(. Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00126887 R4..toc.ivCU V/FiCA 1968 FEB 15 35 56 ADLA145 .!:00 YEKADS' LBJ LIBRARY DE YEXADL.-7185 04.61447 Mandatory Z KZ K 00 Z SL DE- Case # N U')(o -?S 0151445Z ZYh DOCURICZU .jz1,1 CIA y TO WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM SSO ACSI DA SSO ARLINGTON HALL STATION -. �AFSSO USAF' CNO --DIA/ISIC JCS .NIC DIRNSA COMMAND CENTER STATE (ROI) CIA-OCI .ZEM -COUNTRY - SOUTH VIETNAM �DCI 14 FEBRUARY 1968 � SUBJECT VICE PRESIDENT KY'S INTENTION TO RELINQUISH HIS SPECIAL POWERS BECAUSE OF DISCOURAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE IN CURRENT CRISIS Ar,r1 SOURCE VIETNAM, SAIGON (15 FEBRUARY 1963) 1111111111111. Approved for lieleaaa Date 19 !VW 1997 SUMMARY: VICEMPR7SJD7NT.KT. 411110N 14-:FE3RUARYANWAMMOVWAS�BITTER.AND'DISCOURAGED'ATTHE GOVERNMENT .0F_VIETNAM'S PERFORMANCE IN THE -CURRENT CRISIS. HE . THEREFORE HAD. DECIDED TO RETURN�TO PRESIDENT THIEU ThE SPECIAL ?0:4FERS GIVEN HIM AS .HEAD .OF THE TASK FORCE. KY RESENTS CHARGES BY THIEU�SUPPORTERS THAT RE IS ATTI NG TO J. HIS TASK � 7."'RO7 POWERS FOR_P7RSONAL ADVANTAGT. HT' IS ALSO FRUSTRATED- POOR.SHOWING AND BY THE TENDENCY-QP CI NET MINISTERS:TO'INSIST ON BUREAUCRATIC PROPERITIES.: ENL SUMMARY. i. 14 FEBRUARY 1968, VICE ?RESIDENT NGUYEN CAO KY WAS "BITTER AND D=RAGED" AT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNA'S (GV) PERFORMANCE 7 7?E: CURRENT CRISIS. KY 11111111.Y,i-ip DEFINITELY DECIDED THAT DAYS XE.ITI 7ETURN TO PRESIDENT NGUY2 : T " Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00126887 2(111(1) Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00126887 L.e v A :7.41 ER .AND DISCOURAGED" AT THE. GOV, MENT OF'VIETNAM'S.-(GVN) wi,FORMANCE THE CURRENT CRISIS. KY HAD DEFINITEL`CD 'IDED:TSAT :17:1 THE ,EXT FEW DAYS HE WILL RETURN TO PRESIDENTNGUYEN VAN�THIEU ALL THE "SPECIAL POWERS" CONFERREDCWHIM7BY THIEU. 11111111VMENT: KY WAS REFERRING. TO HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF � THE TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED BY THIEU TO COPE:WITH:THE AFTERMATH OF THE VIET CONG (VC) TET OFFENSIVE.)' 2. KY SAID THE GVN HAD BEEN TOTALLY AND UNNECESSARILY PARALYZED IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE VC ATTACKS. :HE FELT .THAT, GIVEN THE DESTRUCTION WROUGHT BY .THE ATTACKS, IT WAS -STILL NOVING WITH TOO LITTLE EFFECTIVENESS AND SENSE OF .URGENCY. KY SAID THAT WHILE HE HAD ATTEMPTED AS CHAIRMAN OF .THE TASK FORCE AND OTHERWISE WITHIN THE POWERS CONFERRED ON. IM BY THE CONSTITUTION TO MOVE RAPIDLY TO RETURN THE SITUATION TO NOL, ALMOST EVERY MOVE HE HAD MADE HAD COME. UNDER-FIRE FROM THIEU 'S SUPPORTERS WHO CLAIMED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SET HIMSELF UP AS A SECOND GOVERNMENT.. HE EVEN HIS OWN "ANTI-FRAUD YOUTH CORPS", WHICH HE HAD HOPED COULD BE USED IN THE PRESENT EMERGENCY, WAS DOING! LITTLE BUT COLLECTING ITS SALARIES.. 3. 111111111MIT WAS NOW OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE THAT PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN VAN LOC IS A "DISMAL FAILURE." HE. ADDED WITH CONS1D2A3LE BITTERNESS THAT SINCE HE, KY, HAD BEEN THE CHIEF'. PROPONENT OF LOC FOR THE POSITION, HE FELT THAT LOC HAD LET HIM DOWN BADLY. KY ALSO COMPLAINED THAT MOST OF THE CABINET.� MINISTERS, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS FACING THE COUNTRY, SEEMED. MORE CONCERNED WITH BUREAUCRATIC .PRORZRIETY THAN WITH PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE DISPLACED BY THE FIGHTING. 4. 11111NWC3MMENT: NOW APPEARS TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS CAN PLAY IN THE PRESENT SITUATION, 41111111Me IT DISTURBING THAT KY SHOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN AT SUCH LEN2TH TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT 5. COMM7NT: KY TOLD SOME CLOSE ASSOCIATES ON 13 FEBRUARY THAT HE INTENDED TO C=END TO THIEU, PROBABLY ON 18 FEBRUARY , THE TASK . BE ABOLISHED. IIIIIIIIIIIIMPSOURCES NOTEDICY'S IRRITATION =H CRITICISM BY THIEU SUPPORTERS AND WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING CABINET MINISTERS TO DO THINGS, 6. FIELD ots&Ent STATE (AMBASSADOR BUNKER, POLITICAL COU.,SELOR, ZORTHIAN) USMACV (GENERAL WESTMORELAND, GENERAL 4:]..7.1,SSALGR XOMER, CHIEF OF STAFF, J-.2) 7TH AIR FORCE (GENERAL ..3MYER ONLY) CINCPAC PAOFLT ARPAC PACAF SC3 - 3,46310;

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VICE PRESIDENT KY'S INTENTION TO RELINQUISH HIS SPECIAL POWERS BECAUSE OF DISCOURAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE IN CURRENT CRISIS