HW SITUATION IN VIETNAM AS OF 1600 EST 19 DECEMBER 1967
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Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
01001207
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RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
12
Document Creation Date:
April 26, 2019
Document Release Date:
April 30, 2019
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Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 20, 1967
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HW SITUATION IN VIETNAM AS OF 160.0 IST 19 DECEMBER 1967 .
I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. 'NUMEROUS SMALL UNIT ENGAGEMENTS WERE RE- blita
PORTED IN WIDELY SCATTERED AREAS OF THE COUMTRY ON
18 DECEMBER. A TOTAL OF NEARLY 40 SCH CLASHES IN
THE I AND II CORPS AREAS RESULTED IN 25 "ENEMY KILLED
AND SEVEN CAPTURED.
2. ON 17 DECEMBER A CIVILIAN IRREGULAR DEFENSE
GROUP (CIDG) COMPANY RAN INTO A FIGHT IN HAU NGHIA
PROVINCE ABOUT 26 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAIGON. A
SECOND COMPANY AIRLIFTED INTO THE BATTLE AREA ALSO
CAME UNDER HEAVY FIRE. FOUR HELICOPTERS WERE DOWNED
AND SIX WERE DAMAGED. ALLIED LOSSES WERE FIVE
KLLED AND 15 WOUNDED, AND ENEMY CASUALTIES CAME
TO 42 DEAD.
3, THE ENEMY FORCE INVOLVED WAS PROBABLY TEL
VIET CONG 269TH MAIN FC:RCE BATTALION. THE HEAVY
WEAPONS COMPANY OF THE 269TH IS REPORTED TO HAVE
FOUR HEAVY �12.8-MM. ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS. A RECENT
DEFECTOR REPORTED THAT VIET CONG UNITS IN EAU NGEIA
WERE RECEIVING TRAINING IN ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE TECH-
NIQUES AT A SPECIAL SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE BA THU
AREA OF CAMBODIA, OPPOSITE THE HAU NGEIA PROVINCE
BORDER.
LTIT
RY
-1.e,tory Review
Case
Documern # 3
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'COMMUNIST MILITARY PLL IN (WANG NGAI
4. THE COMMUNISTS ARE APPARENTLY PLANNENG 70
:INTENSIFY MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION
OF I CORPS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
MOVEMENTS BY ENEMY UNITS, AND
AGENT REPORTS ALL POINT IN THIS DIREC.TION.
5. A NEW COMMUNICATIONS COMPLEX, FIRST HEARD, .
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IN ADDITION, AN AGE1'..:T
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HAS REPORTED THAT THE COMMUNISTS PLAN A
LARGE-SCALE
ATTACK ON QUANG
NGAI THIS MONTH.
6. A RECENT DEFECTOR,
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HAS
BATTALION
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STATED THAT A COt:SAT
WAS FORMED FROM AMONG THE EX-PRISONERS.
THE SOURCE,
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STATED THAT BETWEEN DECEMBER AND FEBRUARY
THE "ENTIRE QUANG NGAI PROVINCE FORCE" PLANS TO AT
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. TACK THE PROVINCIAL CA4TAL.
� 7. MOREOVER,
INDICATE THAT ADDITIONAL NORTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY
-UNITS OR GROUPS OF REPLACEMEWLPERSONNEL ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF INFILTRATING INTO THE AREA. INFOR...
'MATION CONTAINED IN A RECENTLY CAPTURED ENEMY NOTE-
BOOK ALSO SUGGESTS THAT FUTURE MAJOR COMMUNIST OF�.
FENSIVES WILL BE MOUNTED ALONG THE COASTAL AREA
OF CENTRAL SOUTH VIETNAM.
INCREASED ENEMY ACTIVITY EXPECTED IN THE SAIGON AREA
S. A NUMBER OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTS POINT TO
.A PERIOD OF INCREASED TERRORISM AND HARASSMENT THIS
WEEK IN AND AROUND SAIGON, REPORTEDLY INCLUDED IN
THE COMMUNIST PLANS ARE A SERIES C7 MORTAR�AND
POS-
SIBLY ROCKET...ATTAC:CS ON MILITARY TARGETS IN THE
CAPITAL AREA. TAN SON NHUT AIRFIELD, WITH ITS
RVNAF AND MACV HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX, IS A POSSIBLE
TARGET, AS IS BIEN HOA AIR BASE, WHICH,
p HAS SEEN THE SUBJECT 07 EX-
TENSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE. THERE
HAS BEEN A MINOR INCREASE IN COMMJNIST PROPAGANDA
AND TERRORISM IN THE CAPITAL IN RECENT DAYS.
