THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 9 SEPTEMBER 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993511
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: September 9, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
The President's Daily Brief
9 September 1972
45
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of ED. 11652
exemption category 58(1),(21.(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
9 September 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
Israel is retaliating for the Munich massacre with
bombing raids on fedayeen installations in Syria
and Lebanon. (Page 1)
The battle for Quang Tri City in South Vietnam may
soon intensify. (Page 2)
Disorders in Phnom Penh have shaken the Cambodian
Government's stability, while on the military front,
the situation has worsened after the Communists
again cut a portion of Route 1. (Page 3)
In northern Laos, one of the four government task
forces is advancing toward its objective near the
Plaine des Jarres. (Page 4)
n Chile
(Page 5)
The Soviets have sent their first unofficial contact
to Seoul in response to importuning from the South
Korean Government. (Page 6)
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
ISRAELI AIR ATTACKS
Mersin
36
KEY
40
Tigris
,.Adana Al Qamishii
Iskend
Latakia
Banlyas
Mediterranean
Tartus
Tel
Ya
Sea
Beirut
Tyre
RAEL
Av4-
( WEST
\ BA NK
+eh,
Tripoli
dilb?
0
Hamah
.Aleppo
Hims
LEBANO
'Damascus
*8sorvert..HcEzuG:ieTcsi).
Suwayda
4anunn JORDAN:
SYRIA
.Tudmur
Ar Ragejah
Dayr az Zawr
Al Hasakah?
IRAQ
0 25 50 7,5 Miles
0 25 5.0 75 Kilometers
653561 9-72 CA
A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
ISRAEL - ARAB STATES
Israeli retaliation for the murder of its
athletes in Munich has so far, consisted of air raids
against fedayeen installations in Lebanon and Syria.
Yesterday, strikes were launched in two waves against
guerrilla encampments, headquarters, training camps,
logistics sites, and marine bases. The first wave,
yesterday morning, hit three locations in Lebanon
and seven in Syria. The second, in the late after-
noon and evening, was directed at targets in south-
ern Syria, one of which had been hit earlier.
Damage appears to be extensive and casualties
may be high. An Israeli official has claimed that
Palestinian refugee camps were not targets, but some
strikes were in the vicinity of such encampments.
presumably in an effort to
counter Lebanese claims of casualties among the ref-
ugees.
As dawn broke today over the area, at least 18
Israeli aircraft were noted flying over Lebanon and
Syria, while others patrolled along the borders.
Syrian antiaircraft gunners fired on the border pa-
trols, but in turn came under fire from gunners on
the Israeli Golan Heights.
Additional Israeli attacks are expected
by at least some fedayeen units.1
Furthermore, the statement issued by. Is
raeli Foreign Minister Eban shortly before
the raids yesterday explicitly warned that
Israel would. "take all necessary measures
to strike at the perpetrators'of the mur-
ders" and would "fight the terrorists
wherever we find them." Other Israeli
officials have said that governments will-
ing to host the fedayeen must bear a re-
sponsibility for the guerrillas' actions.
These statements strongly suggest that ad-
ditional reprisals are in the offing.
Syria may be singled out because the Is-
raelis believe some of the terrorists who
were involved in Munich either lived or
trained. there,
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A0-11100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH VIETNAM
three Ranger battalions recently
moved from the Delta to participate in a major ef-
fort to retake Quang Tri City, including the cita-
del, by 16 September. The Rangers
support six Marine battalions, who will try to over-
whelm the Communist defenders in a massive, light-
ning assault. The government operation is to be
accompanied by a diversionary thrust into Communist-
held territory north of the city.
South of the city, government Airborne troops
have yet to eliminate completely a series of enemy
strongpoints that dominate the route that must be
taken by government elements moving toward the cita-
del. 'The Airborne's efforts have been frustrated by
heavy shelling and recently by increasing Communist
ground attacks on their positions. Meanwhile, US
pilots have spotted several T-54 tanks in the area.
All three regiments of the recently infiltrated
North Vietnamese 312th Division have now been iden-
tified south of Quang Tri City, confirming other
indications that this relatively fresh unit is re-
placing the enemy's 304th Division.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
4,0's
Ko
Kul
Koh
Kong
.,
?!'
PN
; c
(
;
A -94
?t .
t
( cOniloited iA(
_ien!my
cJ
Koh. pong*.q1)
KomoOnycien
Gulf of
Thailand
' arvang
r
,
Ciao Phu
au Oc
Hon lb),
0
aduan 0,1,$
Alva, Do
m
South China
Sea
CAMBODIA
Miles
0 50
553562 9-72 CIA
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CAMBODIA
Disorders in Phnom Penh have shaken the govern-
ment's Stability. Yesterday roving bands of un-
disciplined army troops, including personnel from
elite paratroop units, engaged in Widespread loot7
ing in the capital.. This.followed a day.when
diers seeking cheap rice had raided shops, markets,
and warehouses-the government-had ordered them to
"inspect". shops to ensure that merchants were sell-
ing rice at the new officially set prices. The
police did not try to interfere with the looters,
and some supervised and even joined in the looting,:
There are no reports of serious violence,' and the
disorders were confined to the commercial sections
of the city.
