THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 18 FEBRUARY 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992487
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 18, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
18 February 1971
48
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
. THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
18 February: 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Substantial movements of North Vietnamese ?troops
into Laos west of the DMZ suggest that the enemy
plans to resist :the South Vietnamese cross-border
operation more vigorously. (Page 1)
Two Russian hydroacoustic research ships entered
the Caribbean Sea this week. (Page 3)
Unrest among Polish workers employed in East Germany
has caused some uneasiness in the East German party
apparatus. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Recent Communist Troop Movements
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Regiments 36 and 66 are now
in or en route to southern Laos
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or seperate Infantry, Artillery, and
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM-LAOS
It now seems that North Vietnam has assigned
all three regiments of the 308th Division to the
Laotian panhandle battlefront. The division head-
quarters and its 102nd Regiment recently linked up
with the 88th Regiment west of the DMZ, and the
communications of its 36th Regiment suggest that it
too is en route, or already in, eastern Laos.
The 66th Regiment of the North Vietnamese
304th Division is showing signs that it too may be
moving into Laos from the Dong Hoi area in North
Vietnam. Its sister regiment, the 24B, has been
involved in offensive action in Laos just north of
Route 9. South of Route 9, the North Vietnamese
812th Regiment has joined two other enemy regiments
in a new buildup on the southern periphery of the
South Vietnamese cross-border operation.
These new identifications, together with
those units sent earlier, indicate the
North Vietnamese will soon abandon their
cautious tactics of the past two weeks
and attempt to counter the South Vietnam-
ese thrust more vigorously. Hanoi is not
likely to accept the substantial disrup-
tion of its supply lines without a major
fight.
While the Communists are repositioning troops
in response to the South Vietnamese action, they
are also continuing a crash supply effort. A recent
message from a major supply station west of Tchepone
said that the transportation mission for this unit
for the entire dry season is to be completed during
February. To accomplish this, up to 250 vehicles
were to pass through an area every night.
This order places a great burden on the
supply system. If it can be carried out,
however, the heaviest movement of Commu-
nist supplies through the Tchepone area
could be taking place by the end of this
month.
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
As another result of the South Vietnamese oper-
ations into both Laos and Cambodia, a spate of new
reports claims the Communists plan to increase ac-
tion in various parts of South Vietnam. Although
planning for additional action as part of the Com-
munists' annual winter-spring campaign is normal at
this time of year, many recent reports relate future
efforts specifically to the South Vietnamese cross-
border operations.
A moderate increase in enemy activity is
likely. The enemy appeals, however, are
clearly designed to boost troop morale
and promote a more vigorous seasonal cam-
paign.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
Two Soviet hydroacoustic research ships entered
the Caribbean Sea on 16 February. Prior to their
departure from the USSR last month, the leader of the
expedition, Academician L. M. Brekhovskikh, said in
a press interview that the study of waves under the
ocean's surface would be one of the main objectives
of the voyage.
Brekhovskikh is chairman of the Acoustics
Committee of the Soviet Academy of Sciences
and is the USSR's foremost expert on under-
water sound and its application to sonar
design. In the past, these two research
ships have conducted acoustical experiments
in conjunction with submarines off the West
African coast.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR:
NOTES
East German - Poland:
/a delegation of Polish 'workers, employed in
East Germany's Suhl district, submitted.a number of
grievances over living and working conditions to the
Polish ambassador in Berlin. This event will rein-
force East German concern about the possibility of
contagion from Polish Workers in their midst. Dur-
ing the December rioting in Poland, for example,
Polish workers were partially isolated from German
workers; this caused some minor frictions but no
serious incidents developed. The East Germans will
have fresh anxieties, however, now that the Poles
have gone over the head of local officials to de-
liver their complaints to Berlin.
Congo (Kinshasa) - Israel - Sudan:
4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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