THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001200010051-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2004
• Sequence Number: 51
• Publication Date: September 20, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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GENTR,ALI
NTELLIGEN.CE.A.-QE I_C:sY
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8
THE SITUATION = ,IN VIETNAM
Information as 'of 1600
20 September 1966
State Department review
completed
?RED FOR, H NATIONAL, SECURI Y CQUN JL
URTH R DISSEMINATIC7 1 QF;rINF > MA ION
QNTAINED HEREIN.I$,T AUTHORIZED
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20 September 1966
There are indications that political maneuvering
to curb..the influence of.the military establishment in
the constitution drafting process is undertway among the
delegates of the constituent assembly..
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I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
US Marine bat es with Communist troops in nort ern-
most Quang Tri Province are reported (Paras. 1-2).
US soldiers participating in Operation THAYER in the
coastal flatlands of Binh Dinh Province wiped out a
15-man enemy force (Para. 3). Two new search-and-
destroy operations--HUNTSVILLE and KAMUELA--began on
20 September north of Saigon in Binh Duong Province
(Paras. 4-5).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
There are indications that political maneuvering with
& southern orientation is underway among constituent
assembly delegates, the intention being to curb the
influence of the military establishment in the consti-
tution drafting process (Paras, 1-2).. The US Embassy
has identified a southern regional movement which was
very successful in sponsoring candidates in the recent
election (Para. 3). It is not yet clear if there is
any connection between the current maneuvering and this
regional association, but southern political influence in
general has been increasing this year (Para. 4). Accord-
ing to the press, the two French businessmen recently
arrested for financing antigovernment political activities
were released on 20 September (Para. 5).
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III. North Vietnamese Military Developments:
I ne current high level of
ig ter activity over North Vietnam is reported
(Paras. 3-5).
IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: An analysis
of the status and reporting of the AFP correspondent
in Hanoi is offered (Paras. 1-4).
VI. Other Major Aspects: Sihanouk told
the press today that border negotiations with the
Viet Cong have broken down because of unspecified
complications (Para. 1).
20 September 1966
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9 Sepone'
USMC
OPERATION
PRAIRIE
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lS;e
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NORTH Dong Hoi
aravane
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Kontum-
-USA
OPERA11ON"'
~UIN'TSVIttE
Cheo Reo.
.-,.-
PHNOM
PENH,
Bien
Xuan Loc
-Vinh Long
.'Can Tho
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.Quang Ngai
SOUTH VIETNAM
F ? 25 50 75 t00Miles
0 25 50 75 100 Kilometers
USA
ff'RAT[ON
HYE
Ban Me
Thuot F-t-
VungTau III CORPS
-- Capital Military Zone
63855
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1. US Marines participating in operation
PRAIRIE in northernmost Quang Tri Province, called
in artillery and air strikes during a ten-hour bat-
tle with a company-size Communist force on 19 Sep-
tember. Following the engagement, marines counted
53 bodies which were left behind by the retreating
enemy. Five Americans were killed and 15 wounded
during this encounter.
2. In another clash on the 19th US Marine
patrols participating in the same operation ex-
perienced heavy fire from Communist forces dug into
fortified bunkers in the tree lines along the hills
near the southern border of the Demilitarized Zone.
A total of five marines were killed and nine wounded
with ten enemy soldiers reported killed.
3. Also on 19 September, elements of the US
1st Cavalry Division participating in operation
THAYER in the coastal flatlands of Binh Dinh Prov-
ince engaged a Communist force estimated to com-
prise 15 to 20 men of the mixed North Vietnamese -
Viet Cong 610th "Yellow Star" Division. The US
forces captured a communications center, including
telephones, wire, and other communications equip-
ment, and killed 15 of the enemy. One American
was killed and another wounded in this encounter.
4. Operation HUNTSVILLE, a joint US - South
Vietnamese search-and-destroy operation, began on
20 September in an area of Binh Duong Province
about 27 miles north of Saigon. This operation is
being conducted by two battalions of the US 1st
Infantry Division and elements of the South Viet-
namese 48th Army Regiment in an area where three
Viet Cong battalions--with a strength of 750 men--
are reported to be active.
