THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 12 FEBRUARY 1970

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005977295
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: February 12, 1970

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The President's Daily Brief
12 February 1970
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
12 February 1970
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Communists appear to have launched their long
awaited counteroffensive against the Plaine des
Jarres in Laos. (Page 1)
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Soviet scientific articles indicate that the Soviets
are aware of the theoretical principle and method of
operation of high powered gas dynamic lasers.
(Page 4)
At Annex we examine the over-all military situation
in the Plaine des Jarres area.
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LAOS: Current Situation
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Communist-controlled territory
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Communist attack
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( Limit of area claimed under
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control, June 1962
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Communist troop buildup
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LAOS
A large Communist force, supported by tanks
and armored cars, began pushing into the Nong Pet
area yesterday. The enemy thrust is targeted against
the several groups of government guerrillas who since
last August have been blocking Route 7, northeastern
gateway to the Plaine des Jarres.
? On the Plaine, preliminary reports indicate
that General yang Pao's forward headquarters at Xieng
Khouang airfield, southwest of Nong Pet, has been
heavily attacked. First reports disclose that the
enemy has suffered heavy casualties but that govern-
ment forces are holding. yang Pao is on the scene
and the situation appears to be under control. The
airfield was the scene of a costly Communist commando
raid in mid-December.
At Annex we ex-
amine the over-all military situation.
In the south, Communist forces have launched
small-scale attacks against government positions in
the central panhandle and near the provincial cap-
ital of Attopeu.
an enemy buildup off the
western edge of the Bolovens Plateau poses a threat
to the Mekong village of Souvannakhili. These moves
fit the enemy's strategy of tying down government
troops and do not appear to forecast larger attacks.
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MIDDLE EAST
(continued)
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
USSR
Soviet scientific articles indicate that the
Soviets are aware of the theoretical principle and
method of operation of high powered gas dynamic
lasers. Such devices represent a significant ad-
vance in laser technology. The publications suggest
that in 1967 Soviet understanding of the gas dynamic
laser principle was close to that of the US at the
time.
A gas dynamic laser derives its power from
a flow of hot gases, similar to the ex-
haust from a jet or rocket engine. Such
lasers can produce a, sharply focused beam
of infrared radiation with power suffi-
cient to inflict damage at considerable
distances.
Soviet scientists have the theoretical
knowledge and experimental capability to
carry on a program to develop a gas dy-
namic laser
If Soviet development has stayed
on a par with the US, considerable work
remains and we do not expect them to have
these systems operational before 1975
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USSR
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Soviet
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NOTES
USSR - Middle East:
France-Libya:
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LAOS
The enemy has mustered more force for the attack
on the Plaine des Jarres than he has ever done before
in the rhythmic war over the northern plains. General
yang Pao, the political and military leader of the Meo
tribesmen, is awaiting the attackers 50X
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. Despite the enemy's strength, his task is not
as easy as it would seem. Although the Communists
enjoy an overwhelming numerical superiority Over
the government--some 6,000 government guerrillas are
up against a combined Pathet Lao and North Vietnam-
ese force of approximately 17,000 combat and support
troops--the enemy is having to fight the Meo on
their. own terms and terrain and under an intensive
rain of bombs. The government has the ability to
muster close air support on a moment's notice. This
is the only area where the "establishment Lao"--as
opposed to the tribal northerners--have made.a sig-
nificant contribution to their government's war ef-
fort. It has given the Meo an effectiveness which
belies their limited number and has more often than
not meant the difference between holding or losing
any given piece of terrain. On the ground, however,
there are only Meosvit has become Vangjpao's.war:.-:
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Conventional wisdom holds that once the mon-
soons begin in May, the North Vietnamese, dependent
on roads to move troops and supplies, will move to
a defensive footing. The Communist capture of Muong
Soul in late June of last year demonstrated, however,
that if the enemy is willing to expend the effort,
weather conditions are not an important, factor in
deterring the timing of Communist military opera-
tions.
Meo morale is still high and that their will to fight
has not been seriously eroded by the relatively high
casualties and long campaign. We would only add
that, although yang Pao has been able to fill his
depleted ranks with refugees, he has lost some of
his best field commanders. At,best,,the Meo leader is
walking a thin line. A serious military defeat could
lead to a rapid collapse of Meo fighting spirit--a
development which may lead an already nervous Lao
Government to the brink of panic.
In view of the large North Vietnamese buildup
this dry season, government leaders, including yang
Pao, believe that once the Communists capture the
Plaine, they will then push south into the Long Tieng
area, yang Pao's headquarters and home for some
40,000 Meo refugees. Should a serious threat de-
velop to this area, it is likely the Meo community
will bring pressure on Vang Pao to begin efforts
aimed at resettling them in Sayaboury Province.
Such a movement would undercut yang Pao's effort to
Continue harassment operations in the northeast.
In sum, we see the Communists capturing the
Plaine des Jarres and probably also mounting a deter-
mined effort to eliminate yang, Pao's forces,. who
have become the major obstacle to Communist advances
in the northeast. The Communists have made it clear
that they will continue to mount military Operations
in Laos until such time that they have regained all
the territory claimed to have been under their con-
trol in 1962. The problem is to try and keep the
delicate military and political fabric intact--a
task which has become more difficult with the passage
of time.
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