THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 FEBRUARY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015036
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 21, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
February 21, 1976
2
Tot S cret
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. I 1652
exemption category 5B( ),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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V .1_ -M--/
February 21, 1976
Table of Contents
China: A party official in Peking has said that Teng
Hsiao-ping retains his job as party vice chair-
man and that he was not named premier because
his party duties are heavy. (Page 1)
Syria-Israel: In an effort to secure some diplo-
matic return for agreeing to renew the UN ob-
server force mandate on the Golan Heights,
Syria is already beginning to sow doubts about
its intentions when the mandate comes up for
renewal on May 30. (Page 5)
Angola: Military operations have declined through-
out Angola./
(Page 6)
Lebanon: Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam left Leb-
anon yesterday after conducting the first
round of bargaining among Muslims and Chris-
tians toward the formation of a new cabinet.
(Page 8)
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CHINA
Chinese officials in Peking are at-
tempting to put the best face on an obvi-
ously confused and heated leadership sit-
uation. For the first time since Teng
Hsiao-ping came under attack, a party of-
ficial in Peking has said that Teng retains
his job as party vice chairman and that
he was not named premier because his
party duties are so heavy.
Other Peking officials have already confirmed
that Teng retains his government and military po-
sitions. Although these statements may be an at-
tempt to quash speculation outside of China about
Teng's status, it seems likely that the leadership
has not yet reached firm decisions, and that at
least for now Teng does indeed retain all his posts.
The status of Defense Minister Yeh Chien-ying,
who, like Teng, was closely associated with Chou
En-lai, is not clear. Peking reportedly issued a
directive in early February announcing the tempo-
rary replacement of Yeh because of his poor health.
The Defense Ministry, however, has said Yeh retains
his post. Rumors are circulating in China and in
Hong Kong that actually Yeh resigned in protest
over the treatment of Teng Hsiao-ping.
(continued)
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_
There are tenuous signs in the propaganda that
acting premier Hua Kuo-feng may himself be under
attack, perhaps from the party's left wing. Hua
seems to have some responsibility for science, and
a propaganda debate over how to conduct scientific
work may be aimed at him. Similarly, an article in
People's Daily attacking the Soviet security minis-
ter may have been an indirect attack on Hua, who is
China's security minister. People's Daily has also
attacked those who put three instructions from Mao
on an equal footing, claiming that one is more im-
portant than the other two. Hua seemed to give
equal emphasis to all three in a speech last fall
and therefore could be a target.
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Areas Surveyed
False position reporting
200 400 600 800 1000
Miles
?
First Leg/
re* A* ?
ore
0
Greenland Sea
IA, ?
cr
?
? f ? f
? e't
Second Leg
?
North Atla'ntic
? 4 ,
? 00
"
South Atlantic' :?Y
' ?'=
559337 2-76 CIA
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-L.
USSR
A hydrographic survey ship has
conducting surveys of the ocean floor
that can be used for submarine navigation
and missile targeting.
The ship, which carried out this survey work off
the US east coast from September to December 1975,
The area mapped by the first leg of the survey
partially overlaps recently adopted patrol areas for
Y-class submarines. These areas are up to 600 miles
closer to the US east coast than those previously
used.
The second leg of the survey does not cover any
present missile submarine operating area. It may
reflect future Soviet plans for patrol of the expand-
ing D-class force of submarines.
Missile range is not now a reason to shift D-
class operations, since these submarines are armed
with SS-N-8 missiles, which have a range of 4,200
miles and can strike nearly all the US from ports
in the northwestern USSR.
The Soviets are developing a new submarine-
launched missile, the NE-2, probably for the D-class.
This missile, which carries MIRVs, has flown to only
3,000 miles and, whatever its actual capability, may
not have the range of the SS-N-8. The Soviets may,
therefore, face a future need to move D-class opera-
tions closer to the US.
(continued)
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The Israeli-Syrian Disengagement Lines
Al Kiswah
1/4k-
UNOOF
Zone
,AI Qunay
(Quneitra
Sy0a
r.a:e
As Sanamayn
?
Line A Line B
na
arrn
Jordan
0 5 10 15 Kilometers
. 5. 10 15 Miles
,
Line A-Israeli disengagement line
Line A-1-Israeli civilians only
Line B-Syrian disengagement line
UNDOF-United Nations Disengagement
Observer Force
)Dara
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SYRIA-ISRAEL
Syria, in an obvious effort to secure
some diplomatic return for agreeing to re-
new the UN observer force mandate on the
Golan Heights, is already beginning to sow
doubts about its intentions when the man-
date comes up for renewal on May 30.
The Syrians probably have not yet made a deci-
sion on whether to let the mandate lapse, although
they undoubtedly have contingency plans for reposi-
tioning their forces. Over the next few months we
anticipate that Syria will engage in some military
posturing to reinforce its efforts to exert psycho-
logical and diplomatic pressure on the US and Israel.
There are good indications that the Syrians are
strengthening their ground defenses in the south,
and that they have recently constructed three SA-2
missile sites south of Dara, close to the Jordanian
border--the first time missile sites have been built
south of the town. The Syrians also may have moved
some additional forces into the southern Golan area.
A buildup in this area would reflect Syrian concern
about a possible Israeli flanking maneuver through
northern Jordan should there be another round of
hostilities.
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BRAllAV LE
12
LUANDA
ATLANTIC
0
OCEAN
Lobito
Benguyit
f*Mocaler;;des .
.....-.. , C:,?
16
Gaga Coutinho.
ZAMBIA
Statute Miles
12 16
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ANGOLA
Military operations have declined
throughout Angola. Cuban and Popular
Movement forces so far have not moved
against National Union headquarters
at Gago Coutinho or southward toward
the Namibian border. Some low-level
skirmishes apparently are still taking
place in the northern and central
regions.
(continued)
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LEBANON
Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam
left Lebanon yesterday after conducting
the first round of bargaining among Mus-
lims and Christians toward the formation
of a new Lebanese cabinet.
Creation of a coalition government that would
include representatives of the Christian Phalanges
Party and the large left-wing groups is the first
step toward implementing the reform program an-
nounced by President Franjiyah last weekend.
Khaddam, according to press accounts, hopes
to persuade Phalanges chief Pierre Jumayyil and
Socialist leader Kamal Jumblatt, the principal
spokesman for the left, to accept positions as sen-
ior ministers without portfolio along with several
other Muslim and Christian notables. Jumblatt an-
nounced yesterday that his party would not join a
new government unless major adjustments favoring
the Muslims were made in the reform program.
Before leaving Beirut, Khaddam told reporters
he hoped a new cabinet could be announced before
the end of the month. Khaddam will probably seek
permission from Damascus to put new pressure on
Jumblatt. The Syrians have less leverage to use
on Jumayyil, who also appears reluctant to be rep-
resented in the cabinet.
Feuding between Jumblatt and Jumayyil was a
major cause of the rise in tensions last year and
could have a similar effect on the present situa-
tion.
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Top Secret
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