THE FALL OF ATTOPEU AND COMMUNIST INTENTIONS IN SOUTH LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-5-4-15-5
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: May 6, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/01/19: LOC-HAK-5-4-15-5
S;CR ET
iN.i? OR TION
May 6, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
Fi: John Hcleiridge
SUBJECT: The `all, of Attopeu and Communist Intent ons
in South Laos
General Phasouk, the Laotian government's maliUry commander in the
souther Panhandle, believes that by seizing Attopeu the Communists in
tend to gain control of the Se. Kong (river) from Ban ac to the north all
the way into Cambodia to the south. The Se Kong would then become ask
important southern edensian of the Ho Chi Minh trail, which could be
used eves, during the rainy season to move supplies to Cambodia and to
southern South Vietnam now that access through ihanoukville has been
cut U.
Comment: It is possible that the Com exnist have some such idea in
mind. It so, they still have much to do before they could tnave large
amounts of supplies on the =e Kong. Several government posts still con-
trol the river at various points. Even if they were overrun. much of
the river runs through flat, open country where it could be subject to
interdiction by aircraft or guerrilla teams.
In any event, the seizure of Attopeu serves other purposes. By focus-
ing attention an South Laos, it generates pressures from the southern
military commanders for the return of their forces which had been sent
to help defend Long Tieng.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
DIA review
completed.
JHH:MFE:alh ($16/70)
SEC ET
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/01/19: LOC-HAK-5-4-15-5