Late yesterday President Lon Nol made a radio
speeah in which he promised summary executions of
those caught insubsequent-acts of thievery.. He
also promised a limited airlift of rice from Battam-
bang-and announced that the government issolicit-
ing rice supplies from abroad. He later told US
Embassy officials that the government's operation
to clear. Route 5 leading to Battambang finally
would be launched this weekend.
The looting is a dramatic manifestation
of the unrest that gradually has been
building up throughout the army. Many
officers and troops have become increas-
ingly upset by extensive military corrup-
tion, by the Zack of direction and support
for tactical operations, by the rising
cost of living, and now by the rice cri-
sis. If Lon Nol does not deal more ener-
getically with these grievances, he risks
losing control over the military--which
represents his main source of political
support.
The government also continues to fare badly on
the battlefield. Communist forces, striking again
at government positions along Route 1, have now
gained control over .a ten-mile section of that high-
way between Neak Luong and Kompong Trabek. Once
again the town's defenders are isolated.
Given the situation in Phnom Penh and the
army's past performance along Route 1, we
doubt that the road can be reopened unless
South Vietnamese forces return to help.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
LAOS: PLAINE DES JARRES AREA
_
0 Government-held location
0 Communist-held location
A Highpoint
, Bouam Longo
Irregular task force
advancing ?Q
' Xien
Khouangvill
553563 9-72 CIA
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
LAOS
Only one of the four remaining government task
forces is moving toward its objective near the Plaine
des Jarres. This force, which six days ago had with-
drawn a short distance after strong Communist attacks,
on 7 September advanced to positions about five miles
northwest of Nong Pet, the junction of vital Commu-
nist supply lines to the Plaine des Jarres. Inter-
cepted enemy messages indicate that elements of the
North Vietnamese 335th and 866th regiments, which
last week scattered another task force north of the
Plaine, are moving toward Nong Pet to meet the ad-
vancing irregulars.
The remnants of the irregular task force that
was dispersed north of the Plaine on 30 August have
been withdrawn to Long Tieng, where they will be
regrouped. Thus far, about one third of the members
of this unit have returned to government lines. The
task forces west, southwest, and southeast of the
Plaine have clashed sporadically with the Communists
in the past few days, maneuvering into better defen-
sive positions rather than making any effort to move
toward the Plaine. Intercepts suggest that these
groups will soon come under heavier enemy pressure.
Low morale and sickness continue to trouble govern-
ment forces.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
CHILE
In the continuing political maneuvering, Pres-
ident Allende has acted to relieve workers from the
effects of recent steep price rises. This week his
government decreed a tax-free bonus to public and
private employees and to pensioners as well. The
decree also provides for a wage increase in October
equal to the cost-of-living rise for the first nine
months of 1972. By this action, Allende has moved
ahead of the opposition's attempt to legislate a
pay raise.
5
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
SOUTH KOREA - USSR
Victor Louis, a Soviet journalist who in the
past has acted as an unofficial contact man for
Moscow, has arrived in Seoul, ostensibly to cover
the North-South Red Cross talks opening on 13 Sep-
tember. For more than a year, the South Koreans
have been trying to establish a direct contact with
Moscow, but the Soviets have been unresponsive.
Louis' visit suggests that the Soviets
have decided to explore such contacts,
perhaps to encourage Seoul's more inde-
pendent foreign policy efforts. The
initial Soviet reluctance to encourage
the South Koreans may have been the re-
sult of North Korean objections that
have since been reversed.
The Soviets no doubt wish to get a first-
hand assessment of the new Korean situa-
tion.
ZLouis presumably is charged
with assessing developments in the South.
Meanwhile, in Pyongyang, Konstantin
Katushev, the Soviet party Central Com-
mittee secretary responsible for dealing
with ruling Communist parties, is holding
the first discussions with the North
Koreans at this level in over a year.
6
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
NOTES
USSR-Egypt:
China:
?East Germany - West Germany: The East Germans
have agreed to release about 1,000 children who have
long been separated from their parents in West Ger-
many. (
East Germany's concession on this emotional issue
will be of political help to Chancellor Brandt, and
Pankow may make other small moves of this kind as
the West German electoral campaign gathers steam.
:25X1
25X1 25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
, - ?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4
_
Top Secret
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A011100090001-4