THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 NOVEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993623
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 13, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300120001-8
The President's Daily Brief
13 November 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 58(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-RDP79T00936A011300120001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300120001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
13 November 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
? A pro-government Saigon newspaper reports that Pres-
ident Thieu asserts the Communists have over 300,000
troops in the South, and that all of these must be
withdrawn. The Communists, meanwhile, have begun
hitting the "Thieu-must-go" theme again, which they
?had been 'avoiding over the past several weeks.
(Page 1)
A South Vietnamese operation launched north and west
of Quang Tri City on Saturday has encountered in-
creased resistance.
(Page 2)
(Page 3)
In Laos, government irregulars reoccupied Dong Hene
in the central panhandle on Saturday, capping a ten-
day counteroffensive that began with the recapture
of nearby Keng Kok. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
Saigon's pro-government newspaper, Tin Song,
has published a commentary. on General Haig's visit.
Quoting a "highly placed source," Tin Song stated
that President Thieu, in his talks-717th General
Haig and .Ambassador Bunker, maintained that the
Communists have over 300,000 troops in the South,
not 140,000 as the US claims, and that all of these
?must be withdrawn. The newspaper quoted the source
as saying that Thieu would not be satisfied with
"any temporary withdrawal of a symbolic number of
14,000 North Vietnamese troops," and that any. "tacit
agreements" were invalid. The commentary maintained
that all future agreements on South Vietnam "must
be decided by the South Vietnamese people them-
selves," that the "right of self-determination" for
the country's entire population must be respected,
and that "no future peace agreement can be signed
on their behalf."
The Vietnamese Communists have begun hitting
the "Thieu-must-go" theme again, which they had
been avoiding over the past several weeks. The
Hanoi party daily on 10 November called Thieu an
"obstacle to be removed." The same point was made
again yesterday. Also, Madame Binh stated at the
Paris talks on Thursday that he "should resign."
Under pressure from newsmen, however, PRG spokesman
Ly Van Sau acknowledged that the PRG was still
willing to talk with a Saigon government headed
by Thieu after the truce is signed.
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300120001-8
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
A South Vietnamese operation launched north
and west of Quang Tri City on Saturday has encoun-
tered increased resistance. Intercepts show that
elements of one North Vietnamese division north of
the city have been ordered to positions blocking
the South Vietnamese, and that elements of another
division have been alerted for possible relocation
to the Quang Tri City area.
Although these divisions bore the brunt
of the enemy's defense of the city before
it was recaptured by the government last
August, they apparently are now suffi-
ciently recovered to return to combat.
In the Que Son Valley, a regiment of the North Viet-
namese 711th Division has been detected close to
Fire Support Base Ross. Intercepts and prisoners
indicate that the Communists will soon mount new
attacks in the Que Son area, possibly with armor
and artillery support. South Vietnamese forces in
coastal Binh Dinh Province, meanwhile, have retaken
Hoai An District capital, the last district center
that was under enemy control in the province.
In the southern provinces, the Communists
directed a.51-round rocket barrage in two separate
attacks against Bien Hoa Airbase yesterday, causing
only light damage and a few casualties. A North
Vietnamese regiment that had been heavily engaged
in the fighting north of Saigon appears to have
pulled back for rest and refitting. Another Com-
munist regiment in the same area is reported to
have lost nearly two thirds of its personnel during
the past few weeks, including the regimental com-
mander and deputy commander.
2
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LAOS: Central Panhandle
NORTH
VIE NAM
Mu Gia Pass
uang Khe
hakhek 12
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Laos: Government irregulars reoccupied Dong
Hene in the central panhandle on Saturday after sev-
eral days of bitter fighting, capping a tem-day
counteroffensive that began with the recapture of
nearby Keng Kok. At the Same time, however, a North
Vietnamese.battalion overran a lightly defended gov-
ernment outpost some 15 miles southeast of Keng Kok.
On' Sunday, enemy forces also attacked- the town of
Thakhek in the Mekong Valley.. In the north, General.
Vang.Pao's forces made no significant headway over
the weekend near the Plaine des Jarres. Late yes-
terday, the Communists hit Luang Prabang airfield
With 40 122-mm. rockets, Which destroyed one air-
craft' and damaged ten others. The airfield itself
suffered only light damage, and casualties were
also light. The enemy failed to follow up the bar-
rage with a ground attack.
4
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Top Secret
Secret
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