THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 OCTOBER 1970

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005977735
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
August 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 24, 2016
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 12, 1970
File: 
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PDF icon DOC_0005977735.pdf285.78 KB
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 The President's Daily Brief 12 October 1970 4. 9 Top Secre())(1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Declassified in Pari - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 :.CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 October 1970 PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS Recent military developments in Cambodia are discussed on Page 1. Jockeying for power continues behind the scenes in Egypt. (Page 2) Government irregulars have taken a town in northern Laos, but some reverses were reported in the pan- handle. (Page 3) Canada plans to announce its recognition of Peking tomorrow. (Page 4) FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Current Situation THAILAND ?14- WO: P u ?L4'' 1 25-7 K din ITO n? 1.1.4;7* _ -\LP re y .11:Ka Wyza- c ? SOUTH K om pon45on1 (Sihanoukville) GULF ,1 -10 ? OF *S aigon V, .ETN A 'AA ?12- THAILANp Cambodia o ..Principal city (10,000 or over) Population'.over 125 per sq. mi. =1 Communist-controlled area 0 MILES 104 106 SOUTH CHINA SEA -4g.? ?10 550215 10-70 CIA Declassified in Pad.- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 :-CIA-RbP79T00936A008800120001-7 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY CAMBODIA No new significant ground attacks developed against the government column on Route 6 yesterday. Despite the constant enemy pressure against the column, the task force commander still believes that the situation is well in hand, principally because of his air and artillery superiority. In the Phnom Penh area, a Cambodian Army bat- talion located some six miles east of the capital came under heavy fire throughout the night of 9-10 October. Several towns also experienced harassing fire. The attack near Phnom Penh probably was intended to draw attention from the fes- tivities surrounding Cambodia's declara- tion as a republic, but Cambodian author- ities think it may also portend an increase in military activity near the capital. 50X1 1,500 enemy troops have recently moved into the area, but there is no other hard evidence that a force of this size has de- ployed so close to Phnom Penh. Several major elements of the Viet Cong 9th Division recently have converged at the Chup rubber plantation just east of Kompong Cham city. The buildup of enemy forces at Chup may be related to a recently intercepted message from Hanoi's Central Research Directorate to COSVN's military intelligence bureau which told of Communist intentions to attack and occupy Kompong Cham. The message also spoke of the necessity of opening up a new infiltration route from Laos through northeastern Cambodia to Kompong Cham. FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Declassified in Pari - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY EGYPT Two loosely knit triumvirates have emerged from the political infighting following Nasir's death. The members of the in group--acting President Sadat, Minister of Interior Jumah, and Ali Sabri--have worked together to ward off other contenders for their present position of pre-eminence, but they are maneuvering against each other for key posts in the new government. Three other close associates of Nasir, Minister of Guidance Haykal, Kamal al-Din Husayn, and Zakariya Muhyeddin, appear to be shut out of the power struc- ture. Haykal, who has dominated the press as editor of the Cairo daily Al-Ahram, will soon be replaced. Husayn has been confined to his home by security officials, and Muh- yeddin has indicated that he is content to remain on the sidelines for the present. Egypt's disgruntled students, who in gen- eral support Muhyeddin, are another factor in the fragile political situation. Jumah recently ordered the arrest of 150 student leaders as a protective measure. This move probably will rekindle the antiregime mood of the students, who already hate Jumah because of his repressive actions against them during antigovernment demon- strations in 1968. 2 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 LAOS: Current Situation CHINA BURMA ' NORTH CHINK , ./ , !\VieTNA/c1- ? Captured by overnment forces (' ? ---\'? //Jr' ? /:7/ / / / moong ,i 17imited 13on,N??_ j ''Orkl a T a n?-?I:'1u--;;* , , , 'Hong `-- ? "-,--)-.\ v?-.611//, Communist7 ivackl / THAILAND Vientiane ernMent forces encounter stif Xoppoitien DEMARCATION LINE Communist-controlled territory SOUTH VIETNA ? THAILAND ? 100 ? ? Tounflone E.nemy -ouriterattack,- forces' gayeinment? MILES 550216 10-70 CIA -.CAMBODIA - 50X1 Declassified in Pari - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-kDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 :-CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY LAOS yang Pao's irregulars this weekend occupied the deserted town of Muong Soui and its nearby airstrip on the western edge of the Plaine des Jarres. The Communists have used Muong Soui as a storage and transshipment point on Route 7, but it probably has more political than strategic importance. Southwest of the Plaine, irregulars made limited advances but reported one enemy surprise attack behind their lines. In the Laotian panhandle, government forces op- erating against enemy supply lines in the Toumlane valley area have sustained serious setbacks in re- cent days. Intercepted government messages indicate that strong enemy counterattacks have forced them to withdraw from the valley. Government forces operat- ing in the area of Route 9 between Muong Phine and Muong Phalane are also meeting stiff opposition from Communist troops in this sector of the panhandle. 3 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Declassified in Pari - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY NOTE Canada - Communist China: All last-minute prob- lems have been resolved and Foreign Minister Sharp will announce Canadian recognition of Peking in par- liament tomorrow. The agreed communiqug represents a considerable retreat on the part of the Chinese from their initial hard-line stand on the crucial issue of Taiwan. The Canadian announcement will put greater pressure on the Italians to conclude their own long drawn-out recognition negotiations with Pe- king and may cause Belgium to move in the same direc- tion. 4 FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 4. Declassified in Part - Sanitized dopy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7 Top Secret Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27 : CIA-RDP79T00936A008800120001-7