CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1968/01/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02033845
• Document Creation Date: July 27, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
N110
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
et
3.5(c)
Central Intelligence Bulletin
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
c 207
25 January 1968
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
Approved for Release2.018/07/26 CO2033845 3.5(c)
TO CRET
25 January 1968
Central Intelligence Bulletin
CONTENTS
Vietnam: Situation report. (Page 2)
Laos: Government faces further Communist
attacks after costly Nam Bac defeat. (Page 4)
TO CRET
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
NR
NR
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
THAILAND
NORTH
VIETNAM
Demiliierized Zone
I
7 �',i1'..'''' .,
Route-9 Kim S antk
\...� ,
:-) ,.
0
:10,/V
CAMBODI
PHN41
PENH,,
P
DAD
0 P. QII0C
GULF OF
cr)
'
P
U"-j-c)6 Nang
/1. NG NAM f
; NG DIN t
'0'31`; ;i`ql
DAPI tUG
NG DUG
LI
Hr)r.r
DitiZtVN )
DCC
NIN
LIINH
,1 I NH'
,113 A N,
'HU
N
CORPS
N
) 4AM RANH
SOUTH VIET AM
CO TIAL
I..r.% 50 7.5 190 Kies
0 25 5b 7.5 550 Htlometer0
69405 1-68 CIA
26 Jan 68 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Map
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845 3.5(c)
- I V! .124 1%. 1_11 1.
*Vietnam:
South Vietnam: North Vietnamese units continue
active in the Khe Sanh area.
Although no major fighting was reported on 24
January, US Marine patrols discovered breaks in the
barbed-wire barrier surrounding the main strong-
point. The patrols also report extensive enemy move-
ment east and along Route 9 west of Khe Sanh.
The Marine defenses are under pressure from
sporadic enemy shelling. The main base at Khe Sanh
came under artillery attack for almost five hours on
the 24th.
North Vietnam: Hanoi now seems unwilling to
elaborate publicly its present policy toward talks on
the war.
In contrast to efforts made prior to President
Johnson's State of the Union address to underscore
the reasonableness of the Communist position, Hanoi
now seems bent on preventing exaggerated interpreta-
tions of its intentions. The North Vietnamese have
since concentrated on denouncing the President's re-
statement of the San Antonio formula and have in gen-
eral returned to a hard-line treatment of the war,
playing down their recent "will" talk offer.
1
In addition, the North Vietnamese spokesman in I
Paris, Mai Van Bo, who last week seemed eager for
press contacts that would allow him to play up the
positive aspects of Hanoi's position, on 22 January
canceled a scheduled interview with the excuse that he
had "said everything he had to say up to now."
25 Jan 68
2
(continued)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 201-8/07/26 CO2033845 3.5(c)
0 1UjtUKLI
A Western press source reports that Soviet
Premier Kosygin may go to Hanoi after his current
visit to New Delhi. The story is not confirmed, but
such a visit is possible and could coincide with a
Tet bombing pause. The last high-level Soviet visit
to North Vietnam was in January 1966 when politburo
member Shelepin led a delegation n North Vietnam
during the 37-day bombing pause.
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
25 Jan 68 3
9C
Approved
. ET
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
LAOS
"CAMBODIA
VIETNAM
Son
BURMA
Nakhon Phanorn, � T
Communist-control led
terr i tory
THAILAND
69391 1-68 CIA
25 Jan 68 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Map
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 20-18/07/26 CO2033845
TO R ET
k
3.5(c)
Laos: The Nam Bac defeat now appears to be
one of the most costly setbacks the Laotian Govern-
ment has suffered in several years.]
_
Although it will be some time before the exact
number of government casualties can be fixed, losses
probably will be considerable. Over a week has
passed since the Nam Bac defensive perimeter col-
lapsed, but the government can account for less than
half of the 3,500-man force deployed there. The gov-
ernment also lost large stocks of heavy weapons, am-
munition, and other equipment.]
.Communist forces are harassing the troops with-
drawing from the Nam Bac area and have prevented
the government from establishing a new defensive
line south of the base. There is no indication, how-
ever, that the Communists intend to follow up their
success with a drive into government-held areas.
Communist activity near the royal capital of Luang
Prabang appears to be an attempt to tie down a sub-
stantial number of government troops. I
The Communists are also stepping up their an-
nual dry season campaign against government guer-
rilla bases in northeastern Laos. The enemy has re-
cently taken a number of outlying posts near Phou
Pha Thi, possibly in preparation for artillery attacks
on the airstrip. Loss of this base, which was unsuc-
cessfully attacked by North Vietnamese aircraft on
12 January, would seriously disrupt government op-
erations in northern Houa Phan Province. This would
also deprive the US of navigational aids for air opera-
tions over North Vietnam. j
25 Jan 68
4
TO CRET
(continued)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
_.����
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Ji, 1
3.5(c)
Fin addition, the Communists captured the govern-
men position at Muong Hiem on 23 January, suggest-
ing that an early thrust may be made against Na Khang,
the principal base for friendly guerrilla operations in
northern Xieng Khoua7 Province.]
3.5(c)
25 Jan 68
TOP ET
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845 NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845 NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
NR
To ret
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845
Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 CO2033845