THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001000010019-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2006
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: July 7, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved Fcgelease 2WQ'3/0499T00
001000010019-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE SITUATION ,IN: 'V.IETNAM .
Information 'as of' 1600
7 July 1;966
State Dept. review. completed
PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
FURTHER MSSEMINATION.'OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED'HEREIN'IS NOT AUTHORIZED
Approved For Release 2Ter ~j 79t?
9T00826A001000010019-4
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7 July 1966
North Vietnamese MIGs attacked two US Air
Force Thunderchiefs about 30 miles north of Hanoi
on 7 July. Neither side lost any planes, but the
US pilots report that the MIGs fired air-tv-air
missiles. Bloc propaganda is again raising the
specter of sending volunteers to Vietnam. The
threat is still conditional on Hanoi's request,
however. In South.Vietnam, delays in announc-
ing cabinet changes may be another indicator
of some friction among South Vietnamese generals.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam;
South Vietnamese in Operation CUU LONG-32 killed
155 Viet Cong and captured a major medical.and-
arms depot in Kien Hoa Province (Para. 1). A
total of 166 Viet Cong have been killed as Op-
eration BINH PHU 10 continues along Route 1 in
Binh Dinh Province (Para. 2). Three-day Opera-
tion LONG PHI 977 ended in Vinh Long Province
with a total of 113 Viet Cong killed (Para.. 3).
Five Americans were killed in a three-hour en-
counter 25` miles northwest of Saigon between
units of the 25th Infantry Division and two
enemy platoons (Para. 4). Operation MACON has
been expanded into a multibattalion search-and-
destroy operation in Quang Nam Province (Para. 5).
Operation HOLT/LAM SON 280 ended yesterday in
northern Thua Thien Province (Para. 6). Possi-
ble formation of a division size VC unit is
indicated in the area of Phu Yen and Phu Bon
provinces (Para. 7).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
There have been no new significant developments
regarding General Thi's future nor on the re-
sulting friction among army factions but some
additional background aspects have come to light
(Para. 1). The announcement of Premier Ky's
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new cabinet, scheduled for today, has again been.
postponed--another indicator that all possibly
is not well among the ruling generals (Para. 2).
Deputy Prime Minister Co is also said to be
maneuvering against some Vietnamese officers
with central Vietnamese origins (Para. 3). Bud-
dhist Institute-chairman Tam Chau appears to be
exploring the limits of the government's an-
nounced policy of leniency toward, the "strug-
glers" (Para. 4). Vietnamese police officials
are reported to be considering a recommenda-
tion to move the Buddhist Institute compound out
of Saigon (Para. 6). Notes on the September
elections, including Buddhist and VNQDD attitudes,
an antigovernment communique signed by a re-
ligious front, and Viet Cong plans in Tay Ninh
Province (Paras. 7-10).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
US Air Force fighter bombers on 7 July encountered
two MIG-21s which US pilots say firdd air-to-air
missiles (Paras. 1-4). Navy aircraft have
struck the Haiphong POL Storage Facility for
the second time in slightly over a week (Paras. 5-6).
Navy aircraft also attacked and either destroyed
or damaged four DRV PT/patrol boats (Paras. 7-8).
The Chinese are apparently building a major sup-
port base in addition to the airfield at Yen Bai
(Paras. 9-11) .
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance.to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: Earlier
press reports of new evacuation measures for
the city of Hanoi are confirmed by Western ob-
servers (Paras. 1-4). The propaganda threat of
sending volunteers to Vietnam is being raised
again throughout the Communist-bloc (Paras. 5-8).
More on the Sainteny visit to Hanoi (Paras. 9-10).
7 July 1966
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1. Operation CUU LONG 32, a one-day search-
and-destroy operation, was conducted yesterday
by seven battalions of the South Vietnamese 7th
Infantry Division about 50 miles south of Saigon
in Kien Hoa Province. As the units were being
withdrawn from the area of operations, a Viet
Cong force of unknown size attacked the 7th Di-
vision command post with mortars, automatic weap-
ons, and small-arms fire for approximately two
hours. Total friendly casualties included 4
killed (2 US), and 11 wounded. Communist losses
were 155 killed and 10 captured. One of the
main Viet Cong medical and arms depots in the
Mekong De'lt?a area was destroyed in this opera-
tion. Nearly three tons of medical supplies were
taken from a large and well concealed Viet Cong
depot. An arms manufacturing plant was also cap-
tured.
