THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 3 SEPTEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993500
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 3, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
The President's Daily Brief
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
TOP SECRET
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
3 September 1972
VIETNAM
The South Vietnamese now control most of the district
town of Que Son and are fighting to drive the remaining
Communists from the military compound near the center of
town. To the west, government forces also are advancing
and are within a few hundred yards of enemy-held Fire
Support Base Ross. Elsewhere in Quang Nam Province, in-
tercepts indicate that the Communists are continuing to
prepare to shell targets in the Da Nang area.
Fighting has also intensified near Quang Tri City.
South Vietnamese Marines have clashed with the Communists
along both the northern and southern approaches to the
city. Only a few contacts were reported near the Citadel,
but intercepts indicate that Communist forces there are
expecting renewed government attacks soon. South Viet-
namese Airborne units west of the city have reported making
some progress in their efforts to move toward the Thach
Han River.
In the central highlands, the Communists remain active
.near government outposts north and west of Pleiku City.
In addition, a military convoy was ambushed on Route 14
north of Pleiku on Friday.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
LAOS
General yang Pao's offensive in north Laos has suffer-
ed some sharp setbacks. In the past few days, heavy North
Vietnamese ground attacks and shellings apparently have
dispersed much of the 2,500-man irregular task force that
had been operating north of the Plaine des Jarres. Several
hundred men from this force have managed to work their way
to other irregular positions near the Plaine's western
edge, where they are now regrouping.
Northeast, of the Plaine, the irregular task force
from Bouam Long that had been advancing southward toward
Communist supply lines near Nong Pet has also encountered
some stiff opposition. Three of its battalions were for-
ced to pull back slightly on Friday following heavy enemy
attacks. Intercepts indicate that elements of the North
Vietnamese 866th and 335th independent regiments most
likely are responsible for the enemy pressure in this
area.
The irregular task force operating in the Tha Tam
Bleung area southwest of the Plaine was subjected to
several Communist attacks on 31 August and 1 September,
but gave no ground and took few casualties. The two
other irregular task forces participating in the current
campaign are also continuing to meet some Communist
resistance; thus far, however, they have generally held
their positions south and west of the Plaine.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
LIBYA-FEDAYEEN
Last June, Colonel Qadhafi announced a joint Libyan-
Fatah effort to recruit Arab volunteers for the Palestinian
resistance movement. Since then, there has been a steady
rise in the number of people answering the Libyan leader's
call for a popular crusade against Israel. /
Fatah
leader Yasir Arafat recently claimed that 8,000 volunteers
were now in Libya.
The volunteers' motives are mixed. Those from
Lebanon are mostly unemployed Syrian expatriate
laborers who welcome an opportunity to earn a
living, especially the $150 a month that each
recruit is said to be receiving. Those from
the Persian Gulf are largely Palestinian ref-
ugees whose residence permits were about to
expire. Others from conservative countries
such as Yemen (Sana) and Saudi Arabia appear
to be genuinely moved by pan-Arab slogans of
unity and defeating the "Zionist invaders."
(continued)
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
Qadhafi, for his part, apparently is convinced
that this project is essential if the struggle
against Israel is to continue. Moreover, he
contends that Libya must appeal to the Arab m
masses over the heads of their 'gtional leaders,
who he fears are seeking a peaceful solution
to the Arab-Israeli impasse. Although clearly
annoyed with Qadhafi', most Arab leaders find
it necessary publicly to support the Libyan
initiative rather than risk censure for being
soft on Israel.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100030001-0
4, ?
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY