THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 17 JULY 1972

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005993414
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: July 17, 1972

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T0-0936A010900170001-8
The President's Daily Brief
17 July 1972
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900170001-8
Declassified in Part' - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T00936A010900170001-8
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11652
exemption category 513(1),(2),(3)
declassified only on approval of
the Director of Central Intelligence
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2016/06/14 : CIA-RDP79T009-36A010900170001-8
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF
17 July 1972
PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Communists maintain heavy pressure on South Viet-
namese units in Quang Tri Province
(Page 1)
Libyan leader, Qadhafi has survived another crisis,
apparently with the help of Egyptian President Sadat.
(Page 3)
On Page 4.
Cuba
Latin America.
FOR THE PRESIDENT ONLY
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2bAl
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North Vietnamese 312th Division Preparing to Move
IS1
312th Div
141st Regt
209th Regt
o 2,5 50 7,5Mlles
A 40 75KIlomaters
6-
7-72 CIA
553349
SOUTH
VIETNAM
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VIETNAM
The Communists maintained heavy pressure over
the weekend on South Vietnamese forces pushing to-
ward Quang Tri City. According to intercepts, the
Communists defending the city and the surrounding
areas intend to continue fighting and are using all
the firepower they can muster to repel the govern-
ment troops. Communist units have been directed to
concentrate heavy mortar and recoilless rifle fire
on South Vietnamese helicopters as soon as they try
to land. Even antiaircraft artillery batteries
have been ordered to use their guns against South
Vietnamese tanks and infantry.
In Thua Thien Province, the city of Hue was
again shelled, but damage and casualties were light.
There was only sporadic fighting in the rest of the
country.
The 165th Regiment of the North Vietnamese 312th
Division apparently has arrived-in South Vietnam.
Radio direction-finding of 15 July placed the regi-
ment in central Quang Tri Province, approximately
50 miles south of its location on 11 July. The regi-
ment's rapid deployment suggests that it will be
committed to combat soon.
The rest of the 312th Division may also be pre-
paring to move south. The division headquarters and
its other two regiments have given indications in
communications that they are about to move. The
division has ceased communications with a senior
military command in southern North Vietnam, which
suggests that the division may be leaving the coun-
try.
The 312th Division returned to North Viet-
nam from northern Laos in early May and has
spent the past two months refitting near
Vinh. The division has had adequate time
to replace its combat 'losses, but it is
doubtful if sufficient time has elapsed
for it to have restored all of its units
to full combat effectiveness.
The 312th is Hanoi's last remaining un-
committed line division, (the 316th Divi-
sion is still in north Laos), but there
are several training divisions in North
1
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Vietnam that could be pressed into serv-
ice if the leadership decided the need
were sufficiently great. The deployment
of the 312th to Quang Tri Province would
bring to five the number of enemy divi-
sions arrayed against government forces
in that area. These divisions are sup-
ported by a number of independent infan-
try, artillery., and armor regiments.
Most of these units have, however, taken
heavy losses.
There are signs that replacement personnel
are moving toward northern South Vietnam. Accord-
ing to an intercept of 13 July, at least eight in-
filtration groups have moved into the North Viet-
namese panhandle. No strength figures were given
in the intercept, but if the groups are about the
same size as others that moved south this year,
(about 500 men each), they could total several
thousand troops.
2
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LIBYA
A political crisis lasting two weeks has been
resolved with the appointment of a cabinet composed
mostly of civilians, but headed by Major Jallud, a
leading member of the Revolutionary Command Council
(RCC). The crisis arose because formation of the
cabinet had been intended by Qadhafi as the first
step toward the abolition of the RCC and the estab-
lishment of a Libyan political structure that would
bring it into conformity with the governments of
Egypt and Syria, its sister states of the Arab con-
federation.
A
compromise was arranged, apparently by Egyptian Presi-
dent Sadat, by which the RCC remains as the major
policy-making body, with the cabinet as its executive.
As president, Qadhafi will stay in over-all command.
There were apparently other concessions to the RCC;
instead of an all-civilian cabinet, this body in-
cludes Major al-Huni as Minister of Interior, and
Qadhafi once again as Minister of Defense. Like
Jallud, they are expected to keep their military
ranks.
Seven of the 16 civilian cabinet ministers
announced so far have served in a previous
cabinet. Two of the new ministers--for-
eign affairs and planning--are seasoned
professionals in their respective fields,
who are taking over newly created minis-
tries. Qadhafi formerly had personally
handled foreign affairs.
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CUBA - LATIN AMERICA
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NOTES
USSR - North Vietnam: The Soviet official re-
sponsible.for overseeing foreign aid programs, Dep-
uty Premier Novikov, met with the North Vietnamese
ambassador in Moscow on 13 July. It was the first
publicly announced meeting between-the two since
mid-May, and it could presage the announcement of a
new supplemental aid accord. The Chinese and the
North Vietnamese signed such an agreement on 29
June. The Soviets may have wanted to discuss with
the North Vietnamese some new approaches for dealing
with the Chinese about the transshipment of Soviet
supplies.
India-Pakistan: The Pakistani Army is reported
to have begun withdrawing artillery and heavy equip-
ment from the Wagah sector on the northeast portion
of its border with India, and troops emplaced.there
are no longer camouflaged... The US Consulate General
in Lahore believes this) indicates the Pakistanis are
beginning their withdrawal from Indian territory--as
called for in the Simla. Agreement--as well as pull-
ing back troops within Pakistan from the border area.
Wagah is on-the.main road from India to the impor-
tant city of Lahore.
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Top Secret
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