THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 15 JANUARY 1976

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006015004
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: January 15, 1976

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The President's Daily Brief
January 15, 1976
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. I 1652
exemption category 5B( I ).(2).(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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January 15, 1976
Table of Contents
Angola: The National Front's military position con-
tinues to deteriorate in the north as Popular
Movement forces, backed by Cubans, move up the
coast. (Page 1)
Lebanon: Maronite Christian leaders reportedly
have given President Franjiyah a free hand to
negotiate further with Syrian President Asad.
(Page 3)
Notes: China; Spain; Portugal (Pages 6 and 7)
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ANGOLA
The Popular Movement, aided by Cu-
bans, is continuing its advance northward.
A Movement force spearheaded by a battalion of
Cuban troops is moving on Tomboco
Another force is pushing toward 25X1
Santo Antonio do Zaire, the National Front's last
remaining stronghold in the north. Any further
retreat by the Front will bring the Popular Move-
ment to the Zairian border.
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Morale among Front and Zairian troops
ern Angola is at an all-time low.
the Zairian troops are pillaging
as they withdraw. The Front would like to see the
Zairian troops go home, but Zairian President Mo-
butu apparently refuses to allow them to return,
in north-
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With the virtual collapse of the Front's de-
fensive posture in the north, the Popular Movement
may soon divert the bulk of its resources toward
operations targeted southward from its present po-
sitions in central Angola.
In the east, where there has been little ac-
tion for some time, a Popular Movement attack on
Bucaco on Monday reportedly was repulsed by National
Union forces based in Luso.
We have no information to indicate that South
African troops have resumed their support for the
National Union's operations. The South Africans
stood down prior to the OAU summit on Angola and
seemed to be on the verge of withdrawing. They
escaped official condemnation at the OAU meeting
when no resolutions were adopted.
(continued)
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small-scale fighting has flared
up again in Cabinda, apparently involving a small
detachment of Zairian troops and Cabindan separa-
tists left behind after the abortive Zairian-led
invasion of the enclave last November. The fighting
apparently is not a prelude to another invasion,
and can probably be put down rather easily by the
several thousand Movement and Cuban troops there.
The status of Soviet ships possibly
associated with the situation in Angola
has changed little since yesterday morn-
ing.
The most significant change has been the re-
turn of the Kotlin-class destroyer to Conakry,
Guinea, from the Gulf of Guinea. The Soviet land-
ing ship and a naval oiler, however, continue to
linger about 200 miles southwest of Abidjan, Ivory
Coast. The Kresta-II-class cruiser remains in
Conakry, and the Sverdlov cruiser and Kashin-class
destroyer are still near the Strait of Gibraltar.
The presence of the two Soviet warships near
the Strait may reflect concern over the future
movement of a US carrier group now en route to the
Mediterranean. This group--led by the USS Sara-
toga--will soon relieve the carrier Kennedy and
its accompanying ships. The Soviets may suspect
that one or both groups will move to Angolan waters
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LEBANON
Maronite Christian leaders report-
edly have given President Franjiyah a
free hand to negotiate further with Pres-
ident Asad on the five-point peace pro-
gram proposed by Syria last month. Asad
and Franjiyah are expected to meet this
weekend.
A communique issued by the Christians on Tues-
day following a series of meetings with Franjiyah
suggests the President will take a hard line on the
Palestinian issue, but may be somewhat more flex-
ible on Muslim political demands. The Christians
are said to have decided that Palestinian inter-
ference in Lebanese affairs, not the Muslims' de-
mands, is the central issue.
Any hint of flexibility on the part of the
Christians, however, is almost certainly tactical.
Their blockade of three Palestinian refugee camps
has given them a temporary negotiating advantage
which Franjiyah will press in his talks with Asad.
Franjiyah probably will attempt to show some com-
promise on political reform in an attempt to dis-
suade Syria from allowing increased numbers of
Palestinians to enter his country.
a Saiqa company has been
moved from Damascus to Beirut, and elements of an-
other Saiqa battalion previously located in Syria
have been noted operating in Lebanon. Some of
these units apparently were headed toward the Dib-
ayah refugee camp before it fell into Christian
hands.
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Palestinian chief Yasir Arafat claimed yester-
day that the Lebanese army had aided the Christian
militiamen in taking the camp. The Palestinians
in the past have exaggerated the army's involvement
in the fighting, but there is growing evidence that
elements of the army are in fact siding with the
Christians.
(continued)
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Fighting in the capital remains heavy, but
neither side has made any significant advances.
*
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USSR
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NOTES
The Spanish government is adopting sterner con-
trol measures against spreading strikes and labor
violence.
More than 200,000 workers are now idle; work
stoppages are concentrated in but not limited to
Madrid. The strikes began over wage demands but
have become politicized as demonstrators protest po-
lice tactics and demand amnesty for political pris-
oners.
The Interior and Justice ministers--both of whom
have been leading proponents of reform--have pub-
licly warned that subversion and politically moti-
vated strikes will not be tolerated. Striking postal
workers have been placed under military control,
thereby making them liable to military discipline.
Although more liberal strike regulations are re-
portedly being considered, the deteriorating labor
situation makes it difficult for the government to
resist rightist pressures against reform.
(continued)
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_ _ _ _ _
The Portuguese government has announced that
it is setting up machinery for the national elec-
tions scheduled to be held no later than April 25,
and that informal campaigning by the political par-
ties can now begin.
The degree of civilian control of the future
government and the timetable for ending the mili-
tary's political domination are presently being ne-
gotiated by the Revolutionary Council and the polit-
ical parties. Press reports from Lisbon yesterday
and comments by the leader of the Social Democratic
Center appeared to confirm that the Council is seek-
ing to retain its position as the supreme ruling
body.
The Social Democratic Center is opposed to a
continued role for the military, and its view prob-
ably is shared not only by Popular Democratic lead-
ers and some Socialists, but also by an influential
group of "professional" officers on the Revolution-
ary Council itself. These differences may be worked
out when the military officers and civilian politi-
cians get down to face-to-face negotiations.
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