Office of the Historian

139. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group1

Washington, February 26, 1971, 3:49–4:32 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Laos

PARTICIPATION

  • Chairman—Henry A. Kissinger
  • State
    • Mr. U. Alexis Johnson
    • Amb. William Sullivan
  • Defense
    • Mr. David Packard
    • Rear Adm. William R. Flanagan
  • CIA
    • Mr. Richard Helms
    • Mr. William Nelson
  • JCS
    • Lt. Gen. John W. Vogt
  • NSC Staff
    • Col. Richard T. Kennedy
    • Mr. John H. Holdridge
    • Mr. D. Keith Guthrie

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS

1.
Lao SGUs. The WSAG endorsed the plan submitted by the field calling for diversion of four Lao SGUs from Operation Oklahoma City to the southern edge of the Plaine des Jarres north of Ban Na.
2.
Thai SGUs. The WSAG requested immediate assessments of:
(a)
the comparative military advantages of employment of Thai SGUs or Thai regular troops in the defense of Long Tieng.
(b)
the legal issues involved in the use of Thai regular troops at Long Tieng.
(c)
the relative advantages of the two alternative plans proposed by the field for utilization of Thai SGUs to defend Long Tieng. This assessment should be based on appropriate consultation with the field and with the Thai Government.
3.
Air Support. The WSAG directed preparation of a survey of available Thai and US assets for air support of friendly troops in North Laos.

[Omitted here are the minutes of the meeting.]

  1. 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.↩