Undercover Armies - CIA FOIA - Central Intelligence Agency

C0530394 9
MANAGE.WENT 8 } EXTEMPORIZATlO/\
Hm,l( 1' // 0 fI"'.lidillg 11\'1'"
I'lIn/IlV/Or,flt' troops. I".
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ICuu rtt''iy of Bill Lair)
Other measures included a unilateral resumption of air reconnaissance, the
dispatch of more military training teams, and the recruitment of more Hrnong
irrcgulars. 26 D
President Kennedy approved just one of Rusk's proposals, the 2,OOO·man
addition to the Hmong guerrillas that would bring the total to 11,000. As
always, he sought to improve the RLG's position at the lowest possible level
of provocation to Hanoi and to the major communist powers. Accordingly, he
put on hold the suggestion for expansion into Sam Neua. The new weapons
would go only to strengthen the Xieng Khouang resistance and to consolidate
forces there and in Luang Prabang Province. But policy could change with circumstances.
and Washington wanted intelligence on resistance potential in
Sam Neua and adjacent tribal areas in North Vietnam. At the same time, concerned
about reported Soviet air support to communist infiltrators passing
through Tchepone, the administration called for reconnaissance of Routes 8
and 12, leading out of North Vietnam into the northern Panhandle. n O
J6 RuskMemorandum, "Plan forSoutheast Asia: O
SE1ETIIM R
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