MEMO TO ALEXANDER HAIG FROM DICK KENNEDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 3, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6 D TO GEN.
S
TOP / NODIS
OSD review
completed
MEMORANDUM TO GEN. HAIO
.FROM: Dick Kennedy
State Dept. review
completed
H* IN SAN CLEMENTE
May 3. 1971
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
MORI
C05138509
Attached cable transmits to Embassy Bangkok Secretary Laird's 'tentative"
guidance on air support. Note that the FY'72 attack air and gunship sortie
levels drop significantly and that the number of squadrons is reduced. I know
the recent memo was designed to hold the levels up but the word doesn't seem
to get around. The Laos planning exercise is running toto trouble in large
part because there is an apparent shortage of sortie support given Embassy
estimates of requirements and this existing DOD guidance. We will have
to get this sorted out quickly.
/ NODIS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6
R 0123292 MAY 71
FM SECST ATE WASP{DC
TO Ar Et SASSY BAN KOK 3064
BT
T 0 P S E C R E T STATE 075666
194Q
May 1, 7 :2 9 PM 1971
PLOD I S
SUBJ: US FORCE PLANNING
REF: BANGKOK 5611
JOINT STATE/Dc FENSE MESSAGE
1. ON 21 APRIL SECDEF IS-SU:::D HIS TOP SECRET QUOTE PLANNING
AND PROGRAMMING GUIDANCE' FOR THE FY 73-77 DEFENSE PROGRAM
"Ui'QU0TE
2. THE FOCLOWIj G PARAGRAPH IS FROM THE COVE RING MEMORANDUM.
THE FOURTH SECTION, SOUTHEAST ASIA PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS,
IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT OUR PLANS ARE ALL BASED ON
CONSISTEt1T ASSU:IPTIONS?REG.ARDING U.S. OPERATIONS IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA,' A".' THAT THEZ ARE ADEQUATE TO PROVIDE
THE PRESIDENT THE OPTIONS WHICH HE NEEDS. I ANTICIPATE
THAT THESE ASSUM"TIONS WILL BE REVISED OVER THE NEXT FE';'
M
N
O
THS. THE PRESIDENT HAS, APPR0VE.l,: REaEPLU.,YMENTS
FROM SOUTH VIETNAM ONLY THROUGH{ DECEMBER It 1971 AND,
THERE'F'ORE
, THE STRENGTH SHOWN FOR END-FY 72 IS SU3JECT
TO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE. THE SORTIE LEVEL ASSUMPTIONS FOR
FY 73 AND THE RELATED THAILAND STRENGTHS FOR END-FY 72
AND 73 ARE UNDER REVIEW AND I EXPECT TO ISSUE FIRM DECISIONS
WITHIN A FEl! WEEKS. IN THE INTERIM, PLAN ON THE BASIS OF
THE ASSU;r TIONS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA WHICH ARE ENCLOSED.
HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCUSSION OF THE SE'
E STRENGTHS
WITH THE THAI OR SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENTS UNTIL
FIRM DECISIONS ARE MADE."
3. THE PORTIONS OF SECTION 4 THAT PERTAIN TO THAILtNL D ARE AS
FOLLOWS:
NOT TO BE REPRODUCED \V1T11OUT THE AUTHOR-17/6'10N OF 1FIE LXECUTI\'r
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22 : LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/11/22: LOC-HAK-449-6-1-6
ARMY (NOT INCLUDED)
END END E. ND END END
FY 71 ?'FY 72 FY 73 FY 74 FY 75-77
NAVY (NOT INCLUDED)
AIR FORCE
TACTICAL AIR 10,000
SORT IES/MONTH
(A VG DURING
FISCAL YEAR)
GUNSHIP
SORTIES/MONTH
. (7,50-0) (3,500)
SPECIAL OPERATIONS .70 46
FORCE (SO F )
AIRCRAFTt UE J/
US MILXTARY FORCES/AC'rIVI'?'Y LEVELS
US MINITARY PERSOt'NEL (000)
IN SOUTH VIETNAM (NOT INCLUDED)
(650) (300) (-)
IN THAILAND
A R M, Y
7,1
5.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
NAVY/MARINES/
.4
.3
.3
.3'
3
COAST GUARD
AIR FORCE
24.7
2! . !
?o f
2.!
.
2.!
TOTAL IN THAILAND
32.?
?S.9
4.9
4ffi9
,
4.S
OFFf ORE (NAVY) CNNOT INOLti ))
NOT TO BE RC'r orwcLr) v'ITIlOUT THE :1t1'tF