THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 4 APRIL 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993228
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: April 4, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6
The President's Daily Brief
4 April 1972
4$
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
4 April 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
South Vietnamese forces in Quang Tri Province are
regrouping to defend the provincial capital. (Page 1)
Inadequate food distribution and labor unrest are
causing serious difficulties in Bangladesh. (Page 5)
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DEMILITARIZED
ZONE
e Combat base (CB)
ua Viet
?val base
GULF OF TONKIN
Quang Tri
LAOS'
552767 4-72 CIA
14? ? :11
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
South Vietnamese forces in Quang Tri Province
are regrouping to defend the provincial capital.
The South Vietnamese are apparently counting on
elements of their 3rd Division to coordinate the
defense with reinforcements reported to be en route
from the south. Dong Ha and Quang Tri combat bases
are the only remaining allied strongpoints north of
Quang Tri city, and Dong Ha has been hit hard by
enemy artillery. The eastern flank of the city has
been exposed by the evacuation of the South Vietnam-
ese Navy base at Cua Viet.
? There are indications in communications Intel-
ligence that the North Vietnamese 308th Division
has moved into the battle zone. This would raise,
the number of North Vietnamese regiments in the
area to 13: North Vietnamesetanks-are reported to
have crossed the Ben Hai River over a newly-con-
structed bridge, and a few have been sighted south
of the Cua Viet River.
The weather over Quang Tri Province has im-
proved enough to allow some allied air strikes, but
the damage inflicted is not yet known. The North
Vietnamese have markedly increased the strength of
their air defenses along the borders of northern
South Vietnam. Allied aircraft have encountered
intense antiaircraft artillery fire over Quang Tri
Province, and the enemy has fired some 50 to 60 sur-
face-to-air missiles from positions north and west
of the DMZ.
The enemy is shelling South Vietnamese posi-
tions in the foothills west of Hue in Thua Thien
Province, and there have been several small ground
engagements with enemy forces edging closer to the
coastal lowlands. Communist communications reflect
enemy intentions to attack Hue. One unit radioed
on 3 April that "our tanks have moved out and will
surround the city of Hue."
(continued)
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?16
4
104
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SOUTH VIETNAM
110
16-
14-
12-
10 ?
MILES 110
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
In the highlands, a South Vietnamese artillery
base on Rocket Ridge, some five miles southwest of
Fire Support Base 5, withstood an attack/
/ The Communists are
continuing to build up their forces in this area.
The South Vietnamese generally have reacted
calmly to the invasion thus far. On 3 April, there
was little sign of panic in Quang Tri city, although
the streets were choked with refugees from the DMZ
area. Saigon is taking the news of the fighting
and the loss of bases near the DMZ quietly. The
press is generally restrained, but the government
has confiscated some newspapers to prevent dissemi-
nation of lurid accounts of the fighting, and Saigon
is censoring battlefield reports.
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USSR
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PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
BANGLADESH
Inadequate food distribution and labor unrest
are causing serious difficulties for Prime Minister
Mujib's government. Several violent clashes have
occurred, and opposition elements are beginning to
speak out against the regime. Maulana Bhashani,
leader of the small but active National Awami Party/
Left, has denounced the government for failing to
preserve law and order and for corruption and favor-
itism among members of Mujib's ruling Awami League.
Bhashani also objected to Mujib's warning that troub-
lemakers will be shot, saying this could be used as
a pretext to suppress all political opposition.
Other, more moderate politicians have also criticized
the lack of law and order.
Mujib has embarked on a trip to several
district capitals, his first such tour
since his return in January. As the
country's revered and dominant figure,
he apparently is counting on his personal
charisma to override the opposition as
he attempts to cope with his country's
enormous problems. No real challenge to
his continuation in power has yet mate-
rialized.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTE
Lebandn-Jordan-Fedayeeri:
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010600030001-6