THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 18 SEPTEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992868
• 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 18, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T0093-6A009900170001-0
The President's Daily Brief
18 September 1971
8
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009-900170001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
18 September 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Communist resistance has stiffened against South
Vietnamese clearing operations ?in the western delta.
(Page 1)
Egyptian downing of an Israeli reconnaissance plane
is almost certain to draw an Israeli response.
(Page 2)
The new civilian cabinet in East Pakistan is not
likely, to win much Bengali support. (Page 3)
USSR
/ (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
During the past two weeks, elements of three
Communist regiments have been engaged in a running
battle with South Vietnamese forces in the U Minh
Forest area. Although taking severe casualties,
the government forces have sought contact whenever
the Communists have tried to mass their forces,
thus disrupting enemy battle plans and inflicting
substantial casualties. The Communist attacks rep-
resent the most vigorous enemy effort since the
South Vietnamese entered the Forest in strength some
ten months ago.
the Communists may also
of the delta in support of the U Minh campaign.
mount attacks in other areas
More tough fighting appears in store. The
Communists show no signs of backing off, a
significant departure from the pattern of
fighting in the South for most of this
year. The South Vietnamese also are show-
ing no signs of tiring and have performed
reasonably well so far, according to US
advisers.
In addition to countering the South Viet-
namese operations, the Communist attacks
may be in response to the appeals from
higher commands for increased action be-
fore Thieu's referendum on 3 October.
Enemy units elsewhere in South Vietnam
may launch additional brief attacks in
strength. The area near the DMZ remains
the most threatened area despite the re-
cent withdrawal of some of the enemy's
forces to southern North Vietnam. Three
enemy divisions are near the DMZ and any
of these could move south on short notice.
Saigon's Lam Son 810 operation in western
Quang Tri Province may further inhibit
the North Vietnamese from returning to
this battlefield in the near future.
Enemy units may also increase offensive
activity in the central highlands and
other regions, but this is not likely un-
til after the monsoon rains ease in mid-
October.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18: CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
Israeli Aircraft Shot Down
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL-EGYPT
An Israel Defense Forces spokesman informed US
officials in Tel Aviv that an Israeli C-97 recon-
naissance aircraft had been shot down yesterday by
an Egyptian SA-2 missile. The Israeli plane was
said to have been on a photographic reconnaissance
mission and was well on the east side of the canal
when it was hit.
The Egyptian action seems likely to have
been in retaliation for the loss of an
SU-7 to Israeli ground fire on 11 Septem-
ber. In view of Dayan's denunciation of
the shoot-down as premeditated and a pro-
vocative act, the Israelis will almost
certainly strike back. Egypt's use of
missiles might well provoke them to re-
spond with a strike on Egyptian SAM sites.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A009900170001-0
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Pakistan: The civilian cabinet appointed in
East Pakistan yesterday is not likely to be of much
help in the government's efforts to win popular sup-
port among Bengalis. Although the cabinet is com-
posed exclusively of East Pakistanis--most of whom
have been fairly prominent--only two are former mem-
bers of the Awami League, which swept elections in
East Pakistan last December, and these two are re-
garded as turncoats by many Bengalis. The others
represent parties that did badly in the elections,
and many. Bengalis will regard their appointment as
more of Yahya's efforts to disguise continued army
control of the East wing.
USSRV
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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