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5. Operation KAMUELA, a search-and-destroy
operation conducted by one battalion of the US 25th
Infantry Division, also began on 20 September in an
area about 37 miles northwest of Saigon. Three
Viet Cong battalions with a strength of 1,400 men
are reported to be in the area.
20 September 1966
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. There are indications that political ma-
neuvering to curb the influence of the military es-
tablishment in the constitution drafting process is
under way among delegates of the constituent assembly.
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3. The US Embassy has noted that a southern
regional group known as the "Movement for the Ren-
naissance of the South" was strikingly successful
in sponsoring candidates during the recent election.
Of seven candidates or lists it endorsed, six won
seats in the assembly. The movement, organized by
Youth Minister Vo Long Trieu, a southern Catholic,
reportedly enjoyed the patronage of IV Corps com-
mander Quang. The delegates sponsored by the move-
ment could become the nucleus of a southern bloc
in the assembly, but its strength and cohesion
cannot yet be judged.
20 September 1966
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In general,
southern yearnings for a greater political voice
have changed somewhat the complexion of the govern-
ment this year, with the number of southern minis-
ters increasing during the cabinet reshuffle in both
February and June.
Two French Businessmen Released
5. According to press reports, Philippe Grand-
jean and Abel Goxe were released on 20 September
by the government after having been arrested two
weeks ago on suspicion of financing antigovernment
groups. No charges were filed against the two
French businessmen. F__ 1
20 September 1966
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More MIG Engagements
3. The current high level of fighter activity
over North Vietnam resumed on 20 September after a
one day lull. In two encounters north and northwest
of Hanoi seven US strike aircraft engaged a total
of seven MIG-17s with cannon fire but no damage was
inflicted by either side.
4. In the first incident, four F-105s were
searching for SAM sites about 60 miles northwest of
20 September 1966
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Hanoi when they detected a flight of three DRV
fighters. In the four.minute air battle that fol-
lowed, considerable gunfire was exchanged, but no
hits were observed on the MIGs, and the F-105s re-
turned to base without damage. Twelve minutes
later, another flight of three F-105s was attacked
by four MIG-17s after completing a strike on the
Lang Luong Highway bridge 45 miles north of Hanoi.
The US planes returned the fire of the DRV fighters
without result and departed the area unscathed.
5. During the past five days US aircraft have
had nine encounters with L'VN interceptors; six of these
encounters have involved exchange of cannon or mis-
sile fire. Only one plane has been lost to either
side, but the number and aggressiveness of enemy
fighters over North Vietnam indicate that another
period of intense action on the part of the DRV
air force is under way.
20 September 1966
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1. There is nothing of significance to report.
20 September 1966
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. North Vietnam is displaying increasing pique
at the reporting of Jean Raffaelli, the AFP correspond-
ent'-in Hanoi.,. On 19 September Hanoi radio denounced
a news dispatch filed by Raffaelli three days earlier
which claimed that Chinese Communist and Albanian dip-
lomats in Hanoi had boycotted a reception celebrating
the arrival of new rail equipment from the USSR and
Eastern European countries. Raffaelli's account of
the alleged event was described by Hanoi radio as
"groundless and ill intentioned."
2. Hanoi's displeasure over Raffaelli's report-
ing has been evident for some months. In June, a North
Vietnam daily characterized him as "sold to the imperi-
alists" and he was given a verbal warning by the North
Vietnamese Government for an article he had written
reporting rumors of a Hanoi interest in negotiations.
3. Raffaelli's reports have covered a wide range
of topics and have va;-; p(9 mar1rcr11 %r
0
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1. Sihanouk told the press today that Cambodian
border negotiations with the Viet Cong broke down
last weekend as a result of certain unspecified "com-
plications," according to sketchy press reports from
Phnom Penh. Sihanouk indicated, however, that a
"simple and shorter" agreement between himself and
Liberation Front chairman Nguyen Huu Tho was still
a possibility.
2. Although Sihanouk had stated earlier this
mohth'that a border agreement with the Viet Cong would
be signed before the end of the year, the month-old
negotiations have been plagued by a score of pro-
cedural and substantive problems. Behind these are
Sihanouk's fear of the possible consequences of con-
cluding such an agreement, and his desire to ex-
tract as much as possible in the way of "guarantees"
and border concessions to make the risk worthwhile.
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20 September 1966
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