THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001200010040-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2004
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: September 13, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL
I NTELLIGENCE AGENC.Y
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THE .,SITUATION 1N VIET-NAM
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i3_September x.966
State 1Oepattmennt.review
completed
PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL ;SECURITY COUNCIL
FURTHER DISSMIIInATI(N OF INPCMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT AUTHORIZED-
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13 September 1966
HIGHLIGHTS
There does not appear to be any chance in the
near future for a real settlement between the Ky
government and the militant wing of the Buddhist
Institute. Other Buddhist Institute leaders, how-
ever, are clearly looking for a compromise settle-
ment.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Light contact was reported on 12 September between
US and Communist forces as American forces partici-
pating in Operation BYRD continued to search Binh
Thuan Province for enemy troops (Para. 1). South
Vietnamese forces killed 48 Viet Cong on the same
day in Kien Phong Province (Para. 2). Also on 12
September five US battalions began Operation THAYER
in northeastern Binh Dinh Province, where as many
as 11,880 Communist troops are reported operating
(Para. 3), and two US Army operations--KIPAPA and
BANGOR--north and northwest of Saigon ended with
a total of 13 Viet Cong killed (Paras. 4-5).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
There does not appear to be any chance of a real
settlement between the Buddhist Institute and the
government in the near future (Paras. 1-2). The gov-
ernment is making plans for the phased return of
FULRO supporters to government control (Para. 3). A
demonstration, possibly Viet Cong - inspired with anti-
election and anti-American overtones, was reported
in the provincial capital of An Xuyen the evening
of 13 September (Vietnam time) (Para. 4).
III. North Vietnamese Military Developments:
Four US aircraft were lost over North Vietnam on 13
September as a near-record number of missions were
flown against the DRV (Paras. 1-3).
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IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing significant to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: There
is nothing significant to report.
13 September 1966
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NORTH \
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VIETNAM
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1. Light contact was reported on 12 September
by US Army units participating in Operation BYRD in
coastal Binh Thuan Province. There were no American
casualties while 23 Viet Cong were reported to have
been killed during the four-hour engagement. This
search-and-destroy operation, which began on 25 Au-
gust, has been seeking the 250-man 602nd Viet Cong
Battalion, reported to be operating in Binh Thuan
Province.
2. South Vietnamese forces supported by armed
helicopters engaged a Communist force of unknown
size on 12 September during the conduct of one-day
Operation QUANG 'DUNG 30 in Kien Phong Province about
70 miles southwest of Saigon. In the ensuing battle
48 enemy soldiers were killed while friendly losses
included one killed and two wounded.
3. Five battalions of the US 1st Cavalry Di-
vision began Operation THAYER on 12 September in
northeastern Binh Dinh Province, This intensive
search-and-destroy operation is attempting to
locate and destroy Communist forces--including the
610th NVA/VC Division--believed to be operating in
the area with an estimated strength of 11,880 men.
There have been no reports of contact with the
enemy.
4. The US search-and-destroy Operation KIPAPA,
conducted by elements of the US 25th Infantry Di-
vision in an area of Hau Nghia Province about 24
miles northwest of Saigon, ended on 12 September.
This operation began on 30 August with one bat-
talion and was later expanded to three battalions
with emphasis on locating and destroying enemy
tunnels and fortifications. Final casualty figures
show eight Americans killed and 20 wounded as com-
pared with Viet Cong losses of nine killed and two
captured.
13 September 1966
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5. Operation BANGOR, a one-battalion search-
and"destroy operation conducted by the 1st Infantry
Division in Binh Duong Province about 18 miles
north of Saigon also ended on 12 September. A
total of 13 Americans were wounded as against four
Viet Cong killed during the operation.
13 September 1966
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Although the election turnout has bolstered the
prestige of the government vis-a-vis the militant wing
of the Buddhist Institute, there is no sign that firm
supporters of Tri Quang will cease their demands that
Thieu and Ky step down. Other Institute leaders, how-
ever, are clearly looking for a compromise settlement.
Moderate Institute chairman Tam Chau, who has been on
leave of absence for some two months, is due to return
to Saigon on 15 September to begin an active campaign to
resume meaningful leadership of the Institute. An
extraordinary congress of the Unified Buddhist Associa-
tion to determine the Institute's future policy line will
probably convene soon after Chau's return. US Embassy
officers have commented, however, that Chau's chances of
retaining his position are no better than even, with his
chance of eliminating the dominant influence of Tri
Quang on the Institute Council considerably less than
even.
2. Various mediators between the Institute and the
government have also been suggested, including the
Peoples -Armed Forces Advisory Council, Catholic Arch-
bishop of Saigon Nguyen Van Binh, and certain monks
within the Institute. Institute moderates have indi-
cated that they would probably be satisfied by the re-
lease of "struggle" prisoners and a conciliatory govern-
ment statement. The government, however, does not seem
to be particularly disposed to act quickly on the question
of "struggle" prisoners, although it may decide to release
at least some Buddhists in conjunction with the probable
release of a number of Catholic prisoners held since the
overthrow of the Diem regime.
Scheduled Return of FULRO Personnel to GVN Control
3. According to a government official involved in
montagnard affairs, the government is now making plans to
provide for the phased return of FULRO followers to govern-
ment control. The first phase consists of organizing a group
of FULRO followers now in hiding in Vietnam's central high-
lands. They will be flown to Pleiku late this month, to
coincide with the arrival there of the first group of FULRO
supporters from Cambodia. The second phase will take place
in late October, when FULRO leader Y Bham Enoul will head a
second group from Cambodia. The final phase will take place
in December and will consist of the return of all FULRO per-
sonnel remaining in Cambodia. 13 September 1966
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Anti-election Demonstration in the Delta
4. I inearly
600 demonstrators gathered before police headquarters
in the capital of An Xuyen Province early the evening
of 13 September(Vietnam timq.) The group was peaceful,
but appeared to be Viet Cong inspired, with anti-Amer-
ican and antielection overtones. The ability of the
police to handle the demonstration was somewhat in
question, The Viet Cong
may well attempt to foster some type of election back-
lash as a means of regaining some of their lost pres-
tige. I have alluded to the possibility
of a step-up in Viet Cong terror as well.
13 September 1966
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III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
1. Four aircraft were lost over the southern
portion of North Vietnam on 13 September as a near-
record number of missions were flown against the
DRV. Most of the 170 missions, involving 406 US
Navy and Air Force aircraft, were directed against
POL facilities and lines of communication. Return-
ing pilots also reported extensive damage to three
SA-2 missile sites near Haiphong,
2. The first of the four planes lost was a
US Navy A4C which crashed at night about 12 miles
south of Thanh Hoa while attacking targets on Route
1A. The missing pilot's wingman reported that the
flight was making low-level strafing runs with the
aid of flares when the Skyhawk impacted the ground
due to unknown causes. Later in the day the pilot
of a Navy A1H was forced to bail out off the coast
north of Vinh. The plane had been hit in the wing
by AAA fire while attacking a coastal defense site
near Dong Khe. The pilot was recovered in good
condition.
3. An air force AlE made a wheels-up crash
landing at Hue in South Vietnam after being hit by
ground fire while bombing targets in the Demilita"
rized Zone. The aircraft sustained major damage
but the pilot was uninjured. A USAF F-105D was lost
near the Laos border after being hit by ground fire.
The pilot was recovered in good condition except for
an injured leg.
13 September 1966
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