THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 13 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993407
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 13, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/25 : CIA-RDP79T00936A0109001-30001-2
The President's Daily Brief
13 July 1972
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of EO. 11652
exemption category 5B( 11,(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/25 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900130001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/07/25 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900130001-2
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
13 July 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
In South Vietnam, there is heavy fighting in the
Quang Tri sector and in the Mekong Delta.
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There are fresh reports of unrest in Egypt.
(Page 2)
Cuba's full membership in CEMA is probably viewed
by Castro as a mixed blessing. (Page 3)
Soviet shipments of guided missile patrol boats to
Iraq will be seen in Tehran as a threat to Iran's
position in the Persian Gulf. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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NORTH
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ang Tri
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SOUTH VIETNAM
190
MILES
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.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
VIETNAM
South Vietnamese Marines are attempting to set
up new positions north of Quang Tri City, and other
units on the eastern-flank are consolidating their
positions.- South of the provincial capital, air-
borne units are meeting strong. enemy resistance near
Fire Base Anne. Heavy enemy ground and artillery
attacks have been reported throughout the Quang Tri
sector.
An intercept from a Communist command element
in the area ordered troops inside the town to hold
the citadel--the main defensive position--at all
costs. The sender promised adequate artillery and
infantry support. Recalling the battle for Hue
during Tet 1968, however, the originator admitted
that:the four-battalion force defending the citadel
was not sufficient.to hold the position for long.
Southwest of Hue, moderately heavy fighting
also is taking place, but government troops are re-
ported to have recaptured outpost Checkmate--over-
looking the western approach to Hue--which was lost,
to the Communists last week. This is the fourth
time in the last two weeks that this strategic posi-
tion has changed hands.
In the delta, in a battle less than five miles
from the provincial capital of Vi Thanh in Chuong
Thien Province, an enemy force inflicted heavy losses
on South Vietnamese Army regulars. To the north',
the continuing buildup of enemy units in Dinh Tuong
Province has caused a South Vietnamese regiment to
return from a cross-border operation in Cambodia.
South Vietnamese relief forces, including regular
army, rangers, and territorial units, are planning
counterthrusts to blunt the enemy's increased, ac-
tivity.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT
Press reports from Beirut say there is dis-
satisfaction in the Egyptian Air Force; they cite
a recent incident in which two pilots disobeyed
orders not to interfere with Israeli violations
of Egyptian airspace. A French paper has claimed
that three senior Egyptian Foreign Ministry offi-
cials have been arrested on charges of plotting to
overthrow Sadat.
The Egyptian Government yesterday announced
that a number of cases of espionage will soon be
revealed, but it has generally countered reports
of unrest by portraying them as Israeli psychologi-
cal warfare.
In fact, some measure of unrest almost
certainly is accompanying the lack of
progress toward solving the problem of
Israeli occupation of Arab lands. This
is the first summer since 1.967 that the
Egyptians have had neither active hos-
tilities nor peace-seeking discussions
to offer some prospect for change. All
this may well be generating the kinds
of reactions alleged in the various re-
ports of unrest. At the same time, how-
ever, those who oppose Sadat no doubt
realize the intractability of the prob-
lem, which may inhibit them from taking
any action to depose him.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR-CUBA
Admission of Cuba to full membership in the Soviet-
Zed Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)
should result in closer Soviet-Cuban economic coor-
dination. Cuba's entry seems to have been arranged
during Fidel Castro's recent visit and is the first
known concrete result of the trip. Since Castro's
return a week ago, Havana has not commented on the
journey. While Castro may have no strong objections
to membership in CEMA he will expect Moscow to try
to use it to push Soviet economic development con-
cepts that Cuba has often resisted. Nevertheless
he may see full Cuban membership as helpful in the
long run, particularly as a source of additional
funds and banking services.
The Soviet media, in contrast with the Cuban, have
praised the results of Castro's visit. The Soviets
probably view Cuban membership as providing one more
channel to press for closer Cuban economic coordina-
tion with Moscow and its allies, as well as for more
rational economic development in Cuba.
Cuba is the second non-European member of CEMA, the
other being Mongolia. Yugoslavia, North Korea, and
North Vietnam have attended meetings as observers.
The Soviets have attempted to persuade Pyongyang and
Hanoi to become full members.
CEMA's purpose is to rationalize trade and coordinate
economic planning and standards among member countries.
It has frequently operated ineffectively since its
founding in 1949, partially because Moscow's East
European allies have resisted its use as a tool for
Soviet economic domination. Last year, however,
they agreed to a comprehensive long-range economic
integration program, and an International Investment
Bank to finance long-term projects in member countries
began to function.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
IRAQ-USSR
A Soviet freighter with one Osa-class guided
missile patrol boat on deck was observed entering
an Iraqi port last.week. Two other Soviet freight-
ers, each carr in an Osa are en route to the In-
an Oc
These patrol boats, presumably purchased
under the $236-million Soviet-Iraqi arms
accord of last October, will be Iraq's
first ones to be armed with surface-to-
surface missiles. The Shah of Iran will
view them as a threat to his country's
position in the Persian Gulf. Iran is
scheduled to receive two British frigates
equipped with the shorter range Seakiller
missiles this month and two more later
this year. Tehran also plans to equip
its ten British hovercraft boats with Sea-
killers, but now presumably will press
for additional modern naval weapons.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
China: Our investigations do not support re-
cent allegations that China is illicitly exporting
opium. In fact, .despite ,a. world shortage of raw
opium for licit pharmaceutical purposes, the Chi-
nese--who no doubt produce a small quantity for
their own medical uses--have refused recent requests
to export any opium to Western drug firms searching
for new sources of supply.
USSR:
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Top Secret
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