THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF - 1968/01/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974214
• Document Creation Date: July 27, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 005974214
The President's Daily Brief
9 January 1968
ecret
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DAILY BRIEF
9 JANUARY 1968
1. Vietnam
2.
There are major enemy build-ups
in three areas. Perhaps the most im-
mediate and serious threat is just be-
low the Demilitarized Zone, where ele-
ments of four North Vietnamese divisions
are concentrating around the allied base
at Khe Sanh. This subject is discussed
at Annex today.
*
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COMMUNIST BUILD-UP AREAS
-16
-14
104
THAILAND
\., 66
NORTH
\ VIETNAM
7
'
I
�...QUANG TRI
JHUA THE
A Shau
(f) QUANG
Demilitarized Zone
Q ng
In
a Nang
NAM I CORPS
QUANG TIN
�
QUANG
NGAI
KONTUM
BINH DIN
Pleiku.
PLEIKU
PHU
BON.
Tonle
Sop
-12
CAMBODIA
PHI) �
YEN
DARLAC
KHANH
HOA
'II CORPS
PHNO
PENH
() TAY
NINH
BINH
LONG
PH UOC
LONG �
LAM DONG
NINH
THUAN
WI RANH
/ CHAU
DOC
KIEN
P HONG
I U
U QUOC
GULF OF
� SLAM
AN
XUYEN
96
IV CORPS
PH UOC
TUT
au III CORPS
Capital Special Zone
106 198
55
so
SOUTH VIETNAM
S T
. 2.5 .5.0 75 10011411es
0 25 5.0 75 I 60 Ktiometers
110
16
14
12
10-
69202 1-68 CIA
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ANNEX
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North Vietnamese Build-up Below the
Demilitarized Zone
In the past several weeks there have been a
number of indications that the enemy is building up
in three separate areas in or near South Vietnam.
Major enemy offensive activity in these areas could
come at any time.
The most significant threat is posed in north-
ern I Corps.
North Vietnamese in-
fantry divisions are presently located in the Laos
panhandle adjacent to the western edge of the Demili-
tarized Zone and South Vietnam's Quang Tri Province.
These units are the 304th and 325 "C" Divisions and
possibly the 320th Division. As many as six regiments
of these divisions are presently in this area. In
addition, at least one regiment of the 324 "B" Di-
vision is located in western Quang Tri Province.
The target primarily threatened by these
forces appears to be the allied base at Khe Sanh
in western Quang Tri. Enemy reconnaissance and
probing activity near Khe Sanh has increased mark-
edly in the last few weeks.\
\The Communists could be using the time be-
tween now and the Tet holidays to complete their
concentration around Khe Sanh in preparation for
an offensive after Tet.
This grouping of forces in Laos and western
Quang Tri Province also strengthens North Vietnam-
ese defenses of the Laos corridor. There have been
indications of Hanoi's concern over the possible ex-
tension of the US electronic "barrier" and strong-
point system into Laos.
The second major enemy build-up is under way
in southern I Corps.
Most recently, the 31st Regiment
of the 341st North Vietnamese Division was noted
moving into this area from the A Shau Valley.
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The third enemy threat is developing in South
Vietnam's Binh Long, Phuoc Long, and Quang Duc Prov-
inces--also known as Viet Cong Military Region 10.
Since late November, three possible North Vietnam-
ese infantry battalions as well as other forces
have been noted moving into this area from the
western highlands. These units will probably join
elements of three enemy divisions currently spread
throughout the region. There have been signs for
some time that the Communists intend to make this
area a major battleground in the coming months.
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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9 January 1968
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Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
for the President's Eyes Only
9 January 1968
I. NOTES ON THE SITUATION
Hanoi on Negotiations: We have no additional
North Vietnamese commentary on the subject of nego-
tiations.
A Japanese news agency is carrying the replies
of North Vietnamese Foreign Minister Trinh to a
questionnaire submitted by two Japanese correspond-
ents. Trinh disparaged the President's San Antonio
speech as a "deceitful attempt" to mask new escala-
tion of the war. Trinh cited his statement of a year
ago that a bombing halt is the precondition for any
US - North Vietnamese talks. The interview adds
nothing to Hanoi's position on this issue and the
questionnaire probably was submitted to Trinh be-
fore his recent and authoritative remarks on this
subject on 30 December.
* * *
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Report of Ho's Death Premature: Haioi's sensi-
tivity to rumors of Hoini Minh's health
the regime has gone out of its way recently to have
Ho meet with foreign delegations and to demonstrate
that he is relatively fit at present.
* * *
Minorit Pro
* * *
Nminority peoples of
North Vietnam remain a continuing problem for the
regime. These people are only an irritant, however,
and certainly not a serious element of instability.
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
There is nothing of significance to report.
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