130. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group1
SUBJECT
- Military Operations in North Laos, South Laos, and Cambodia
PARTICIPANTS
- Chairman
- Henry A. Kissinger
- State
- Mr. U. Alexis Johnson
- Mr. William H. Sullivan
-
JCS
- Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
- Lt. Gen. John W. Vogt
- Defense
- Mr. David Packard
- Mr. Dennis J. Doolin
-
CIA
- Mr. Richard Helms
- Mr. George Carver
-
NSC
- Mr. John H. Holdridge
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
The group discussed the Lam Son operation, noting that enemy resistance had not been heavy but that the ARVN was slow in moving on to the main roads of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Further hard fighting was anticipated. A move on Tchepone was projected within the next 3–5 days. Truck kills had been heavy. Operation Desert Rat, consisting of six battalions (4 in blocking positions and 2 in reverse), was operating against Rt. 23 in coordination with Lam Son 719. Good progress was being made in the Chhup Plantation operation.
In North Laos, the Long Tieng area was being hard-pressed, and Vang Pao had been shaken by the heavy rocket and mortar attack on his headquarters. 1800 Thai and Nam U reinforcements had been moved in, and good B–52 and tacair support was being provided; however, heavy fighting was anticipated over the next 6–8 weeks.
It was noted that guidance should be provided to posts abroad on the U.S. role in Laos, and that the question of a Tag Board reconnaissance mission over Communist China would be referred to the President.
[Omitted here are the minutes of the meeting.]
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H-115, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting began at 12:07 p.m ended at 1:06. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 438, Miscellany, 1968-76)↩