected to enemy ground probes.
Northwest of Kompong Cham, government reports
State that the enemy killed 24 Cambodian soldiers
and wounded 20 in capturing the town of Troeung at
the crossroads of Routes 7 and 21. They also at-
tacked a.village north of TroeUng with mortar fire-.
Elsewhere the Communists probed, government defenses
at the town of Skoun-, whiCh:servesas the rear secu-
rity base for the government., column operating on
Route 6. According to CaMbOdian messages, govern-
ment troops repulsed these attacks, killing 15 Com-
munists
These attacks are the most significant en-
emy military actions since Late August.
The last major. Communist attacks in the
Kompong Cham area were in late May. Al-
though the government has strengthened the
defenses of Kompong Cham city, at least
five Communist main force regiments are
in the area and have the ability to bring
even heavier military pressure to bear on
the city.
It is still too early to tell if these
Latest attacks signal the opening round
in the Communists' dry season campaign.
They may be designed in part to help fore-
stall further Cambodian advances north and
east of Route 6.
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT-LIBYA-SUDAN
The chiefs of state of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan
have decided to draw up a preliminary plan to lay
the groundwork for the "establishment of a union of
the three countries." A "unified, tripartite com-
mand of the three heads of state" has been set up
"to work to expedite and promote integration," and
lower level committees have been formed to further
the process in specific fields.
It is not clear what form of union?is?con-
templated. Cairo has been involved in
something like this twice before: the
union with Syria in 1958, with Nasir as
President of both states, which collapsed
in Syrian resentment of Egyptian domina-
tion, and the federation with Yemen, also
in 1958, which was so loose as to be mean-
ingless and was quietly buried. The Egyp-
tians therefore are wary of further experi-
ments.
Nevertheless, Sadat probably hopes to in,-
crease his domestic and international
stature by participating in a unity scheme
that Nasir presumably had blessed. He may
also hope that closer cooperation with
Libya will afford more ready access to
Tripoli's oil-rich coffers. Meanwhile
Numayri and Qaddafi appear to be sincere
in pursuing Arab unity and may try to
push Egypt faster than it wants to go.
They may see closer cooperation with Egypt
as a way to strengthen their somewhat
shaky domestic positions, but it could
have the reverse effect by further alienat-
ing the significant groups in both Libya
and the Sudan that are fearful of Egyptian
hegemony.
2
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INDOCHINA
Over the past two years, the Communists
have made drastic changes in the organiza-
tion and deployment of their armed forces.
By mid-1968 they had committed elements of
nearly 60 main force--or regular?infantry
regiments to the fighting in South Vietnam.
Today there are only about 20 such units
in the country, and many of these are in
relatively remote base areas.
As many as ten regiments have been dis-
banded and the forces subordinate to them
reorganized to operate as separate battal-
ions or as reinforcements for local Viet
Cong units. Many more main force units,
however, have been sent back as integral
units into North Vietnam (about'ten regi-
ments), to Laos (six regiments), and Cam-
bodia (12 regiments).
These shifts underscore the enemy's changed
priorities. Laos and Cambodia now come
before Da Nang and Saigon, at least as far
as main force commitments are concerned.
For example, several regiments formerly in
the central highlands of South Vietnam are
now helping to protect North Vietnamese
infiltration routes in southern Laos and
Cambodia. About nine regiments of three
main force divisions that periodically
applied pressure against the provinces
northwest of Saigon are now located en-
tirely on the Cambodian side of the border.
These deployments also point up the fact
that a large part of the enemy's main
force is still intact, even though largely
directed away from objectives in South
Vietnam. This is part of the over-all
transformation of Communist tactics in-
South Vietnam, where now there is greater
emphasis on guerrilla forces, terrorism,
and political action.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THAILAND
Prime Minister Thanom recently announced that
cabinet changes currently under consideration would
affect only two or three ministries.
These key portfolios are thought to be
particular targets of Deputy Prime Minis-
ter Praphat's supporters, who appear to
be pushing for an extensive cabinet turn-
over. Praphat has been somewhat more as-
sertive in recent weeks, but there is no
evidence that he is prepared to press an
issue in direct opposition to Thanom.
There is evidence, however, of a growing
political alliance between Praphat and
General Krit Siwara, deputy commander in
chief of the army. Krit is a popular
figure in the army and is often mentioned
as the eventual successor to Praphat as
commander in chief. Krit has been consult-
ing closely with Praphat and their contin-
ued cooperation could be a significant fac-
tor in Bangkok's power relationships.
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PAKISTAN
President Yahya has told Ambassador Farland
that he will devalue the rupee. shortly after his
return on 14 November from a state visit to Commu-
nist China. Yahya said he had decided to take re-
sponsibility himself for the decision because he
recognized the economic necessity of immediate ac-
tion. If he left the problem to a newly-elected
government, he said, the politicians would debate
it-endlessly.
Yahya's decision will give a boost to
Pakistan's economy and has been urged for
some years by the country's aid donors.
Politically, the decision may cause prob-
lems, especially if it is announced--as
Yahya apparently intends--before the elec-
tions for the constitutional assembly on
7 December. The electoral campaign has
been orderly in recent weeks, but radical
groups are seeking a popular issue and
probably would try to exploit the popular
fear of economic dislocation that might
accrue in the short run from devaluation.
If their campaigns began to focus on anti-
regime themes, violence?always close to
the surface--could break out.
Yahya remains determined to go through
with elections and apparently believes
he can weather a storm caused by devalua-
tion. F
/ There is no firm
evidence that the military will act to
stop the elections, but its attitude
could change if widespread disturbances
break out again.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
? US-USSR-Turkey: The Turkish Foreign Ministry
has informed the US Embassy in Ankara that US Gen-
erals Scherrer. and McQuarrie and the Turkish colonel
have been returned across the Soviet border. They
are expected in Ankara early this morning. The
fourth member of their party, Major Russell, and
the aircraft will follow later today.
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