THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993038
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 20, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200180001-4
The President's Daily Brief
20 December 1971
4 9
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
20 December 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The North Vietnamese are making an all-out effort
to sweep the Plaine des Jarres in northern Laos as
quickly as possible. (Page 1)
Ali Bhutto has been named Pakistan's new president.
(Page 3)
The Chinese have again made a large wheat purchase
from the Canadians. (Page 5)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
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? 7
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
On 18 December North Vietnamese units, supported
by tanks and highly accurate artillery fire, launched
simultaneous attacks on all irregular positions and
fire support bases on the northern and eastern edges
of the Plaine des Jarres. Seven Meo battalions, pro-
viding an infantry screen for the northern group of
fire support bases, were dispersed and are attempt-
ing to reform on the western part of the Plaine.
During the night of 19 December, Communist
troops, again supported by artillery, mortar fire,
and tanks, overran irregular positions and the two
support bases near Phou Theung. It
is expected that the enemy will continue to attack
irregulars retreating from this area and launch major
ground assaults from the east on the remaining artil-
lery positions on the Plaine. These have been under
heavy attack, and one battery is no longer function-
ing.
The accuracy and intensity of enemy ground fire
have severely limited resupply and medical evacuation
operations on the Plaine. Moreover, five USAF F-4s
have been downed over north Laos since 17 December.
One of these planes was shot down by a MIG-21. Also
two Lao Air Force T-28s were brought down by antiair-
craft fire over the Plaine on 18 December. Air ob-
servers have spotted five heavy guns emplaced on
the northwest part of the Plaine. These are thought
to be some of the 130-mm. fieldpieces, and air
strikes have been called in on them.
The Communists also overran Phou Pha Sai, the
principal high point between the Plaine and the
government base at Long Tieng. Elements of at least
two North Vietnamese regiments have been noted in
this area in the past few days. The Communists,
however, may not have sufficient forces in the area
to hold Phou Pha Sai if the irregulars are able to
mount a determined counterattack.
The North Vietnamese are clearly making
an all-out effort to sweep the Plaine
clear of government forces as quickly as
possible. If they succeed, they will
probably undertake operations toward the
Long Tieng complex. The fact that they
have already moved some troops into Phou
Pha Sai suggests that they hope to push
on quickly.
(continued)
1
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Of serious concern is the state of morale
of Vang:Pao's Meo irregulars. The MeOs
nowconstitute about half of the total ir-
regular force
Vang Pao has fre-
quently said that his troops are wearing
thin and that the supply of Meos is nearly.
exhausted. Should Meo morale collapse--
which could happen if their withdrawal
from the Plaine becomes a rout or if they
suffer heavy casualties?the defense of
the Long Tieng complex would be in consid-
erable jeopardy.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
INDIA-PAKISTAN
The official Pakistani radio network announced
today that West Pakistan's leading politician, the
43-year-old leftist Z. A. Bhutto, has become presi-
dent and chief martial law administrator. Yesterday
it had been announced that Yahya would step down
and that Bhutto was returning from the US to take
part in forming the new government.
Pakistani Air Force Commander
and Chief of the Army General Staff
1 were
Abdur Rah= Khan
Gul Hassan
planning to form
a triumvirate with Bhutto.
Bhutto has some enemies in the military,
however, and he could have difficulty in
maintaining his position at the top.
Certainly the military will be closely
watching Bhutto's performance and will
remain the arbiter of political power.
The mood in West Pakistan is one of frus-
tration and anger. There have been demon-
strations, editorial criticism, and de-
nunciations by both political and military
figures against the Yahya government, as
well as attempts by some prominent figures
to indicate their availability for a na-
tional political role.
In Bangla Desh, little progress has been made
toward the establishment of a functioning govern-
ment, Top Bangla' Desh leaders have yet to arrive
in Dacca from Calcutta, reportedly because of in-
ternal squabbling. The Indian Army has succeeded
in restoring a surface calm in most of the city,
but some Bengali reprisals against collaborators
are still occurring and tension is high--especially
in the section of the city where some 200 Bengali
intellectuals and professional people were rounded
up and massacred by the Razakars, or pro-Pakistan
local militia, last week._
The US consul general assesses that the
only chance for promptly establishing
stable conditions appears to lie in the
visible presence of a functioning gov-
ernment under Bengali leader Mujibur
Rahman, who is still incarcerated in
West Pakistan.
(continued)
3
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No significant breaches of the cease-fire appear
to have occurred since it went into effect along the
western front last Friday. Each country has charged
the other with minor violations, most of which in-
volved artillery and small arms fire.
In New Delhi yesterday, the Indian defense min-
ister called for bilateral talks to determine the
disposition of territory captured on the western
front. He indicated that India would oppose attempts
to resolve the question of captured territory through
third-party mediation.
India might demand the release of Mujibur
Rahman in exchange for the return.of Pak-
istani territory or war prisoners.
4
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NOTE
Communist China - Canada: Peking has bought
just over three million tons of Canadian wheat worth
about $200 million for delivery in 1972. This sin-
gle contract nearly matches total Chinese grain im-
ports this year and apparently was placed as a fur-
ther reward to Ottawa for diplomatic recognition.
By importing all its grain in 1971 from Canada, Pe-
king also penalized Australia, previously a major
supplier, for withholding recognition. Because of
the impact of poor weather conditions on this fall's
rice harvest, China is likely to import more grain
in 1972 than it did this year.
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Top Secret
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