9. THREE COMMEMORATIVE DAYS FALL IN THE 19TH TO. 22ND
PERIOD. THE FIRST OF THESE IS 19 DECEPER OR NA-
TIONAL RESISTANCE DAY, COMMEMORATING THE COMMENCE...
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.,MENT OF THE VIET MIN 51.5IANOL AGAINST- THE FREIVai
IN 1946. THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL LIBERA-
TION FRONT IS ON 20 DECEMBER, AND 22 DECEMBER IS
:THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF THE NORTH
VIETNAMESE ARMY.
' 10. THE COMMUNISTS HAVE USED SUCH OCCASIONS
.IN THE PAST TO STAGE DRAMATIC ATTACKS FOR A MAXIMUM
PROPAGANDA GAIN.
II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. DAMS DUC KHOI, NEWLY APPOINTED SPECIAL
ASSISTANT TO VICE PRESIDENT KY, BELIEVES POLICE
DIRECTOR LOAN IS BEHIND THE RECENT UPSURGE IN ANTI-
AMERICAN EDITORIALS IN THE PRESS AND HAS ADVISED KY
TO RESTRAIN LOAN,
KHOI REPORTEDLY MET WITH KY ON 13 DECEMBER TO DIS-
CUSS THE PROBLEM AND MENTIONED SEVERAL INSTANCES
OF ANTI-AMERICANISM WHICH COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO
LOAN AND HIS SUBORDINATE, L'AI DEN, WHOM NHOI DE-
SCRIBED AS THE "Si" OF THESE INCIDENTS. ONE
WAS THE SERIES OF ANTI-AMERICAN ARTICLES WHICH HAVE
RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE DAILY CONG CHUNG, A PAPER
GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE UNDER AT LEAST A DEGREE
OF DIRECT CONTROL BY LOAN.
TO F' SC ORE
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2. KHOI EXPRESSED THE FEAR THAT, WHILE THE -
LOAN .� MAI DEN CAMPAIGN HAS NOT YET REACHED SERIOUS
� PROPORTIONS, CONTINUED FREE REIN FOR THEM COULD
DAMAGE US-VIETNAMESE RELATIONS AND EVEN HURT THE WAR
EFFORT. HE THEREFORE ADVISED,
g THAT KY PERSUADE LOAN TO DISMISS MAI DEN AND
STOP PUBLICATION OF CONG CHUNG. KY REPORTEDLY PROM-
ISED TO TALK TO LOAN BUT SAID HE WOULD HAVE A DIFFI-
CULT TIME PERSUADING HIM TO LET MAI DEN GO. KY SAID
HE HAD TRIED THIS ONCE BEFORE TO NO AVAIL.
3. KHOI SAID HE AD ALREADY DISCUSSED THE
SITUATION WITH LOAN. ALTHOUGH LOAN AGREED THAT THE
AMERICANS POSED NO REAL LONG-RANGE THREAT TO VIET-
NAMESE SOVEREIGNTY, THE TWO COULD REACH NO COMMON
GROUND ON HOW TO LESSEN SHORTER RANGE FRICTIONS WHICH
RESULT FROM THE MASSIVE AMERICAN PRESENCE. LOAN
REPORTEDLY TOLD'KHOI THAT MAI DEN WAS A DEDICATED,
CLEVER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO HAD DONE NOTHING
WORSE THAN CRITICIZE THE US. LOAN THEREFORE FELT
IT WOULD BE INCONGRUOUS, TO-FIRE HIS SUBORDINATE
WHILE OTHERS ABOUT WHOM LOAN HAD EVIDENCE OF SOME
WRONGDOING WERE KEPT ON BY THEIR SUPERIORS.
