THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 29 NOVEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993651
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: November 29, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300260001-3
The President's Daily Brief
29 November 1972
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300260001-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300260001-3
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 5B(1).(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011300260001-3
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
22 November 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
(Page 1)
The South Vietnamese drive in northern Quang Tri
Province continues to meet stiff resistance. Fresh
government units nevertheless have regained terri-
tory recently lost near the coast and have renewed
their advance. (Page 2)
Lao irregulars are pushing ahead with their campaign
to recapture territory in the south. (Page 3)
Minor losses for the Christian Democratic and Lib-
eral parties in scattered local elections have
jolted Italian Prime Minister Andreottits fragile
coalition government. (Page 4)
(Page 4)
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SOUTH VIETNAM
The government's military drive in northern
Quang Tri Province continues to meet stiff resist-
ance. Fresh government units nevertheless have re-
gained territory recently lost near the coast below
the Cua Viet River and have renewed their advance.
Recently captured prisoners report that
Communist divisions have received numerous
replacements. Some may now be near normal
strength for the first time in many months.
Also, intercepts and prisoner reports in-
dicate that new equipment, including tanks
and artillery, has arrived.
In many parts of the country the Communists are
relying on terrorist tactics to sustain their posi-
tion during the current period of uncertainty about
a cease-fire. The targets are mostly soldiers, po-
lice, and local officials.
We expect the Communists to pursue these
relatively inexpensive tactics in the
weeks ahead as they seek to rest and re-
fit many of their major combat units.
2
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NORT
VIETNAM__
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Ban Korai
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Sedlcin\e Ngam.
THAILAND
Pakse
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553864 11-72 CIA
0 Government-held location 0 Communist-held location
r-=
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LAOS
Irregular forces have launched an operation to
retake Paksong, the principal town on the Bolovens
Plateau held by the Communists for nearly a year.
Seven battalions dispersed a small Communist block-
ing force and on 27 November had advanced to within
eight miles of the town. Only one untested North
Vietnamese battalion is now at Paksong, but inter-
cepts indicate that at least one of three enemy bat-
talions near Ban Lao Ngam has been ordered to move
to meet the government threat.
North of the Bolovens, irregulars are clashing
sporadically with Communist units near Saravane, a
provincial capital recaptured by the government last
week. Although four North Vietnamese battalions re-
main nearby, heavy casualties have forced these
units to rest and refit before attempting to retake
the town.
In the central panhandle, a 12-battalion irreg-
ular force is encountering strong resistance from
elements of a North Vietnamese regiment entrenched
in the village of Muong Phalane on Route 9.
The Communists can be expected to put. up
a determined defense in the Muong Phalane
area in order to forestall any government
moves against the Ho Chi Minh trail com-
plex directly to the east
3
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FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
Italy: Minor losses for the Christian Demo-
cratic and Liberal parties in scattered local elec-
tions have jolted Prime Minister Andreotti's frag-
ile coalition government. Although only about one-
tenth of the electorate was involved, the election
has taken on national importance as ?the first test
of public opinion since the national election last
May. The pattern of results will strengthen the
argument for inviting the Socialists back into the
government in another center-left coalition.
Greece:
The Yemens: The two Yemens signed an agree-
ment in Tripoli yesterday to form a single state,
called the Yemeni Republic, with the capital at
Sans'. Despite this initial progress, much remains
to be done before actual unity is achieved, and
reconciling Aden's Marxism with Sana's more tradi-
tional government will not be easy,
4
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Top Secret
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