THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 19 NOVEMBER 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977806
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 19, 1970

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008900180001-0
The President's Daily Brief
19 November 1970
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
19 November 1970.
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Recent photography shows what appear to be two stages
of a missile of greater length and diameter than any
previously seen in China. (Page 1)
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/Soviet/
(Page 2)
the
over
shoot
the
Hanoi's sharp reaction to the US protest of
down of an American reconnaissance aircraft
North is discussed on Page 3.
/Israeli-Egypt\
/ (Page 4)
Lebanon claims that Israel has threatened reprisals
against border villages where the fedayeen have re-
opened offices. (Page 5)
Israel
(Page 6)
? In Syria, Asad has taken new steps to consolidate
his position. (Page 7)
In Chile, moves toward closer ties to Cuba are appear-
ing on several fronts. (Page 7)
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COMMUNIST CHINA
Satellite photography of early November has
provided new information on the Chinese strategic
missile program. Photography of the Ching-yu silo
launch complex near the Korean border showed what
appear to be two stages of a missile of greater
length and diameter than any missile previously seen
in China.
The photography confirmed that construction of
a silo is in progress at the Wu-chai missile complex.
Construction began in this area in 1967 and the silo
now appears about half complete. The only missile
system identified so far at the complex is China's
nominal IRBM, which has a range of about 1 400 nm.
In addition, missiles were observed at the Wu-
wei surface-to-surface missile school in west China,
apparently of the same type previously seen at Wu-
rhai
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USSR
Statements.by high.Soviet officials and.
leading scientists..over?the past. year or
so have-indicated a.strong.Soviet inter-
est in long-term orbital stations,. and
recent Soyuzmanned space flights have
moved the USSR in this.direction For
example, in,January 1969 the Soviets ren-
dezvoused and docked the Soyuz 4 and 5
spacecraft and claimed to. have established.
the world's first manned experimental sta-
tion The spacecraft remained together
less than five hours.,- but tested hardware
and techniques ?for manned' space stations,.
including.the transfer of men from one
capsule to another.
The Soviets almost'certainly would not
risk keeping men in orbit longer than 30
days because of the .postflight medical
problems experienced from the Soyuz 9
mannedmission.flown last. June0 This
problem could.be circumvented, however,
by crew rotation.
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NORTH VIETNAM
North Vietnamese media are giving wide publicity
to their official reactions to the US protest of the
shootdown last Friday of an American reconnaissance
aircraft over the North. The Foreign Ministry and
Hanoi's delegation at the Paris talks denied that
uncontested reconnaissance over the North was sanc-
tioned by the 1968 "understanding" which led to the
US bombing halt. The North Vietnamese describe the
flights as blatant violations of sovereignty and
assert that they would continue to be fired on.
Much of this is pro forma posturing, but
the stiff reaction may also be prompted
in part by genuine concern that the US
might resume some level of air attacks,
against the North. Hanoi charged that
the flights and Washington's statements'
show that the US is paving the way for
such an' escalation.
The communists may be particularly con-
cerned at this stage--the beginning of
the dry season--that the heavily laden
supply areas in North Vietnam and the in-
filtration routes into Laos present.es-
pecially lucrative targets.
The North Vietnamese have been steadily build-
ing up their air defenses in the southern panhandle
during the last few months. At least four and pos-
sibly eight surface-to-air missile batteries have
been deployed -to southern North Vietnam. There are
signs, moreover, that MIG fighters are about to be-
gin operating out of Vinh airfield in the heart of
the panhandle. Recent intercepts suggest that a
planeload of seasoned air defense officers and air
controllers have arrived in Vinh,'presumably to co-
ordinate operations.
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ISRAEL
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MIDDLE EAST
? Israel has threatehed to take reprisals against
three southern Lebanese villages where commando of-
fices have recently reopened, according to our em-
bassy in Beirut. The threat was conveyed to the
Lebanese at the latest-meeting of the mixed armi-
stice committee meeting. According to Lebanon's
chief of staff General Naujaim--who asked the US to
intercede to cool off the Israelis--the fedayeen
have set up "political offices" in the villages but
they possess only light arms and "nothing in the
way of mortars or rockets." The Lebanese Army has
put 3,000 men on the border and is confident that
it can contain most fedayeen cross-border operations
that would involve heavy weapons, but Beirut fears
that Israel may not be satisfied with these meas-
ures and might undertake air strikes. An Israeli
Foreign Ministry official has acknowledged that
Israel is anxious about signs of fedayeen resurgence
in southern Lebanon, but he doubts that a punitive
air strike is likely in the near future.
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ISRAEL-EGYPT
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NOTES
Syria: Defense Minister Asad, ?after moving
cautiously for several days, has named himself prime
minister and temporary secretary general of the Syr-.
ian Baath Party. He has-.replaced Atasi, the former
chief of state, with Ahmad al-Khatib, afigureheaiL
Khatib is-a.minor party member who was dean of. the
Syrian Teachers' Federation.aththe time of his-ap-
pointment. Asad has moved furtherto-consolidate
his position by bringing a dozen of his supporters
into the provisional party leadership. According
to press reports from Beirut many. of the ousted
leaders will be exiled to other. Middle:EaStern coun--
tries. There is no indication yet of any signifi-
cant public reaction to Asad's moves.
Chile: Moves toward closer ties to Cuba are
appearing on several fronts.. The state-owned air-
line is studying the possibility, of adding Havana
as a stop onits routes to the US and Europe. Next
week the head of the conservative farm owners! or-
ganization will travelto Cuba tolook into the
chances of tripling trade planned for next year to
$30 million.. Meanwhile, Marxists continueto re"
ceive.appointments to key jobs in economic agencies,_
including the directorships of the presidential
planning office, the price control agency, the na.7.
tional railways, and the state bank all now held by
men mho have been advisers to Fidel.Castro.
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,
Top Secret
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