ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRU AND PHOENIX PROGRAMS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02185022
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2021
• Case Number: F-2019-01120
• Publication Date: February 11, 1970

Approved for Release: 2021/08/05 CO2185022
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FOR:' � Di.rectircf CtralInte1ligence
stra..TixT;
DeputIr Director for Plans
Or sc .1.11 ment a the PRI;
aa cx Pro}rame
I. This memorandum i ES Rh :e the information of the
:Director of Contrail Intelligence.
2. PRU
A. The program was 6r:4),in:a ly proposed to Pleaclquarterst-r.
in March 1964, Its objectives v;e. re to-haraas the Wet Cong (VC) in
the areas Ainder their control an to collect intealigence on VC inten:
'dons and ca.pabilitieS in the procs. -1:'heir basic technique was to
take all available operational inforMotion on a VC-controlled area-
hamlet ar village-and develop a plan of harassment which could
� carried out by a sm.all team.:.threo to tea men-who were knowledgeable
of the area. Making maximum use of darkness, the team, would
penetrate the area and attempt to *carry out their plan, usually to
eliminate known VC activists. The capture of documents and
pri-
oners was encouraged. Mere sophistica,ted.techniqUes Such. as r
poison pen letters, forged docur�A.,nts; and VC weapons. and iforms .
were not included in the original plarining,...
The situation in South Vietnam. at this time was at
best chaotic. President Deem had been dead five months; Lt. Con.,
1r' avioakay
used. 'Thereltan bean noticeable. ;',.rr.provement in the professionalism
displayed by the Special Police in the ms,tropolitan areas in the field of
acidic targetinP.:.which has re CM]. :4) .t, b-e .r.oll-up,cf a significant
'number of high level. VC.I. Thor. fo,ms, will continue to:be on. the
thcTiidual1%nd: the party app tau, �
J. _Actions continuo at the national level to insura'a uni
and effective syetem of processing of VCI detainees. The..;
Ministry of Interior on ZO.Ausuot t969 issued 'a directiVe includine
severear provisions which phould rriarked ithprovenleat.in the.
ffectiveness of the program; e. g � $implifying the paperwork for '
egal processing, ri!;quiriag raatidn.tery maximum aent6nces
'Communist Party members awl s'a.gnificant cadre, and immediate move-.',
eat f those categories tCA Con Soft Island or similar national correc-
a centers without hraving to wail; far' the Ministry-of Interior approval...
K. The 1970 GVN Paci.fication and Development 'Plan -
recognizes the moral and social cwt a involved by:Teference'ta,the nee
for the population and detainees to: be treated ix a fair, conaiderate�,
Lad just manner.. It calls kDr full notification to Village officials of
operations in their villages, rapW, s.0.1 equitable Ticreening.and release
of innocents, better dossiers for :::nexes accurate char06:,' e.,tpeditious
interrogation and processing oir�oi fenders, :and notification to all' �
'echelons concerned as to the whereabouts 4nd :disposition, of -dotaiew
to provide more. effective ancoUntIbi,14ty.
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Approved for Release: 2021/08/05 CO2185022
1."herekmve been i.n.cre.tatiing irked :ions front cal:Aured .
scum ..,ts.a.nd ialterzog.6tiolvi tinat Vaal- Viet Cong In.frastr,ueture
frornCOSVN ley's). to ham1e c ,b.eco.s,',nirkg extreniely cpricerned., alsout
� the CO of ac.tiens qirecte=da,gainst
�them. CO8Y11 "Resolaon. 9, d,irecia ,incrgiseed intern4.1 sec-urity.
oxpatid,eal a eCur ity r.nr,lasuret.i.to be till.:en.o,n VC .0 p0,1"9.ei, re turtling, .
from GVN control, ri c aufaion:a a t i:PI:f04I,NIX 7-
fierietratorv,. reportV C 4VCI targetirvz:of,the'�;',IIUNci
Ii0ANG/ PliO.EN,I:,C oga4312 ati,,on'.-.A.z por
M, .The PITUN9 NO,PiI 1I;os...3.6, fp): 1968,..N')V1 :.tio
44 province and 200 district centers plus tile� n.eutr.alation
of 12.000. VCI ra,e.m.liers out, of tb ftmatd .total, of 35, 000 VCX,ia.�,.
ttill. Vietnam.. A e-,-part 01an oyt,J:rs.11
iaign, a special Pl...21,r..ING 7.50..hNG a.a.-sall5aisn calling for int.enVifie el �
ati-VCX operatione wa t ponaorsliip of the Minister
o.f Interior on 20 Ooto'ber 19(.43 i y tlha end .of Olt . yea r an
HO.ANG orpnia.,,�ation.al gee las %vex e 0,ecr�ar�pliphea. oove 776.
VCI identifia.:aby nrno and iso,eiticn neutralized.....pr tile 9e, .
Z91 were cart red; 2, 230 ra1ltcr'1:, and 2, 255 'we, 'Of
t�to.l.� 13% (2, 050) ev..rved positiong, 4t. district le.ve,l'or higher..
. .
� TbePUNCHOANa goals for 1969; e,a11,fr.grc,the_ nett'
ralizatierk of 21, 600 VC1 or1,4300 :?or. month. These figtrek., were.
revioed downward trom the orgna1 goc,13. of .33, 000 sot by the GVN.
This was dun in part to .a more re ei trictive,Criteria recominended,by
�IPHOL7NIX and eatablished by ,tlie Ilitinisto, of InWrior:u Doceraber 1963
�A0 a means of gottimg the field units to concentrate ceiv.Oxality yerstri; �
quantity in the program. la 3.969 :.1i1.371:',Yugh "'November a total of
� ,liad been captured; 4, 457. had. dk:t.to4;teai; , and 5, 694 ha,d been killed,kr
a. total neutralization figure of as, 01'5. The percent,age at :district
, level and above.3..s not yet nvailab)e,
.FE/VNO/
Distribution:
Original and 1
� 1
1
1�
1
2
DCI
DDCI
DDP
.ADDP
C /FE'
C/VNO
C/VNO
r
11 February 1970
Approved for Release: 2021/08/05 CO2185022