Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207N � � vp 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 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207 '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, . 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) IN ADDITION, AN AGE1'..:T 3.3(h)(2) 3.3(h)(2) HAS REPORTED THAT THE COMMUNISTS PLAN A LARGE-SCALE ATTACK ON QUANG NGAI THIS MONTH. 6. A RECENT DEFECTOR, 3.3(h)(2) HAS BATTALION 3.3(h)(2) STATED THAT A COt:SAT WAS FORMED FROM AMONG THE EX-PRISONERS. THE SOURCE, 3.3(h)(2) STATED THAT BETWEEN DECEMBER AND FEBRUARY THE "ENTIRE QUANG NGAI PROVINCE FORCE" PLANS TO AT Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 4Tpmved for Release: M1M2)(29 C01 CM 10 _ . 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... 3.3(h)(2) ,3.3(h)(2) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207, .,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 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 (pproved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207.. NO roncIGN DI=EM /DACXCIIOUND UC ONLY 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. 3.5(c) 3.3(h)(2) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 ipproved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207,, 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 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 t.Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207,i 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 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 �Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207,, 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. ,/ LIDISS/DACXGOUN h NLY 3.3(h)(2) 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 0 PSECRET ekpproved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 N 7-7OREIGN DlO'SEM/BACKGROUND USE ONLY 3.5(c) .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 Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 (-Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C0100129,7i, -*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 3.3(h)(2) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 (Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01001207'., .. 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. Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207 (Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C01 00120T 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 �� THE SOUTXER:,: A7yrrn FORCES NO FGREICA DISSEIV3ACKGROLNO USE ONLY 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 CO1001207

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HW SITUATION IN VIETNAM AS OF 1600 EST 19 DECEMBER 1967