THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 JANUARY 1977

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006466943
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 8, 1977

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00024A000400040006-1
The President's Daily Brief
January 8, 1977
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o
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E 0 11652
exemption category 5B(1)A2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00024A000400040006-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/14 : CIA-RDP79T00024A000400040006-1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
January 8, 1977
Table of Contents
USSR-US: The Soviet media are describing the controversy in the
US over intelligence estimates of Soviet strategic objec-
tives as part of a campaign to "tie Carter's hands in for-
eign policy." (Page 1)
USSR-Egypt-Syria: The USSR is clearly concerned about the rap-
prochement between Egypt and Syria. (Page 1)
Notes: Ethiopia; South Korea (Page 3)
of
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-US: The Soviet
media are describing
the controversy in the
US over intelligence
estimates of Soviet
strategic objectives
as part of a campaign
to "tie Carter's hands
in foreign policy."
USSR-EGYPT-SYRIA: The
USSR is clearly con-
cerned about the rap-
prochement between
Egypt and Syria.
The press attacks are specifically
directed at your administration--
a rare target of the Soviet media--
and they are unusually intemperate.
You are accused of using your last
days in office to damage detente,
to increase military expenditures,
and to deploy new strategic weap-
ons systems.
One Tass article by veteran Soviet
observer Valentin Zorin charges
that you are attempting to "inter-
fere openly in the affairs" of
your successor. Soviet officials
have privately implied that the
Zorin commentary can be considered
semi-official.
President-elect Carter continues
to receive delicate handling from
Soviet sources. Soviet news media
repeatedly refer to his campaign
commitments to detente and to con-
tinued cooperation with the USSR.
* * *
The Soviets also interpret Saudi
Arabia's growing influence in both
Egypt and Syria as a setback to
their interests throughout the
Middle East. A Soviet diplomat
in Cairo has privately accused
the Saudis of acting as US proxies
in the area, and has described the
linkage between Egypt, Syria, and
Saudi Arabia as an indirect US ef-
fort to reduce Soviet influence
in the Arab states.
1
--continued
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
The major Soviet concern is that
Syria, which has shared Moscow's
opposition to the US-negotiated
Sinai II accord, is falling in
line with Egypt's view that the
US holds the key to a comprehen-
sive settlement in the Middle
East. The delicacy of current
Soviet-Syrian relations, however,
precludes any heavy-handed direct
Soviet criticism of the Syrians.
* * *
--continued
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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ERITREA: Insurgency
SAUDI ARABIA
Nacfa lows.
(Under
Attack)-711C.
ERITREA
Lake Tana
11)
*Addis Ababa
ETHIOPIA
*Djibouti GULF OF ADEN
SOMALIA
UGANDA
620878 I 77 CIA
KENYA
Indian
Ocean
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Insurgent activity in
Eritrea is forcing the
Ethiopian government
to consider abandoning
some outposts and con-
solidating its forces
in order to maintain
control of major cities
and highways in the
province.
South Korean President
Pak reportedly plans a
public statement next
week in which he will
Zink, for the first
time, Seoul's long-
standing proposal for
a North-South nonag-
gression pact and the
issue of US troop with-
drawals.
NOTES
One government battalion has been
under siege since mid-September
and probably will not be able to
hold out much longer. Its loss
would be a major victory for the
insurgents and would add to gov-
ernment morale problems, which
have become serious in the face
of continued rebel pressure.
The insurgents have been enlarging
and improving their forces over
the past two years. Although the
government's military position is
weakening, it has shown no greater
willingness to consider a politi-
cal settlement acceptable to the
insurgents.
* * *
Seoul's foreign minister told Am-
bassador Sneider that Pak plans
to say that if North Korea will
agree to the pact, South Korea
will not oppose US troop reduc-
tions. He added that the South
Koreans expect Pyongyang to reject
the pact proposal as it has done
in the past.
The foreign minister claimed that
Pak's aim is to give South Korea
an image of greater independence
and flexibility. A more impor-
tant objective, however, may be
to press the US to join Seoul in
asking for a quid pro quo from
North Korea such as a nonaggresion
pact. Seoul may also believe that
North Korea's almost certain re-
jection could become an argument
for slowing down any US disengage-
ment.
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' FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Top Secret
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