THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 31 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993439
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 31, 1972

Declassified in-I3art - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936-A010900290001-5
The President's Daily Brief
31 July 1972
4 5
Top Sec"
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Declassified in Pari- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T06936A010900290001-5
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(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-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
31 July 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In Vietnam, fighting continues in the northern
provinces amid signs that the Communists are plan-
ning new attacks. (Page 1)
Government forces in Laos are making little progress
in their efforts to recapture territory lost during
the dry season. (Page 2)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Demilitarized Zone
ng Tri
Chanh defense line
FSB Bastogne
A THIEN
MR 1
THAILAND
QUANG 'TIN
OUANG
NGAI
?KONTUM
BI
DINH
ong Son
Hoai An
PLEIKU
CAMBODIA
? PHU -
YEN
I '
DARLAC
KHANH_
.HOA
Mekong'
IDUANG
DUC
TUY EN
pHUOC
BUNK LONG
LONG
LAM !JONG
WINK
TM UGH
SINK
OUONG
BIEN
HOG
KIEN
HONG
KiEN
TUONG
LONG
KHANH
BUNK
THUAN
PHUOC
TUY
AN
GIANG
?10
KIEN
GUANO
PHONG
DIN H
VINH
LONG
Gulf of
Thailand
104
553394 .7-72
CHUONG
THIEN
VINH
BUNK
BA XUYEN
liPtCMR 4
AN
XUYEN
3
Capital Special Zone
ANH
10
MR 2
South
China
Sea
SOUTH VIETNAM
16-
14 ?
12-
10 --
I I 190
MILES 110?
eirA
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Over the weekend, South Vietnamese Marines
and paratroopers repulsed several enemy attacks,
including one tank-led assault, against government
positions in Quang Tri City and along the western
end of the My Chanh Defense Line to the south.
Several sharp Communist ground probes also occurred
near enemy-held Fire Support Base Bastogne west
of Hue, where Communist tanks were sighted last
week. Enemy intercepts indicate that additional
Communist armor may be en route to this area from
the Laos panhandle.
? Intercepts show that enemy reinforcements are
being "rushed" into the Quang Tri City area and
that the Communists have drawn up nevi attack plans.
North Vietnamese antiaircraft units located a few
miles northwest-of the Citadel have been ordered
to "strike extremely hard."
Farther south, government forces in Quang Nam
Province are still engaged in heavy fighting with
elements of the North Vietnamese 711th Division
near the Que Son district capital. There are signs
that the Communists are attempting to move toward
heavily populated coastal areas and intend to move
armor and artillery into Quang Nam Province.
South Vietnamese forces in Binh Dinh Province
report continued stiff resistance to clearing oper-
ations in the northern part of the province. Gov-
ernment forces apparently have pulled out of the
Hoai An district capital, and heavy fighting is
under way in nearby Bong Son.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
LAOS
Area of
maps
? Government-held location
? Communist-held location
23
MILES
SO
Khong
Sedone
Bolovens
Plateau -
553395 7-72 CIA
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Government forces are making little progress
in their efforts to recapture territory lost during
the dry season. In south Laos, irregulars have
consolidated their hold on Khong Sedone, but are
still encountering stubborn resistance in the sur-
rounding area. On the Bolovens Plateau, the Commu-
nists have thwarted government attempts to push
east from the junction of Routes 23 and 231.
During the rainy season last year, gov-
ernment forces attempted to retake Paksong
and establish themselves on the central
portion of the Plateau. This year, the
Communists are seeking to keep government
forces tied down in the western Bolovens
and Khong Sedone areas well away from the
infiltration corridor to the east.
In the north, the government's effort to re-
capture the hills southwest of the Plaine des Jarres
has stalled, in part because bad weather has limited
air support. Government units on a ridge just south
of Phou Pha Sai returned to Pha Dong last week after
being attack by small North Vietnamese forces.
2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Egypt?USSR:
NOTE
3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part-Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900290001-5