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MOBILIZATION. DECREE DEFENDED BEFOREASSEMBLY
4., DEFENSE MINISTER NGUYEN VAN VY MET WITH BOTH
HOUSES OF THE NATIONAL ASSAMBLY ON IS DECEMBER TO DE-
FEND THE GOVERNMENT'S PARTIAL MOBILIZATION DECREE OF
24 OCTOBER. ALTHOUGH VY'S PERFORMANCE APPEARED TO
HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORY, ACCORDING TO UESS REPORTS
THE UPPER HOUSE MEETING ON 19 DECEMBER VOTED OVER-,
WHELMINGLY TO REJECT THE GOVERNMENT'S JUSTIFICATION
OF ITS DECREE PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARETHAT'THE
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION MAY BE SUPPORTED BY THE ASSEMBLY.
THERE IS AT LEAST ONE REPORT THAT THREE MEMBERS OF THE
LOWER HOUSE ARE CIRCULATING A DRAFT DECREE TO SUBSTITUTE
FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S DECREE.
.5. VY MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE UPPER HOUSE FOR
ABOUT FOUR HOURS IN AN OPEN PLENARY SESSION ATTENDED
BY ALL 60 MEMBERS. HE READ A STATEMENT OUTLINUNG THE
GOVERNMENT'S POSITIOJ DEFENDED THE FORMER DIRECTO-
RATE'S ACTON IN P23MOLGATING THE DECREE AS LEGAL UNDER
ARTICLE 111 OF THE CONSTITUTION. VY MAINTAINED THAT
PROMULGATION IN OCTOBER WAS NECESSARY IN VIEW OF AN
ANTICIPATED 1968 REOnREMENT FOR 649000 ADDITIONAL MEN
AND BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO GIVE THOSE WHO WILL BE AF-
FECTED AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE EVENTUALITY.
HE ALSO ARGUED THAT LOWERING THE DRAFT AGE FROM 20 70
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18'WAS A LOGICAL COURSEOR A NATION AT WAR. HE ADp
HOWEVER g THAT 18...YEAR...OLDS WILL NOT BE CALLED UP BE�
FORE
tA, THE END OF 1968. STUDENT DEFERMENTSg HE NOTEDp
#�
WOULD BE FLEXIBLE, ALLOWING SUPERIOR STUDENTS TO
1
,
CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES. THOSE WHO WANT TO STUDY ABROAD
WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS, AND
THEY WILL HAVE TO PURSUE STUDIES THAT WILL BENEFIT
THE NATION.
6. THE QUESTION� AND�ANSWER PERIOD IN THE SENATE
WAS GENERALLY ORDERLY AND WITHOUT RANCOR. VY ANSWERED
QUESTIONS TOUCHING ON SUCH SUBJECTS AS THE RATES 07
DESERTION AND DRAFT EVASION(BOTH DOWN 30 PERCENT IN
1967 FROM 1966); POSTPONEMENT OF CERTAIN PARTS OF THE
MOBILIZATION DECREE UNTIL THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEGALIZE THE ORDER (THERE IS NO
LONGER A QUESTION OF AMENDING OR SUSPENDING THE DECREE--
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO APPLY IT FAIRLY); AND THE
SUBJECT OF DRAFT DEFERMENTS (NO FAVORS SHOULD BE GIVEN
TO SONS OF WALT' OR PROMINENT FAMILIES AND A CRA6N7
DOWN SHOULD BE MADE ON STUDENTS WHO USE THEIR STUDIES
TO EVADE THE DRAFT). ANOTHER QUESTION TOUCHED ON THE
POINT OF WHY THE DRAFT AGE WAS LOWERED IF ONLY A 64,000�
MAN INCREASE IS NEEDED (REPLACEMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR
CASUALTIES AND DISCHARGES AS WELL AS TO INCREASE THE
SIZE OF THE MILITARY�A AS ONLY 40 PERCENT OF ARMY'S.
