THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993413
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 16, 1972

r _
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
The President's Daily Brief
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RD-079T06936A010900160001-9
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(1).(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
25
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
16 July 1972
VIETNAM
South Vietnamese forces pressuring Communist
units near QUang -Tri City are encountering stiff
resistance and both sides have suffered heavy
casualties. According to intercepted messages,
the Communists defending the city and surrounding
areas intend to continue fighting and to use all
the firepower they can muster to repel the
south's troops. Even antiaircraftartillery
units have been ordered to use their guns against
South Vietnamese tanks and infantry.
Farther south in Thua Thien Province, Fire
Support Bases King, Birmingham, and Bastogne'
were attacked on 14 July, with only light losses
to the South Vietnamese defenders. The, city of
Hue was also hit by artillery fire for the second
day in a row.
Elsewhere in South Vietnam, there was only
sporadic fighting, with most of the enemy
attacks occurring in the Mekong Delta.
According to radio direction finding,
the 312th Division's 165th Regiment--noted
moving south through the North Vietnamese
Panhandle in recent days--has arrived in Quang
Tri Province in South Vietnam. There
are also signs that the rest of the 312th
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
(continued)
25X1
X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Division may be preparing to shift south. The division's
headquarters and its 141st Regiment recently communicated
with the military high command in Hanoi, an occurrence
that frequently has meant the unit has been assigned a
new mission and is preparing to move. A cessation in com-
munications between the division and the senior military
authority for southern North Vietnam has also been noted.
This suggests that the 312th and its subordinate 141st Regi-
ment may be leaving the country, possibly for northern
South Vietnam.
The 312th Division returned home from
northern Laos in early May, and has spent
the past two months refitting in the area
of Vinh. The division has had enough time
to integrate replacementbut insufficient
time cOmpletely to rejuvenate all of its
units for combat.
According to an intercepted North Vietnamese message
of 13 July, at least eight infiltration groups are moving-
south through the North Vietnamese Panhandle. No strengths
were noted in the message, but if the groups are normal
in sizer (about 500 men each), this movement could total
several thousand men. All eight of the groups are heading
for northern South Vietnam. Many of these personnel no
doubt represent replacements for Communist units that-
have been taking heavy casualties in the fighting around
Quang Tri City.
NOTES
USSR - North Vietnam: The Soviet official responsible
for overseeing foreign aid programs, Deputy Premier Novikov,
met with the North Vietnamese Ambassador in Moscow on 13
July. It was the first publicly announced meeting between
the two since mid-May, and it could presage the announce-
ment of a new supplemental aid accord. The Chinese and
the North Vietnamese signed such an agreement on 29 June.
The Soviets may have wanted to discuss with the North
Vietnamese some new approaches for dealing with the Chinese
about the transshipment of Soviet supplies.
(continued)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14: CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
e
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
India - Pakistan: The Pakistani Army is
reported to have begun withdrawing artillery and
heavy equipment from the Wagah sector on the
northeast portion of its border with India, and
troops emplaced there are no longer camouflaged.
The-US Consulate General in Lahore' believes this
indicates the Pakistanis are beginning their
withdrawal from Indian territory--as called for
in the Simla Agreement--as well as pulling back
troops within Pakistan from the border area.
Wagah is on the main road from India,to the
important city of Lahore.
Libya: The Libyan government crisis has
been resolved with Colonel Qadhafi still in
control/
/ This crisis revolved
around the formation of a responsible cabinet
in Libya that conformed with those in Egypt and
Syria, its sister confederation states.
Qadhafi intended to abolish the Revolutionary
Command Council (RCC) in the process, thus
arousing the fears of RCC members not included in
the new political structure. A compromise plan
was accepted, with the RCC being retained as a
major policymaking body, between the new cabinet
(as its executive)headed by Jallud and the new
President, who will be Qadhafi. These changes
may be announced by today, if the remaining
minor problems are ironed out.
-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
25X1
-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900160001-9