THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 21 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993423
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 21, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900210001-3
The President's Daily Brief
21 July 1972
46
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Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(1),(2),(33
.declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900210001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900210001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
21 July 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Soviet withdrawal from Egypt will include at
least some operational units as well as advisers.
(Page 1)
South Vietnamese troops have cleared the road from
Saigon to An Loc, but to the north, the enemy is
attempting to cut Route 1 behind South Vietnamese
units attacking in Quang Tri Province. (Page 3)
Sink Matak is reconsidering his earlier rejections
of the vice-presidency of Cambodia. (Page 4)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
EGYPT-USSR
the Soviet
withdrawal from Egypt:wiZZ include at
least some operational units as well as
advisers.
(continued)
1
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jAccording to press reports, some
personnel and dependents have already left on civil
aircraft.
2
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108 110
Demilitarized Zone
Quang In
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Gulf of
Thailand
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Capital Special Zone
South
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SOUTH VIETNAM
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16--
14-
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MILES 110
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
Elements of Saigon's 25th Division yesterday
cleared the last of the Communist blocking forces
from Route 13 south of An Loc. The government plans
to send a convoy up the road today. Route 13 had
been closed since 5 April, and efforts to open it
had been repeatedly frustrated by well-entrenched
enemy troops.
In coastal Military Region 2, the government
counteroffensive into the northern districts of Binh
Dinh Province is proceeding-against only light en-
emy resistance. South Vietnamese Army troops and.
tanks moved through the Bong Son Pass-and according
to,late.press reports, reoccupied Hoai Nhon district
town without a fight.
Fighting around QuangTri City is still-at a
reduced level, although enemy artillery continues
active. An-enemy battalion is said to have attacked
government-troops on the My Chanh defense line-near
Route 1, well south of Quang Tri. This area has
seen little combat activity since the South Vietnam-
ese offensive began on 28 June, but recent inter-
cepts have.indicated that the Communists intend to
attack. South Vietnamese forces in Quang Tri from
the rear. One message referred to shifting some
units closer to Route 1 and to making a- "strong as-
sault behind" the advancing government forces. An-
other. noted that in the event-of a South Vietnamese'
retreat, "we have units blocking Route 1."
In the highlands, a South Vietnamese Army unit
probing northwest of Kontum City was attacked and.
suffered losses of more than 100 killed, wounded,
and missing-. This is the, secondsuch attack in this
area in three days by an enemy force we believe has
the mission of. screening the withdrawal of other
Communist forces-from the Kontum battlefield.
3
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900210001-3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
President Lon Nol
the vice-presidency
Matak had turned down earlier offers be-
cause he believed that the office would be powerless,
but this time Lon Nol promised him his unqualified
support and said that the vice-president would in
effect serve as "president delegate." He even of-
fered Matak the authority to pick a new cabinet and
prime minister, but stated that his current offer
would be the last he would tender.
has again offered Sink Matak
In view of his first-hand experience as
Lon NoZ's deputy, Matak probably harbors
reservations concerning the worth of Lon
Nol's promises to delegate authority.
Nonetheless, the vice-presidency would
give Matak a significant advantage over
potential rivals in a bid for power in
the event that Lon Nol dies or is inca-
pacitated by another stroke.
The vice-presidential appointment will be
made immediately following the National
Assembly elections on 3 September. Matak
may try to defer a decision as long as he
can in order to protect his own power base.
Should he accept immediately, he,could
well undermine the electoral chances of
his newly organized Republican Party. He
would also hurt his standing among Lon
NoZ's other opponents.
4
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