THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 8 AUGUST 1969

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005976923
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: August 8, 1969

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Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/04/27: CIA-RDP79T00936A007400070001-8
The President's Daily Brief
8 August 1969
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
I, MAJOR PROBLEMS
SOVIET AFFAIRS
50X1
Soviet propagandists are doing a bit more saber-rattling
than usual in their current anti-Mao campaign. Wednesday's
issue of the military newspaper Red Star carried a belligerent
article by Col. Gen. Vladimir Tolubko, the new commander of
the Far East Military District. The article lauds the exploits
of the Soviet Far Eastern army which defeated "Chinese milita-
rists" 40 years ago. The heroes of 1929 are compared to the
"heroes of Damansky Island," the site of the border clash in
1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
March. The article warns the Chinese that "who comes to us
with the sword will perish by it."
There is no obvious reason why the article was printed
at this particular time. It did, serve., however, to publicize
TolubkOls accession to his new command in a dramatic way, and
the Chinese are surely aware that he is the former number two
man of the Soviet Strategic Missile Forces.
Recent satellite photography h S-uncovered another group
of six silos under construction for the SS-9 ICBM. Construc-
tion on this group began last spring at an existing ICBM com-
plex.
OTHER IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
IRAQ
2
50X1
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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The Military Situation Continues to be Quiet in Laos
4t0'
ang Prabang
50X1
'kl(s Na Khan
41'
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Muong
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yang Vieng
\ VIENTIANE
13
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13
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-,KHQUANG
arnThongN.
4
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Vientiane
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Vientiane
13
13
'BORIKHANE
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THAILAND
Government-held location
0 Communist-held location
THAILAND
STATUTE MILES
ICI 20
Government-held location
0 Communist-held location
I I
STATUTE MILES
ICI 20
I I
10 20
t1.0MC MRS
I I
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10 20
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CHINA
or/
THAILAND
CHINA
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THAILAND
CAMBODIA
VIE
CAMBODIA
VIE
95771 8-69 CIA
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95771 8-69 CIA
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
The military situation is still quiet, but there are some
signs that the Communists may become more active west of the
Plaine des Jarres between Luang
Prabang and Vientiane.
Pathet Lao elements north of the road
are moving to attack a number of
?junction at Sala Phou Khoun
government posts strung along Route 13. These same sources
claim the Communists also intend to hit Luang Prabang air- -
fieldr-an easy target which has frequently been attacked in
the past.
50X1
50X1
South of the road junction,
reports have it
50X1
that the Pathet Lao are planning
an early
attack against the
neutralist base at yang Vieng with the
help of North
Vietnam-
ese troops from the Muong Soul area.
these
50X1
reports
also claim the Communists intend
to hit Vientiane
airr
50X1
field,
Communists may not be bluffing this time; an attack on the
outskirts of Vientiane would have a highly unsettling effect
on an already jittery Lao leadership.
Meo leader Vang Pao, meanwhile, has launched an offensive
east of the Plaine des Jarres in an attempt to cut Communist
supply lines. This move, along with a series of planned at-
tacks against enemy positions along the southern edge of the
Plaine, is designed to prevent the Communists from pressing
their attacks beyond Muong Soul.. yang Pao's plans call for
the commitment of substantial numbers of troops who have been
defending the bases north and south of the Plaine, thus mak-
ing those bases somewhat more vulnerable.
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Sihanouk's reluctance to delegate real authority is mak-
ing it hard for him to find a new prime minister. General
Lon-Nol., his first choice, tried to beg off, but--presumably
after some princely arm-twisting--has now agreed to have a go
at forming a cabinet. Lon Nol had run afoul of Sihanouk dur-
ing an earlier stint as prime minister, and has probably been
angling for assurances that he will enjoy a relatively free
hand this time.
Waiting in the wings in the event that Sihanouk and Lon
Nol can't work things out is Prince Norodom Kantol, another
former prime minister whose chief asset is unquestioned sub-
servience to Sihanouk.
PERU
Although President Velasco has rejected IPC's appeal
for reduction or cancellation of its alleged debt to the
government, Foreign Minister Mercado has assured the US
charge that Peru intends to "keep the doors open in sub-
stance and not just in form" ,for future efforts toward
settlement. In his announcement on 6 August, the Presi-
dent said the case would have to be settled in court. All
parties to the dispute are now awaiting Ambassador Irwin's
return to Lima to renew talks on the IPC problem and, prob-
ably, other issues.
4
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EL SALVADOR - HONDURAS
Salvadoran radio and press commentators continue to
crow about their "military and diplomatic victory," and
the government has refused to return Honduran prisoners
of war. The POW's are being held until Honduran author-
ities release an estimated 11,000 'Salvadoran civilians
detained during the hostilities. Public resentment against
El Salvador is so great, however,: that Honduran officials
fear the detainees may become victims of violence if turned
loose. If the Hondurans are prodded into violence against
the resident Salvadorans, the government of El Salvador
could again succumb to pressure from the same firebrands
who pushed it into the original attack.
5
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Top Secret
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