THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 24 DECEMBER 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993046
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: December 24, 1971

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/18 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010200220001-9
The President's Daily Brief
24 December 1971
18
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
24 December 1971
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The North Vietnamese appear to be moving quickly
across the Plaine des Jarres in Laos. (Page 1)
The Biharis in Bangla Desh who supported Islamabad
are living in a state of terror, and many may die
either by starvation or torture, according to our
Consul General in Dacca. In Islamabad, President
Bhutto is moving swiftly to reshape Pakistan's do-
mestic and foreign policies and put his own stamp
on the government. (Page 2)
India
Page 3.
Fidel Castro has lashed out at the US over the use
of Panamanian-flag ships by Cuban exile groups.
(Page 4)
At Annex
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LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
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LAOS
US pilots reported heavy enemy movement south-
ward across the Plaine des Jarres on 22 December.
In addition,,a Communist message between elements
of the 316th Division artillery battalion refers to
"phase two" and to movement to a high pointappar-
ently located near Tha Tam Bleung. The Communists
may also be moving forward the 130-mm. field guns
that they used against the irregular fire support
bases on the Plaine.
The North Vietnamese thus appear to be
taking advantage of bad weather, which is
hampering air strikes and reconnaissance,
to move their forces into position for a
drive against the defenses around Long
Tieng, particularly Ban Na and Tha Tam
BZeung.
Irregular troops are continuing to filter back
into friendly lines near Long Tieng where they are
being resupplied and reorganized. One group of 500
men withdrawing from the Phou Seu area reported
clashing with North Vietnamese units east of Ban
Na. Irregular units suffered heavy casualties dur-
ing the recent fighting on the Plaine, and some
1,000-1,200 men are still missing. North Vietnamese
intercepts have referred to the capture of large
numbers of irregulars--perhaps as many as 650. All
of the irregulars' heavy weapons--ten 155-mm. and
nine 105-mm, howitzers--were lost, along with other
heavy equipment. The government, however, is quickly
replacing the lost artillery, and is moving six bat-
talions into Long Tieng from elsewhere in Laos.
A North Vietnamese intercept indicated the
Communists were aware of these reinforce-
ments.
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INDIA-PAKISTAN
The US Consul General reports that about 100,000
Biharis--non-Bengali East Pakistanis who generally
supported Islamabad--are living in a state of ter-
ror on the outskirts of Dacca. Despite efforts by
the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini, anarchy reigns
in the area with criminal elements freely looting,
killing, and torturing. The food situation for the
Biharis has become critical, and the Consul General
believes that many, if not all, will die either by
starvation or torture. The-senior Indian commander
in Dacca does not yet seem to realize the gravity-
of the situation, and the new Bangla Desh government
is making no effort to alleviate the problem.
President Bhutto is moving quickly to re-
shape Pakistan's domestic and foreign
policy and to build a highly 'personals
authoritarian regime. Bhutto appears to
be in complete control for now, largely
because of his own stature and forceful-
ness in the face of the demoralisation
of the previous leadership. Social re-
form, redistribution of wealth, and popu-
list assaults on the West Pakistan "estab-
lishment" are all aspects of his domestic
strategy.
In moving Mujibur Rahman to house arrest,
Bhutto is trying to indicate to New Delhi
his desire to open negotiations. His in-
sistence that East Pakistan is still part
of the country is for domestic consump-
tion only, and privately he seems to ac-
cept that Bangla Desh is lost.
Bhutto's unprecedented call on Ambassador
Farland on Wednesday evening was for the
purpose of expressing his willingness to
forget his past critical attitude toward
the US and to note Pakistan's extensive
financial needs. Bhutto also called on
the Soviets and the Chinese.
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INDIA
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CUBA
Castro has asserted publicly that Cuba's recent
seizure of the two Panamanian-flag ships stemmed from
concern that a new wave of Cuban exile operations was
at hand. In a lengthy and belligerent speech on 22
December, reminiscent of some of his more strident
anti-US performances of the past, Castro railed
against what he termed US culpability in 12 years
of "pirate attacks" against Cuba. He also implied
strongly that if "defensive" measures against such
activities were to result in a violent incident in-
volving the US, "it would be incidental, accidental,
and imperialism would be responsible."
Exile raids have long been a source of
genuine concern to Castro, but this elab-
orate show of anger seems calculated pri-
marily to shore up flagging domestic sup-
port and arouse foreign sympathy for his
regime. He has used this tactic with
considerable effectiveness in the past.
Havana can be expected to play up any al-
legations of US complicity that are made
by the crewmen before Castro releases
them, as he has promised to do.
In commenting on the fate of US citizen Jose
Villa Diaz, captain of the Johnny Express, Castro
said that he would be placed "at the disposal of
Cuban authorities" to answer for his "numerous il-
legal acts" against Cuba. He went on to indicate,
however, that any leniency would stem from such
factors as the attitudes shown by Villa's relatives
still in Cuba.
This suggests that the regime may be pre-
pared to show clemency.
Panama has accepted a Cuban invitation to send
a delegation to discuss the ship seizures. A three-
man team left for Havana yesterday.
In extending this invitation, Castro
clearly is showing he is not angry at the
Panamanians, but he may try to persuade
them to move to prevent the use of Pana-
manian-flag ships by Cuban exile groups.
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SOV I ET
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(continued)
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Top Secret
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