2. South Vietnamese Operation BINH PHU 10 con-
tinues along Route 1 north of Qui Nhon in coastal
Binh Dinh Province with sporadic contact with the
Viet Cong reported. Updated casualty figures in-
dicate a total of 166 Viet Cong killed and four
captured in the action yesterday. South Viet-
namese casualties are two killed, seven wounded
and one missing.
3. A three-day search-and-destroy operation,
LONG PHI 977, conducted by South Vietnamese Army
units in Vinh Long Province ended yesterday.
Final casualty figures included two Americans
killed and four wounded; 19 South Vietnamese
killed and 57 wounded; and 113 Viet Cong killed
and four captured. Twelve tactical air sorties
were flown in support of the operation.
4. Elements of a battalion of the US 25th
Infantry Division on a local operation approxi-
mately 25 miles northwest of Saigon engaged an
estimated two enemy platoons for nearly three
6 July 1966
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hours yesterday. US losses were 5 killed and 14
wounded while Viet Cong losses were 2 killed.
5. Operation MACON, presently being conducted
in an area about 17 miles southwest of Da Nang in
northern Quang Nam Province, has been expanded to
a multibattalion search-and-destroy operation
scheduled to last for two weeks.' Early:'this morning
a..platoon of US Marines observed a 200-man:'Viet
Cong force moving in a column. Artillery fire
was directed against the enemy resulting in 20
Viet Cong killed. Light contact is reported to
be continuing.
6. Operation HOLT/LAM SON 280, a combined
US Marine - South Vietnamese Army search-and-de-
stroy operationcconducted in northern Thua Thien
Province, ended yesterday. Only light contact was
made with enemy forces during the five-day op-
eration. Final casualty figures indicate four
Americans were wounded and 16 Communists were
killed. A total of 24 tactical air strikes were
flown in support of this operation.
Another NVA/VC Division May Be Forming
7. A series of recent reports suggest that
major Communist units may be moving through the
southern Pleiku - Darlac Province area en route
to Phu Yen Province. The 18 "B" North Vietnamese
regiment was recently noted moving through this
area and a newly infiltrated unit--the 49th Regi-
ment--may be following it.
incidents indicate the VC have increased their
road interdiction efforts in this area. The
focal point of this activity seems to be in Phu
Yen and Phu Bon provinces, where Communist forces
may be gathering to protect the infiltration cor-
ridor into these coastal provinces and to secure
the coming rice harvest for the VC. A divison-
size unit in this area might comprise the 18 ".B,"
49th and the 95th Regiments.
6 July 1966
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
Government Developments
1. There have been no significant new reports
on the investigation and possible court-martial of
General Thi, nor on the resulting friction among
military factions. General Thi is being investi-
gated by a specially appointed council of some 20
generals who plan to interrogate him personally on
9 July before deciding whether he should be court-
martialed. Before his arrest on 5 July, Thi had
been requested to supply written answers to a com-
prehensive and detailed set of 13 questions con-
cerning the "struggle"-'movement. Thi's artfully
worded reply, which also preceded his arrest, dodged
the questions. It stressed that Thi's honor as a
military man precluded his supplying any informa
tion which would damage the reputations of other
Vietnamese military officers who would play an im-
portant role in Vietnam for a long time to come.
Thi's memo was reportedly drafted by Colonel Pham
Van Lieu, former national police director and close
associate of Thi. Lieu also is reportedly attempt-
ing to appeal to Premier Ky, although realizing at
the same time that moderation by Ky now on the is-
sue of Thi's future may be used by Deputy Premier
Co and others to discredit Ky.
2. Premier Ky's adviser, Bui Diem, today
told a US Embassy official that the announcement of
the new cabinet alignment scheduled for today would
be postponed for a few more days. Diem implied that
a few more details needed to be worked out, but em-
phasized that only a few ministries were involved.
