THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 5 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993012
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 5, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
S.
The President's Daily Brief
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
(4.
FOR THE PRESII)ENT ONLY
SUNDAY CABLE
5 DEC 71
INDIA-PAKISTAN
Prospects for any effective UN action to halt hostili-
ties were not enhanced by last night's lengthy, polemical
Security Council debate. The US-sponsored draft, although
supported by China, was blocked by a Soviet veto, and -
none of the three drafts still before the Council has a strong
chance of adoption at today's session. The Soviet draft
focuses heavily on the need for a political solution in East
Bengal, and a second draft couples a cease-fire call with the
controversial troop withdrawal proposal. Some Western mem-
bers, however, are still hopeful that a third draft resolu-
tion for a simple cease-fire may avoid great power veto.
As military operations continue, the strategies of both
sides are becoming clearer. Pakistan, on the defensive in
the East, is attempting to compensate for anticipated de-
feat there by offensive moves in the West aimed primarily at
Kashmir. India, on the other hand, is still limiting itself
largely to defensive actions on the West while trying to
achieve rapid military victory in East Pakistan. An official
of the Ministry of External Affairs has told the US Embassy
in New Delhi that India will shift to an "all-out response"
in the West if Pakistani "aggression" persists after the East
falls.
In the air war, both sides have issued what are no
doubt exaggerated claims of enemy aircraft downed while
minimizing their own losses. In the East, where the Indians
have an eight-to-one advantage in fighter aircraft, New
Delhi hopes to achieve early destruction of the Pakistani
Air Force. Dacca had undergone at least ten airstrikes as
of mid-day yesterday, aimed chiefly at the airfield and mili-
tary cantonment. In West Pakistan, various airfields have
been attacked, with POL storage areas around Karachi a prime
target.
The Indian naval blockade of ports in both East and West
Pakistan has been accompanied by a warning that neutral ves-
sels may be searched if suspected of carrying contraband. US
officials in Calcutta have reported that a US flag vessel owned
by American Export Isbrandisen Lines, the SS Expeditor, was
stopped in international waters by the Indian Navy sometime
during the night of 4-5 December and forced to move into In-
dian waters near the Port of Madras. The Indians say they?
have conducted airstrikes or shelling attacks on two major
ports in the East and to have sunk a Pakistani destroyer in
a naval battle off Karachi.
The heaviest ground fighting continues to be in East Pakis-
tan where the Pakistani Army is hard
pressed and has given some ground, although still inflicting
heavy casualties. New Delhi claims that several towns have
been taken by its forces and the Mukti Bahini guerrillas, but
there is as yet little confirmatory evid&noe. In the West,
Pakistan has claimed "major advances" in Kashmir and the In-
dians have admitted some losses of territory.
Arrangements have been concluded for a Pan American air-
craft to land at Karachi this morning to evacuate American
dependents. UN officials in New York are trying to arrange a
temporary cease-fire in the Dacca area of East Pakistan so
that UN personnel there may be evacuated. Landing conditions
currently are hazardous and the airfield is considered likely
to be unusable in another day or so.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONL.1"
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
SUNDAY CABLE
5 DEC 71
SOUTH KOREA
President Pak chona-hui is planning a series of moves
that will increase his personal power.
These moves are the culmination of a two-month.,.
long government campaign in which the threat
from the north has been given extensive play
in the press as well as in official statements and
documents. Since there is no evidence suggest-
ing such an attack is imminent, the motivation
for Pak's new measures seems clearly political,
Concern over the
state oy tne economy undoubtedly is a factor, in
Pak's desire for a tighter grip on affairs. This
desire has probably been reinforced by his suc-
cess in quashing student disorders and recent
factionalism in his own party through decisive ac-
tion. These seem to us insufficient reasons, how-
ever, for Pak's taking a major political step that
risks serious domestic and international criticism.
It may be, therefore, that the new measures repre-
sent the start of a longer range plan to curb the
political intrigues already unleashed by Pak's
pledge to retire in 1975 and to prepare a case for
prolonging his tenure in office.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
50X1
50X1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
SUNDAY CABLE
5 DEC 71
NOTE
Cambodia: Prime Minister Lon Nol has ordered a compre-
hensive assessment of the Chenla II campaign, which offi-
cially terminated yesterday, in order to determine "what
went wrong" with the operation. Several government units
located about 12 miles west of Phnom Penh were attacked by
the Communists early on Saturday, but casualties apparently
were light. The South Vietnamese forces operating in east-
ern Cambodia have reported an increase in the number of
small clashes in recent days, but their dry season campaign
has yet to encounter any substantial enemy resistance.
3
npnlassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8
,
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200050001-8