THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 27 MARCH 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993213
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 27, 1972

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500240001-4
The President's Daily Brief
27 March 1972
50
Top Secret
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
27 March 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In the Laos fighting this weekend, yang Pao's irreg-
ulars unsuccessfully assaulted enemy positions on
Skyline Ridge. (Page 1)
The South Vietnamese are winding up their current
drive against Communist bases and supply caches in
southeast Cambodia. (Page ?2)
The government in El Salvador is back in control
following a coup attempt on Saturday. (Page 3)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500240001-4
LONG TIENG AREA
oGovernment-held location
OCommunist-held location
A Highpoint
0 5
Miles
PLA MIE
Phou Se
eruong Pot JA R.f? ES
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B I e ut,4?.
Fire suppor
Four positions held
by enemy, 26 March
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ng Tieng ;
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
yang Pao's irregulars this weekend unsuccess-
fully assaulted enemy positions on the western and
central portions of Skyline Ridge. Government com-
manders believe that air strikes and artillery fire
have caused heavy enemy casualties, but as yet this
assessment has not been substantiated. The irreg-
ulars have not suffered heavily as a result of their
counteroffensive.
For their part, the North Vietnamese appear to
be preparing new attacks on Long Tieng. An inter-
cepted message disclosed that replacement troops are
being brought in for "an urgent assignment" and
several North Vietnamese units have been ordered to
become combat ready. Other intercepted messages in-
dicate ?that elements of the 312th and 316th divi-
sions have been ordered to prepare for combat near
a hilltop overlooking Long Tieng from the south.
Small enemy units have been probing the irregulars'
defenses in this area.
The object of assaults on government
strong points south of Long Tieng would
be to neutralize the irregulars' artil-
lery support.
1
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mpong Thom
Miles
Prakham
hhlong
ot
PHNOM PENH
Communiss
base area
-AY NINH
Tay
Ninh
ut Vietnamese
un s *thdrawing
SAIGONfr
Kompong Trach
SOUTH VIET
VINH RACH GIA
552725 3-72 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM - CAMBODIA
The South Vietnamese are winding up their cur-
rent drive against Communist bases and supply caches
in southeast Cambodia to the west of South Vietnam's
Tay Ninh Province. Two of the operation's five
battalions have already withdrawn and the others
are to follow soon. In the action that began on
9 March, the South Vietnamese uncovered large sup-
plies of weapons and food. Approximately 750 enemy
troops were killed by air strikes and artillery at-
tacks.
The task force commander, General Minh,
regards his main job as protection of
the areas around Saigon and in the past
has withdrawn South Vietnamese units
from Cambodia on short notice when enemy
action has increased in his area. Thus,
recent heavy enemy shelling in Tay Ninh
most likely triggered the pull-back.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500240001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500240001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EL SALVADOR
The government is back in control of the coun-
try following a coup attempt that failed to win sup-
port from the populace or the main military and
security forces. The fall of a major rebel military
installation, where President Sanchez was held pris-
oner, apparently broke the back of the revolt.
The rebels, led by Colonel Benjamin Mejia, were
largely low ranking military officers of two army
brigades in the capital. They claimed they were
dissatisfied with the government's fraudulent handling
of the recent presidential elections. While they
did not consult with opposition leaders prior to
their move, they later received the public support
of Jose Napolean Duarte, a defeated presidential
candidate.
Duarte and two other politicians involved have
been promised their freedom if they leave the coun-
try at once. Many military personnel are under ar-
rest and a number of persons have sought asylum in
embassies. The lack of broad military support for
the uprising is likely to discourage any other coup
attempts prior to inauguration day, 1 July. In the
meantime, Sanchez and President-elect Molina, ?his
hand-picked successor, face the task of restoring
public confidence.
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
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Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010500240001-4