THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF - 1968/01/31

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05974253
• Document Creation Date: July 27, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 C05974253
The President's Daily Brief
ecret 31 January 1968
23
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164
THAILAND
V. 165
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69457 1-68 CIA
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DAILY BRIEF
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31
JANUARY
1968
1.
South Vietnam
At last word, Communist
forces
(as of
5:30 AM
were continuing their attacks
against
EST)
various cities and key allied
military
2.
NR
TOP RET
and civil installations. In Saigon it-
self, sporadic sniping was continuing
in various parts of the city well into
the day, but many of the Viet Cong ter-
rorists were withdrawing across the
river.\
terrorists capture. 'tir-
ing the raids claim that additional at-
tacks are planned for the city tonight.
So far the area around Khe Sanh
remains relatively quiet, but the Com-
munist build-up there remains the most
ominous in the country.
The spectacular series of Communist
attacks seems designed mainly for the
shock effect. The Communists are ap-
parently out to demonstrate to all con-
cerned that they are still a powerful
force capable of seriously disrupting
the country, if only temporarily.
The extensive harassment of US air-
fields, logistical centers, and command
and communications centers appears de-
signed also to inhibit immediate allied
reaction and retaliation. It could be
preparatory to or intended to support
early Communist offensive operations
just south of the Demilitarized Zone.
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LAOS
CHINA
THAILAND
NORTH
VIETNAM
Hoo
Binh
Moung Hiem�
Na�
Khans
.Cuci Rao
�c. hammou
Udon Thani
ThivIche
1:21 Communist-controlled
� territory
69456 1-68 CIA
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NR
3, Laos
NR
4.
5.
TOP RET
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Signs are growing that the Commu-
nists are preparing for a major effort
to drive government forces from the
key counterinsurgent base at Phou Pha
Thi. Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese
troops have already taken up positions
encircling the base, which provides im-
portant navigational support for US
air operations over North Vietnam. (Map)
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NR
NR
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To
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)1" critt
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EYES ONLY
Special Daily Report on North Vietnam
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31 January 1968
16
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RET
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* * *
Front to Open Office in Tanzania: The Libera-
tion 'Front's continuing effort to improve its dip-
lomatic representation abroad has taken another
step forward. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere,
announced on 29 January that his government has
agreed to allow the Front to set up a permanent
representation in Dar Es Salaam. When staffed,
this post will be the first Front representation
in sub-Sahara Africa, the third on the continent,
and the fifth in the Free World. The Front also
has representations or agreements for representa-
tions in all Communist countries except Yugoslavia.
* * *
Foreign Visitors: Hanoi may be easing its re-
strictions of the past several weeks on admitting
foreign visitors.7
Since early December the North Vietnamese had con-
sistently turned down requests from foreign writers
for permission to enter the country.
* * *
Manpower:
TOP
although the war had taken many of the young men
away from the area, there were sufficient women and
children to take their places on the farms; crops
did not seem to have suffered. This report is in
RET
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line with other information which has suggested that
manpower problems are not yet a significant factor
affecting agricultural production.
* * *
II. NORTH VIETNAMESE REFLECTIONS OF US POLITICAL
ATTITUDES ON THE WAR
Nothing significant to report at this time.
TO ECRET
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cret
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