THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 10 FEBRUARY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992471
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 10, 1971

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009200090001-6
The President's Daily Brief
10 February 1971
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
10 February: 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Communists' military and political position in
the Mekong Delta provinces of South Vietnam has de-
teriorated. (Page 1) .
There is no agreement in sight between Israel and
Egypt on reopening the Suez Canal although there may
be further dialogue. (Page 2)
In North Vietnam, Truong Chinh's recent activity has
countered rumors that he is seriously ill. (Page 4)
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Military Region .4
Major Enemy Base Areas
Military Region 3
GULF
OF
THAILAND
SOUTH CHINA SEA
556938 2-71 CIA
? 25
25
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CON SON
(Administered.from Saigon)
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SOUTH VIETNAM
Captured enemy documents have given us an in-
sight into a declining enemy position in the south-
ernmost delta provinces. One document--an assessment
of the overall Communist situation for the third
quarter of 1970 passed from the regional headquarters
for the southern delta to COSVN--lamented that some
two thirds of the population lived in South Vietnam-
ese - controlled-areas and only 13 percent were di-
rectly under Communist control. In addition to con-
stant problems, such as manpower attrition, low mo-
rale, and insufficient supplies, the document gloomily
concluded that it would be "many years" before the
balance of power in the southern delta provinces
could turn in favor of the Communists.
Since then, South Vietnamese military op-
erations, under the command of General Ngo
Quang Truong, have added to the deterio-
rating military and political position of
the Communists in the Mekong Delta prov-
inces: Recent drives by South Vietnamese
regulars into traditional enemy strongholds
in the Ti Minh ForeSt, the Seven Mountains
area, and BaseArea 470 have been success-
fully carried out, and permanent artillery
bases have been built in all these areas.
In addition, .Regional and Popular Force
troops in concert with the police have con-
ducted a successful short-term campaign
against Viet COng guerrillas and members
of their political apparatus, and further
such operations are being planned.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL-EGYPT
In yesterday's speech to the Knesset, Mrs. Meir char-
acterized Egyptian President Sadat's demand for a
partial Israeli withdrawal in return for reopening
the canal to "international navigation" as aimed
merely at giving Cairo a strategic advantage without
including any real commitment to peace. While Mrs.
Meir stated that Israel would favorably consider
proposals aimed at the mutual reduction of military
forces along the canal, there was no indication that
Israel was prepared to depart from its long-held po-
sition that there would be no withdrawal prior to a
signed peace treaty.
Mrs. Meir offered to conclude an agreement outside
the peace talks that would reopen the canal to all
shipping, including vessels flying the Israeli flag.
There will be further dialogue on this subject but
Cairo is unlikely ?to agree at this stage to any pro-
posals concerning the canal that ignore the question
of Israeli withdrawal.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Israel
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CONGO- ISRAEL-SUDAN
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
North Vietnam: Hanoi has made a special effort
to scotch rumors--noted in The President's Daily
that Truong Chinh, the second
ranking party leader, is seriously ill. Two radio
broadcasts yesterday announced that Chinh chaired a
meeting of the National Assembly on 8 February and
visited troops the following day.
Fedayeen:
4
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Top Secret
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