NEEDS WILL BE MET BY CONSCRIPTION IN i963). SUSPICIONS
WRE VOICED THAT THE GOVERNMENT USED THE MOBILIZATION
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OF SPCIALISTS AS A WAte:0 CONTROL OPPOSITIONISTS1-
FENSE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE ONLY CONSIDERATION FOR
DRAFTING SPECIALISTS-- THEMAIN NEED WILL BE FOR DOCTORS
WHICH ARE IN PARTICULAR SHORT SUPPLY).
7. VY APPEARED BEFORE A CLOSED SESSION OF THE
LOWER HOUSE ON THE AFTERNOON OF 23 DEC=ER.
VY'SPERFORMANCE WAS
AS GOOD AS THE ONE HE GAVE BEFORE THE UPPER HOUSE. �
AFTER READING A PREPARED STATEMENT, HE REPLIED TO SOME
120 QUESTIONS. INQUIRIES REPORTEDLY FELL INTO THREE
BROAD CATEGORIEWGC 1) THOSE CALLENOING THE CONSTITU-
TIONALITY OF THE DECREE ITSELF; 2) THOSE QUESTIONING
THE FAIRNESS OF THE DECREE; AND 3) THOSE RELATING TO
WHAT ACTION THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE IF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY "REJECTS� THE DECREE OR REQUEST THAAT ITS
APPLICATION BE SUSPENDED. VY, IN RESPONDING TO TEE
QUESTIONS POSED, STREESED THE NEED FOR THE IMMEDIATE
APPLICATION OF THE . NE DECLARED, HOWEVER, THAT
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FOLLOW ANOTHER MOBI IZATION LAW
IF ONE WERE PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.
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.FARMER WORKER-SOLDIER BLOC ON T!.)!E DOWNSWING
8. THE LOWER HOUSE 'CONTINGENT 07 THE FARMER-
WORKER-SOLDIER BLOC HAS RE7CR7EDL': :-�'EC:DED TO DISBAND
FOR LACI OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. TH;1. UPPER HOUSE
CONTINGENT MAY ALSO BE NEAR DISSOLVING.
9. ?VE MEM- 3.3(h)(2)
BERS OF THE LOWER 'HOUSE GROUP MADE THE DECISION TO
DISBAND ON 10 DECEMBER, FOLLOWIG A s7a:Es OF Milz.IINQS
WHICH WENT ALMOST UNATTENDED. THE FIVE REPORTEDLY
ATTRIBUTE THEIR GROUP'S DEMISE TO THE DIMINISHING
POPULARITY OF THEBLOC'S LEADERS, MOST OF WHOM ARE
SENATORS. SENATOR DANG VAN SUNG AND TRAM QUOC BUU,
PRESIDENT OF THE VIETNAMESE CONFEDERATION OF WO=ERS,
THEY SAY, ARE TOO PRO-AMERICAN, WHILE SENATOR TON
THAT DINH IS TOO PRO-BUDDHIST AND ANTIGOVERNMENT.
THE FIVE ALSO BELIZVE TAATTRAN VAN DON, PRESIDENT'
OF THE BLOC, IS A GOOD MAN BUT NOT POLITICALLY ASTUTE.,
10. THE BLOC IS LOSING PRESTIGE IN THE UPPER
HOUSE, ACCORDING TO SENATOR NGUYEN GIA HIEN, LEADER
OF THE SENATE'S NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST BLOC.
HIEN REPORTEDLY CL:J.MS THAT BOTH L3NAND DIN:i ARE
PRIMARILY MILITARY MEN, UNINTERESTED IN POLITICS OR
POLITICAL PARTY FORMATION. HE CLAIMS LiAY :L.= CAN
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-*FIND NO COMMON GROUtdITH MEMBERS OF OTHER UPPEW HOUSE
BLOCS AND WILL NOT DISCUSS PRACTICAL POLITICS.
11. ALTHOUGH MIEN'S ATTITUDE MAY BE SLIGHTYLY
COLORED BECAUSE OF DOM'S REFUSAL TO GO ALONG WITH A
PROPOSAL THAT THEIR TWO BLOCS MERGE, THERE ARE OTHER
INDICATIONS OF DON'S POLITICAL INEPTITUDE. THIS MAY
HURT NOT ONLY HIS BLOC, BUT ALSO HIS-CHANCES FOR
ELECTION TO THE UPPER HOUSE CHAIRMANSHIP. HIEN HAS
SAID THAT HIS BLOC'S VOTES WILL GO TO SENATOR NGUYEN
VAN HUYEN, DESPITE DON'S APPEAL FOR HIEN'S SUPPORT.
