SITUATION IN NORTH LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: February 11, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
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rebreary U, 1972
MR. KISSINCi
JOilt4 D. 1.1133 P NT.L.
itiCliAitt# T. laNilk:DY
Silleatio:% in North Laos
t WS eneeti 14401, you will recall
prepare contingency Fdaha for a withdraws!
Loris Tk.rg d t. execute it if Vans Passe forces appeared in dg .r
og destroy* s effective Lighting fore*. As requested the field
drei p the eoUgec*cy pia no
However, Ambassador Godley also reported tbat the I' a 4 tile Leo,
including Yong Pao and Souvenria were not ix( aqy way locitled to draw
from Len Vass at this time.
instead, they proposed end are now carrykag .td a limited preerop v
thru.st aimed at interdicting etieseiy supply Uri 14ow stretching across
the Plaine of *Tarr**. As of lebrisary le a force of S.200 frieadLy troops
were stretched in en arc north and east of Pha Dettg.-jetst south of the pla
manevivering tate position to carry out these interdiction efforts. A force
of 7 300. mostly Titski*e, remain in the Loi3g Tient-nom Thong area.
Godley end hie Station Chief have faced a dilemma throughout this situat.
Thor are hilly aware of Washington's gaiiiiante to this out Lang Tiengts
delauses. prepare fail--beck position. and *VOW 4 Dient Bi401 Phut. At
the 444110 time they era confronted by what appear* to be an all...r-aotniag
psychology on the part el the That *rad thee Lao. Their 11441E4r is reported
to hi. that retreating under presser. woold amount to a root and would not
stop at the "mat ridelialho. And, a* hong eke the pressure Isn't on, they
prefer to think in terms of holding met and mounting diversionary operations
such a* the one underway.
Godley, mmowhile, has acquiesced to this new Lor*y although he knows
it rues contrary to the thrust of hie voidance from Wit shingtoixt, Fill has,
however, made it clear that likely offeesive activity elsewhere Le indeeleina
places tinallelieme on the al1411414 of alit support which might be available
In a pinch.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
T ke adad Is ccussiii, more optimistic about the prospects ler Mitt
operation than are observers in Waohiagton. Gomorrally the fooling here
I. that at best the avow/Worn will buys WU. time, but not enotaita to
prevent the NVA from overrunning Long Tiling during the dry season.
Noithav to_,p../ a an !kttsek
Leaji Ting. T_Lie?..stc4Jace of visylks_that sobwarvora hers tsar
sjr_smapLott_mt_witsripas the ? think it
be a good_ArtLit.
co Prevent lAttation: Th. Lao Ad Hoc Group hoe hold two interagency
ocootiegs to Atscitss the, aitastion, OS* on February Z. one on robruary 10.
thindance at the trobruary 10 inctettrig was Genova atillwell who bilk*
ofly returnoi from a visit to Laos. It we* to fact Ms briefing of
rotary UMW. on ifoicruary 9 which promplied Ms canonising of the
socand AA Hoc Group mooting.
The dismission at the February 10 nocietiog fecured on the tactical
sitaistion in 'forth Laos and what kind of guidance is callod for at this
Lseomtially General tWw.fl ar.4 that the That will not be ahis to
extract thornsvee from I..o54 Tien* *odor fire sod therefor* they should
be repositioning now. He proposed the following stops;
ilislarn the two crack battelions from Savannakicat homer for rest
eft* to be held in reserve for contingoncios (Theo. units 41rill now
ciagagod in thif diversionary operation roforrod to above.
-- Moo* Lbw hilt-1 forces AOW in hifiL-14 back to hiR.1.
? Rodirploy the that to successive defensive positions south of Long
Tien*.
No one at the mooting q
mos cures. Ambassador ?tit/liven
how best to isisirset Godley *lac
of the Lomond lb. That--runs so
strategy.
Atter some iisc.sMoo. Jumbos
approach be *spied:
C 'T rwrz
of Woo* proposed
1114** Ow question of
sod the reported thinking
to the preferred Washingt
van proposod that Ms following
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1
patched r.rnrag previews violence that Long
4 sad rut defense peonies* be established.
so be tn.trccted to Raise these matters et the
sittatee sad lishaskeit, since thecae wits Isom*
re ore mere commented to a last ditch stand
tics' **porters.
Gessors1 SUUwSwoold be
?- A biziort but firm
&agora to Godley affirming
message Wear reties thong:tits such as
t mot jointly by Dovicv.
1 message wers14 go est from Secretary
reestal concern for the ensiatiste.
draft of the first cable be. already been received and is being staffed
parately.
isjitesjuidnStt&g:This nstter was also di std. At the February
Z mmetins Ambassador S& von pre,00d a WSAG meeting he held to secure
the Prossoiolostirs views an whether or ?set to seek a raise in the .iymieston
Stellivise proposed *sing Godley 's regime* for increased
sorties from )400 monthly to 4500 es a veltiele for diecnestag the overall
isms. :ioslitwee sharecterteed the isteragmay coesessonts es beteg that
the cellists woad is *ay *vend be "yeacbtred.
On February 7 Mr. .!rwle followed asp Swilivases gessittee with a formal
WSAG Millet001116101 roometteg a meeting. ()tsU.d separately) At
the trettreary i Ad Hee Meeting the MSC representative pointed oat
that we still do eel have estimates for the ceiling Overrun, if any. and
these must be available before the Prossideet can maim a decision. A
memorandum la response to Mr. Inviste has been prepared requesting
the best available inteaggestry estimates by March L.
IT
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/12/20: LOC-HAK-20-4-21-1