COVERT OPERATIONS IN NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-513-1-5-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 16, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

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IP IP
SECRET/SENSITIVE
16 April 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
FROM: Prank Chapin
SUBJECT: Covert Operations in North Vietnam
ACTION
At Tab A is a memorandum to Dave Packard which Al Haig asked me to
prepare for your signature.
At Tab B are two memoranda on which you indicated your intention of
taking the action which you are informing Mt. Packard you will take.
At Tab C is Mx. Packard's memorandum and attachment.
At Tab D is your memorandum of 5 March 1970 addressed to the
Secretary of Defense.
RECOMENDATION:
That you sign the attached memorandum to Mt. Packard at -Tab A, after
Which I Will distribute copies of his memorandum to the other
40 Committee principals and schedule it as an agenda item for an
early Committee meeting.
Attachments
Tabs A - D
SECRET/SENSITIVE
JCS, OSD, NSS, reviews
completed
MORI/CDF C05140421 Pages 2-9
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IP TOP SECRET 10
SENSITIVE
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301
8 April 1970
? MEMORANDUM FOR Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
SUBJECT: Covert Operations in North Vietnam (S)
By your memorandum of 5 March 1970, subject as
above, you requested a monthly report, commencing 1 April,
of Defense Department efforts to identify targets and to
develop 71ans for covert operations in the area of North
Vietnam
Our initial efforts in this regard have centered upon
analyzing the current capabilities of our covert assets in
South Vietnam. To that end, COMUSMACV and CINCPAC
were asked to report on the current capability to re-institute
covert maritime operations against North Vietnam. You will
recall that within MACV, the Studies and Observation Group
(MACSOG) is responsible for covert operations against North
Vietnam. With the bombing halt of 1 November 1968, these
covert forces have been inactive insofar as operating against
North Vietnam is concerned; however, they have been retained
in a state of readiness.
Attached as an annex to this memorandum is the
requested report. This report reveals, inter alia, that since
the four coastal targets are not considered to
be readily accessible from the beach within acceptable risk
factors, they are not recommended for cross-beach exploitation.
You will note that this attachment only addresses the covert
maritime capability. The JCS is now preparing an additional
report which will cover the entire range of our covert capability.
This report will be forwarded in a few weeks.
The primary target identified by this initial report is
the Hanoi leadership via the interception and propagandizing
of North Vietnamese coastal fishermen. This operation, which
ota eTi
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SENSITIVE
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was halted just prior to the 1 November 1968 bombing halt,
could be resumed by MACSOG in seven days and at the initial
rate of seven to ten missions per month. At the same time,
while operations against the fishing fleets are considered by
MACY and CINCPAC to be the most lucrative, coastal intelli-
gence and/or interdiction missions are also within MACSOG
capabilities.
It is clear that the Committee will specifically approve
any covert operations in North Vietnam. At the same time, in
the absence of contrary guidance, the DOD will continue to
maintain the capability described in the attachment. For these
reasons, I suggest that we do not ask for monthly reports on
covert operations in North Vietnam but rather consider these
matters as they are presented to the Committee for decision.
Attachment
As noted
0 MI
David Packard
TOP SECRET
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SECRET/ SENSITIVE
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASH I NGTON
March 5, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
SUBJECT: Covert Operations in North Vietnam
The President has approved the following division of labor for covert
operations in North Vietnam:
the Department of Defense has responsibility for targeting
and development of operations for the rest of North Vietnam.
assist the Defense Department in carrying out
action operations in the area assigned to DOD. I have been informed
Our potential targets which are accessible
from the coast.
The President has requested a monthly progress report on the results
of Defense Department efforts to identify targets and develop plans
for covert operations in the area of North Vietnam
The first report should be submitted on April I, 1'(U.
Henry A. Kissinger
/SF.NgiTTVF:
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