THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 JANUARY 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1961-1969
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976553
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: September 16, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2015
• Publication Date: January 9, 1969

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The President's Daily Brief
9 January 1969
23
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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
9 JANUARY 1969
1. Middle ?East
2. West Germany
In Beirut, President HIlU has asked
Rashid Karami to form a new government
following Prime Minister Yafi's resigna-
tion yesterday. Karami, of the same po-
litical stripe, is expected to put to-
gether a national coalition cabinet.
Bonn wants another round of talks
with Washington about the Nonprolifera-
tion Treaty. Behind this is the Germans'
hope to get some security concession
from the Soviets--either directly or
through the US--in exchange for Bonn's
signature. Conservative critics of the
treaty,have been highly vocal in demand-
ing something specific along this line.
Finance Minister Strauss also recently
urged negotiation of unresolved problems
with the new US administration.
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LAOS: Current Situation
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.North Vietnamese have captured
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934371-69 CIA .
CAMBODIA
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3, Israel
Stiffened by fresh North Vietnam-
ese troops, the Communists have turned
the tables on government forces in
northern Laos. In the Phou Pha Thi area
they have overrun several key government
positions and now occupy the crest of
the strategic outpost itself./
Not far to the southwest, enemy
troops are moving slowly against the
key guerrilla base of Na Khang. Its
airstrip, vital to support of the base,
has also come under mortar attack in
recent days.
Fighting has slackened in southern
Laos following the Communists' costly
setback at Thateng. The threat from
large numbers of North Vietnamese troops
still in the area remains, however.
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5. Panama
There may be more student demon-
strations today. Ceremonies marking
the anti-US riots of 1964 are planned/
/ The Guard can be
expected to react firmly to any trouble,
as it did against last month's protest
march over military rule.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
1.) Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
.) North Vietnamese Reflections of US
Political Attitudes
Top Secret
16
9 January 1969
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t.))(1
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
9 January 1969
o . NOTES ON THE SITUATION
:Hanoi's Propaganda Preparations for a New Offen-
sive: The army's official newspaper has been put-
ting Special .editorial emphasis for the past two
months on expansion and improvement of the armed
forces. This propaganda campaign anticipates the
increased flow of men and supplies to the south,
thus, getting into position for large-scale offen-
sives early this year.
An 8 December article critical of past perform-
ance calls for close study of Communist military
efforts in South Vietnam in order to be ready for
the "new phase" in the war, The text implies that
many commanders were pulled out of combat in South
Vietnam to undergo a crash training program designed
to improve their skills and to prepare for an early
return to battle, It characterized the present time
aS.one of "urgent preparations" for offensive activi-
ty in the near future.
.-Popular Opposition to the War: On 29 November
the-army paper implied that new programs were under
war4dr conscription of civilians into war support
activities in North Vietnam and for actual service
in the armed forces. This editorial said many units
hacl7mobilized the people" for "developing the armed
forces," and called upon the remainder to respond to
the ."-new phase" in the war by overcoming civilian op-
position to the intensified military draft. The Same
editorial admitted there had been a letdown in civil-
ian morale after the bombing halt and that the public
was slow to respond to new demands for a war effort.
Army personnel were called on to counter popular re-
sentment and to.help muster support, Troops deployed
into new areas were asked to help minimize tensions
among the people, who were sometimes unfriendly.
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Such a frank discussion of morale problems is
distinctly unusual and opens the possibility that
Hanoi is becoming concerned. The fact that the re-
gime,called on the army for assistance in manipu-
lating popular attitudes is also Unusual. In addi-
tion, the newspaper's handling of popular opposition
to the war implies that it is more widespread than
reports from North Vietnamese prisoners have indi-
cated.
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.Vinh Harbor in Bad Shape: The port is tadly
silted, and the recent unloading of the Marianthi,
of Cypriot registry, was delayed. The ship carried
2,;..,200 tons of rice from Haiphong to Vinh, reportedly
because authorities preferred to conserve the gaso-
line which would have been expended by a truck con-
voy. The Marianthi was the first Free World flag.
vessel to call at Vinh since 1965.
* * *
. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
day.
There is nothing of significance to report to-
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Top Secret
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