PRESIDENT THIEU, IN ADDITION, HAS PORTEDLY INDICATED
HIS PREFERENCE FOR HUYEN OVER DON.
III. NORTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
2. THERE ARE BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT ELEVEN
MIG-21S AND POSSIBLY SEVEN OR EIGHT MIG-17S AT
VARIOUS AIRFIELDS WITHIN NORTH VIETM. AT LEAST
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tWO AND POSSIBLY FOUR ''IIO-17S WERE SHOT DOWN BY Ic:24
US AIRCRAFT CANNON FIRE ON 18 AND 19 DECEMBER.
IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. THERE IS NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE TO REPORT.
V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMEN?S
1. NORTH VIETNAMESE SPOKESMEN ABROAD CONTIN'JE
TO TAKE A TOUGH LINE ON THE QUESTION OF SETTLING THE
WAR. THEY IS THAT AN UNCONDITIONAL CESSATION OF
THE BOMBING MUS? PRECEDE ANY NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT
A SETTLEMENT MUST BE IN ACCORDANCE WITN THEIR TERMS.
2. IN A LENGTHY INTERVIEW -WITH A WESTERN JOUR�
NALIST LAST 'WEEK, ?RAN VIET DUNG, COUNSELOR OF THE
NORT:-! VIETNAMESE MISSION IN FRANCE, REFUSED TO CON�
SIDER ANY SUGGES:IONS FOR ACHIEVING A SETTLEMENT EX�
CEP: ON THE BASIS OF WELL�XMJN COUNIST POSITIONS.
HE PLACEDTHE BLAME FOR THE WAR SQUARELY ON THE US
A:3 CLAIMED ?NAT THE AMERICAN AiM IS TO DESTROY NORTH
VIETNAM'S SOVEREIGNTY AND BRING IT INTO THE US "SPHERE
OF INFLUENCE." DUNG ALSO CLAIMED THAT THE LIBERATION
FRONT IS MUCH STRONGER THAN THE "SAIGON CLIQUE" BUT
WAS UNABLE TO AGREE TO OR TO EVEN COMPREHEND A PRO�
POSAL THAT THE US A13 NORTH VIETNAM IJI-;HDRAW AND
LEAVE A COMPROMISE GOVERNMENT IN THE SOUTH.
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LIBERATION FROM gf,AVERSARY
3. THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNISTS ARE USING THE
OCCASION OF THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
OF THE'LIBERATION FRONT TO VOICE THEIR DETERMINATION
.TO PRESS DM WITH THE WAR. AT A MEETING IN HANOI9
FRONT AND NORTH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS SPDXE OF THEIR
RESOLVE AND DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE THE SYRGGLE.
ONE SPOKESMAN PORTRAYED THE conING PERIOD AS "ONE
OF VIOLENT AND FIERCE BATTLES." BUT CLAIMED THAT THE
PEOPLE WILL NOT SHRINK FROM ANY SACRIFICE OR TRIAL
AND THAT THE NORTH ABIDES BY THE SLOGAN, "EVERYTHING
FOR THE FRATERNAL SOUTH."
4. SIMILAR STATEMENT WERE MADE AT A GATHERING
OF FRON OFFICIALS IN A "LIBBERATED AREA" 7iNI THE SOTH.
NGUYEN HUU THO, HEAD OF THE FRONT PRESID:U:1, ADDRESSED
HIGH-LEVEL MIMBERS OF THE FRONT AND DENOUOED WHAT HE
TERMED "DECEITFUL US PEACE NEGOTIATIONS." ACCORDING
TO AN 13 DEOEn3ER 3ROADOAST9 XE ALSO SET FORTH "THE 7U-
TURE TREND OF
AND PEOPLE."
I 0 PSECR
THE TASK'S 37
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THE SOUTXER:,:
A7yrrn
FORCES
NO FGREICA DISSEIV3ACKGROLNO USE ONLY
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