THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001400010073-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 73
• Publication Date: November 28, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved Release 2004/11/03: CIA-RDP79T0Q
aS QfJi 73-0 7
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MEMORANDUM
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
The Situation in Vietnam
State Department review completed
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Top Secret
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Information as of 1600
28 November 1966
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iIGHLIGHTS
South Vietnam's Constituent Assembly held its
first working session on the basic outline of the
constitution on 26 November.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
No significant mil ary activity has been reported
(Para. 1). Over 300 Communist troops have been
reported killed during four allied operations which
have just ended (Paras. 2-3).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The Constituent Assembly held its first session on
the actual drafting of the constitution (Paras. 1-2).
III. North Vietnamese Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: There is
nothing of significance to report.
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L?Savannakhet
ROK
OPERATION
DRAGON EYE
GULF OF
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64959 CIA
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. No significant contact with Communist forces
has been reported by any of the 27 battalion-size or
larger allied operations presently being conducted
in South Vietnam. Heavy monsoon rains continue to
slow allied military activity in the northern section
of the country.
2. Four allied operations have ended with a
total of over 300 Communist soldiers reported killed.
Three of these--South Korean (ROK) Operation DRAGON
EYE, South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) Operation LIEN KET
70, and the one-battalion US Marine Operation RIO
BLANCO--were conducted in the northern portion of
coastal Quang Ngai Province. These multibattaiion.
operations, which began on 8 November, resulted in
279 enemy troops killed, 38 captured, and 153 sus-
pects apprehended. Allied casualties were 47 killed
and 157 wounded.
3. Operation BREMERTON, conducted by one bat-
talion of the US 4th Infantry Division in an area
about 20 miles southeast of Saigon ended on 27 Novem-
ber. This search-and--destroy and saturation patrol=
ling operation resulted in 24 Viet Cong killed, one
captured, and 14 suspects detained. American cas-
ualties were seven killed and 35 wounded.
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. After nearly two months of procedural de-
liberations, the Constituent Assembly held its first
working session on the basic outline of the constitu-
tion on 26 November. An agenda for distussion of
"basic principles" as proposed by the chairman of the
constitution drafting committee was approved. In sub-
sequent sessions, the assembly will consider what
rights should be constitutionally guaranteed. These
rights include basic personal freedoms, economic and
social privileges, and basic duties. The assembly
will then consider which system of government is most
suitable to the country in the context of the current
national situation. :Finally, the delegates will con-
sider.the constitutional role of educational and eco-
nomic councils and whether political parties should
be accorded formal status.
2. Meanwhile, delegations of the assembly's
"committee on peoples' aspirations" have been solicit-
ing views on the future governmental structure from
three of the military corps areas and the Saigon area.
Members of the Saigon city council reportedly were
found to favor a modified presidential system for the
executive branch, with an elected president and vice
president and an appointed prime minister., In the
council's opinion, the presidential elections should
be held three months and the national assembly elections
nine months after the constitution is promulgated. The
National Institute of Administration on the other hand,
was in favor of a straight presidential system, with the
presidential runner-up becoming the leader of an insti-
tutionalized opposition. Dr. Phan Quang Dan, one of the
more prominent assembly deputies, told an embassy officer
that he is doubtful that the views of the.people will
carry much weight in the actual drafting of the constitu-
tion.
28 November 1966
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I op becr
Top Secret
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