THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 APRIL 1974

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006007717
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 8, 1974

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/19 : CIA-RDP79T00936A012000010051-7
The President's Daily Brief
April 8, 1974
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B( 11,121,(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
April 8, 1974
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
A senior Israeli of-
ficial believes it unlikely that Syria will enlarge
the scope of hostilities, which may indicate that
Tel Aviv is not considering a major pre-emptive
strike at this time. (Page 1)
Libya's President Qadhafi has transferred some func-
tions to Prime Minister Jallud, perhaps in a move to
force his colleagues in the leadership to rally
around him. It may not work; Qadhafi is not dealing
from a position of strength. (Page 2)
Jordan! /Egypt/
/ (Page 3)
The Cambodian Government's situation at the besieged
provincial capital of Kampot has improved, but the
government's effort to retake Oudong is foundering.
(Page 4)
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ARAB STATES - ISRAEL
A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official told
Ambassador Keating late last week it was unlikely
that Syria would enlarge the scope of hostilities.
The official did not believe Egypt would support
Syria in a renewal of major fighting on the Golan
front and thought Syria would not risk acting alone.
This Israeli official attributed the continued
shelling by the Syrians to three considerations:
an attempt to pressure Israel as Egypt had done dur-
ing Egyptian-Israeli disengagement talks, an effort
to satisfy those Syrians who oppose Asad's.policy
of seeking disengagement with Israel, and an attempt
to impress upon the Soviets the seriousness of the
situation prior to Asad's visit to Moscow on April
10. The Syrians may also be. trying to make a simi-
lar impression on the US prior to the arrival in
Washington this week of a Syrian envoy for disengage-
ment talks.
If this statement is an accurate representation
of Israeli Government views regarding Syrian inten-
tions, a major pre-emptive strike by Tel Aviv seems
unlikely at this time.
Israeli military forces maintained a high level
of vigilance throughout the Passover holiday. Over
70 air sorties were flown over the Golan front and
southern Lebanon on Saturday and another 55 on Sun-
day. Limited ground fighting between Israeli and
Syrian forces occurred both days. For the first
time since the cease-fire in October, Israel on Sat-
urday called for air support to drive back a Syrian
patrol that had penetrated the Israeli salient.
The Israelis have denied Syrian allegations
that they carried out strafing again yesterday.
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LIBYA
There is no evidence so far that President Qad-
hafi's authority was significantly diminished by the
transfer of his administrative and ceremonial duties
to Prime Minister Jallud or that his move was any-
thing other than a voluntary step. According to the
decision--released as a diplomatic note on April 6
but dated April 2--Qadhafi retains all important func-
tions, including his position as commander in chief
of the armed forces. The delay in issuing the deci-
sion and the absence of Jallud and two other members
of the Revolutionary Command Council at the time of
the announcement may indicate that Qadhafi's colleagues
did not unanimously approve it.
For several weeks there have been rumors of grum-
bling within the council and the government over Qad-
hafi's high-handed behavior. i
In the past, when faced with discord, Qadhafi
has often left the capital or threatened to resign in
order to get his own way. This latest move--whether
approved or not by the council--may be another attempt
by the Libyan leader to upstage his colleagues. By
removing himself from daily administration and seeking
the high ground of supreme arbiter and ideologue,
Qadhafi may believe he can strengthen his control at
home and .bolster his flagging image in the Arab world.
He is not dealing from a position of strength this
time, however, and his partial withdrawal may presage
more difficulties.
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JORDAN EGYPT
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CAMBODIA
The government's situation at the besieged pro-
vincial capital of Kampot has improved. Much of the
credit goes to the Khmer air force, which provided
timely and effective close air support. Fresh infan-
try reinforcements have enabled Kampot's defenders
to re-establish their northern defensive perimeter
and to begin operations to retake territory on their
southeastern perimeter.
The Khmer Communists, however, are maintaining
pressure on the city. Infantry and artillery attacks
continued during the weekend, and a few rocket rounds
fell in the city. Naval resupply craft approaching
Kampot from the south have come under insurgent fire.
Intercepts indicate that the insurgents are de-
termined to capture Kampot. On April 6 the Khmer
Communist Central Party Committee urged the senior
commander of the operation to "try hard to cut off,
the enemy immediately; use the forces ?and artillery
at full strength; and do whatever is necessary to
completely crush the enemy forces."
Meanwhile, the government's effort to retake
Oudong is foundering. Cambodian forces advancing
toward Oudong along Route 5 remain stalled a mile
short of the town. The government's beachhead at
Kompong Luong farther to the east has come under
heavy Communist fire, and intercepts indicate that
the Ansurgents hope to destroy the beachhead com-
pletely. Its loss would isolate the 2,500-man gov-
ernment relief force.
Northwest of Oudong, insurgent attacks have
further reduced the southern and eastern defenses
of the government base at Lovek. Some 2,000 Cam-
bodian troops, along with more than 25,000 civilians,
are, there.
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