THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 16 OCTOBER 1973

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993958
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: October 16, 1973

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The President's Daily Brief
16 October 1973
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5E01),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
16 October 1973
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The current situation in the Middle East appears on
Page 1.
Disorders have eased in Bangkok following the departure
for exile of former government leaders Thanom and
Praphat. (Page 3)
In South Vietnam, there is some evidence that the Cot-
munists may be preparing to retaliate for recent gov-
ernment air strikes north of Saigon. (Page 4)
Afghanistan has complained that Pakistan is risking
serious consequences by resuming an old road-building
project in disputed tribal lands. (Page 5)
The Turkish elections apparently will result in an un-
stable coalition government in the absence of a major-
ity for either major party. (Page 6)
Page 7.
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TOP SECRET
Beirut
The Syrian Front
Zahlah.
Mediterranean
Damascus
Damascus I
International
Syrian defense
line
? Sasa ?
Harfa
?
r i a
Marl Ruhayyil
?A Qunaytirah
?Al Harrah
Cease-Fire
Jordanian
brigade '
Khalkhalah
Haifa
Israel
Tit,erias
Shaykh
? Mitkin
Advance
Saudi force
?Sayda
k
WEicl BANK/'
.10 20
Kilometers
Al Mafraq
554800 10-73 CIA
'
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THE MIDDLE EAST
Yesterday's fighting brought little change on
either the Egyptian or Syrian fronts. There was no
significant ground activity in the Sinai, and air
activity was also down from Sunday's high. Israeli
aircraft hit Egyptian armored concentrations near
Port Said as well as airfields in the Nile delta and
south of Cairo.
On the Syrian front, where yesterday's action
featured artillery and tank duels, some Jordanian
forces may have become involved.
that the Jordanian tank column is moving toward Al
Harrah, close to Israeli positions. Amman announced,
probably with some exaggeration, that six Israeli
tanks were destroyed in a clash with the Jordanian
unit. an Israeli
rocket attack killed a Jordanian soldier yesterday.
Jordan's involvement, however minimal, has brought
King Husayn favorable publicity throughout the Arab
world, and Algeria and Tunisia reportedly have decided
to restore diplomatic relations with Amman.
After ten days of fighting, combined Arab losses
are estimated at 13,500 to 16,600 men, 1,150 to 1,240
tanks, 250 to 270 aircraft, and 20 to 26 ships. Es-
timated Israeli losses are 2,900 to 3,100 men, 750
to 850 tanks, 95 to 110 aircraft, and as many as four
ships.
All of the major pipeline terminals in the east-
ern Mediterranean are now closed. The loss to Western
Europe is about 2 million barrels of crude a day--
about 13 percent of normal consumption. Italy, Spain,
and Austria are most affected; both Rome and Madrid
have instituted controls to prevent the export of
petroleum products.
(continued)
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Moscow's media have announced the US decision
to send military supplies to Israel, but no official
reaction or press commentary has yet appeared. Pre-
mier Kosygin avoided the announcement in a speech
last night, and expressed some concern that the "oppo-
nents of detente" would use the Middle East crisis as
a pretext to revive the cold war.
The extensive Soviet airlift to the Middle East
continued into its sixth day yesterday, with approxi-
mately 70 cargo transports detected either landing or
en route to Egypt, Syria, or Iraq. A Soviet civil
transport, which has been used to transport high So-
viet officials and Arab dignitaries, is scheduled to
depart Moscow this morning for Cairo.
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THAILAND
Disorders eased late yesterday following the
announcement that former government leaders Thanom
and Praphat and the controversial Colonel Narong
had resigned all their posts and left Thailand for
exile. King Phumiphon engineered the departure of
the three symbols of the old order with the backing
of army chief Krit Siwara. Student leaders appar-
ently have succeeded in persuading some of the more
radical elements to lift their siege of Bangkok's
police stations. The army evidently still is not
moving to impose tight security on the city, how-
ever.
Prime Minister Sanya's tentative cabinet list
draws heavily on veteran technicians and bureaucrats,
most of whom are Western-educated and favorably dis-
posed to the US. Such a cabinet would set better
with the military than with the students, who might
object to its conservative cast and to the absence
of fresh and young faces. Air chief Marshal Dawee,
proposed as defense minister, might arouse opposi-
tion in view of his reputation for corruption, de-
spite his closeness to key officers who have been
supporting the students.
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SOUTH VIETNAM
The Communists may have decided to retaliate for
recent government air strikes against their installa-
tions north of Saigon.
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Vietnamese Communist propagandists also appear
to be building a case for stepping up the level of
fighting. They have intensified their charges that
Saigon, with US complicity, is committing increas-
ingly flagrant violations of the cease-fire. On
October 14, Hanoi warned that the more "crimes" Sai-
gon commits, the "stronger the counterblows will be."
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AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN
An Afghan Foreign Ministry official yesterday
warned US Charge Lewis that a "very serious conse-
quence" would result if Pakistan did not cease "prov-
ocations" along the border. The Afghans claim that
Pakistani militia are resuming an old road-building
project in disputed tribal lands. The official said
the warning would also go directly to the Pakistani
Government,
The Afghans apparently have tried to enlist sup-
port from Moscow and New Delhi in the recently re-
vived dispute, but there is no evidence that either
has promised full backing in any serious confrontation
with Pakistan. The Afghans have long obtained most
of their military equipment from Moscow, however,
and according to President Daud, a Soviet mission,
headed by an officer "of marshal rank," arrived yes-
terday to "direct the reorganization of the Afghan
armed forces." The mission more likely will review
the status of Moscow's military aid.
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TURKEY
With 80 percent of the vote counted from the
elections on Sunday, it appears that no party will
win a parliamentary majority. An uneasy coalition
government probably will be the result of the hard
bargaining ahead.
It is already clear that the conservative Justice
Party has suffered a setback, although when votes from
the rural areas are counted it may overcome the current
edge of the left-of-center Republican Peoples Party.
The generally lackluster campaign conducted by former
premier Demirel, the party chairman, contributed to
the poor showing. Justice's partner in the current
coalition has lost most of its seats. Two new right-
wing parties are the main beneficiaries of the voting.
Bulent Ecevit of the Republican Peoples Party
hit hard at the inflation issue and championed civil
liberties and amnesty for political prisoners. For-
eign or defense issues as such did not enter the cam-
paign. The Republican Peoples platform contained a
plank to resume opium poppy cultivation, but neither
party leader made any such pledge in the course of
the campaign.
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NOTE
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Top Secret
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