The repeated delays in the announcement of the new
cabinet, however, could well be another indication
that all is not going smoothly among the military
leaders. Deputy Premier Co, who is also "super min-
ister" for war in the cabinet, stands to lose the
most in the reported organization of a "super minis-
try" for revolutionary development to be headed by
General Thang. Co previously controlled most of the
ministries which are now to be under revolutionary
development. 7 July 1966
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 Approv
3. In addition to indications that he is maneuver-
ing in regard to cabinet changes and playing a signifi-
cant role in deciding General Thi's future, General
Co is also said to be behind efforts to remove officers
of central Vietnamese origin from significant posts
25X1 in the armed forces.
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arranged for the removal of two division commanders,
one each from II and III Corps, and is now attempting
to remove General Ton That Xung as commandant of the
Vietnamese Command and General Staff College, General
Xung is the uncle of dissident General Ton That Dinh,
now under arrest and investigation in Saigon for his
role in the "struggle" movement..
Buddhist Developments-
4. Institute chairman Tam Chau now appears to be ex-
ploring the limits of the government's announced policy
of leniency towards supporters of the "struggle" movement.
Yesterday, Tam Chau publicly issued three letters to gov-
ernment officials asking that all oppressive actions against
compatriots in central Vietnam be stopped, that he be al-
lowed to visit all Buddhists now under detention, and that
the government release all "strugglers" except for those few
individuals as stated by Premier Ky. Chau also informed the
government that the Institute has not yet chosen its rep-
resentative for the military-civilian advisory council. '
The council, which was inaugurated on 5 July, contained'.79
persons instead of the scheduled 80, with the one unfilled
seat apparently set aside for a Buddhist Institute repre-
sentative. Although Tam Chau's letters were generally mild
in tone, the requests may add up to a little more than the
government is willing to grant at present.
5. Yesterday, one of Tam Chau's moderate followers
told a US Embassy official that Tam Chau had privately urged
Police Director.. Loan to release some 150 Buddhists still
under detention. Loan reportedly agreed to release some,
but was determined to hold others for another two or three
months.
6.1 Loan is
favorably considering a recommendation that the Buddhist In-
stitute compound be moved from Saigon and relocated on the
Saigon - Bien Hoa highway. However, Loan reportedly stated
that such a decision would have to be presented to the
cabinet for final approval.
7 July 1966
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 App
Election Notes
7. The "Front of Citizens of Various Religions"
issued a communique on 5 July which called for the
resignation of Premier Ky and Chief of State Thieu,
and for boycott of the September, elections. The
most prominent members of the Front are Roman
Catholic-Father Hoang Quynh and Buddhist Institute
deputy chairman Thich Phap Tri. Father Quynh, how-
ever, has lost much of his previous influence among
Catholics, and other Catholic groups are making
plans to..participate in the elections. Phap Tri,
a well known Buddhist militant, is apparently a mem-
ber of the Front in a personal capacity rather than
as an Institute official. The US Embassy has com-
mented that there does not appear to be any signifi-
cant opposition developing to the elections. The
Front's communiqu4 has been censored from Saigon
newspapers.
Institute chairman Tam Chau does not believe that
he will be able to persuade the Institute to par-
ticipate actively in the September elections. How-
ever, Chau reportedly feels confident that the In-
stitute will not decide specifically to oppose
elections.
9. Central and southern factions of the VNQDD
(Nationalist) Party are apparently holding private
talks in Saigon in an attempt to improve party unity.
Thus far, the VNQDD faction in Da Nang has not made
a final decision on its list of candidates, but is
waiting to see who is being sponsored by other po-
litical groups. A spokesman from the Da Nang fac-
tion recently admitted to a ,US official that his
party has a "spotty" image, and indicated the will-
ingness of his group to form an alliance with other
nationalists.
10. IViet
Cong cadre in Tay Ninh Province intend to carry out
an anti-election campaign in September. Cadre there
are also planning to spread antigovernment leaflets
in new life hamlets as a means of organizing further
political resistance to the government.
7 July 1966
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