Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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this would mean as many as possible of the following: Vientiane, Paksane, Thakhek, Seno, Savannakhet, and Pakse. It is not contemplated that the forces would occupy any areas held by opposition forces such as Xieng Khouang or the Plaine des Jarres.
4. Upon the completion of the initial deployments of SEATO Plan 5 military actions will be expanded as follows:
- a. Thai augmentation forces will operate in the Sayabouri Province area to include the town of Luang Prabang.
- b. South Vietnamese Forces of a minimum of a Regimental Combat Team will operate in Laos along the common border between the two countries.
- c. SEATO forces occupying Mekong River areas will support and assist the Royal Lao Forces in cleaning Communist forces from the areas of Northern Laos bordering Thailand and from all of Southern Laos (panhandle).
Initial Rules of Engagement
1. Short of expanded Viet Minh or Chinese Communist intervention or a broad Pathet-Lao offensive, the forces employed in Laos would occupy and secure the selected areas together with airfields and Mekong River crossing in the vicinity. They would take counterguerrilla action as necessary to protect lines of communication, would prevent harassing action against their position and would resist any forces attacking their positions.
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