Operation Northwoods
1962 Joint Chiefs proposal to stage false-flag terror attacks on American civilians and blame Cuba to justify war.
Overview
Operation Northwoods was a series of proposals by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to stage acts of terrorism against American military and civilian targets, blaming them on the Cuban government, to gain public support for a war against Cuba. The plans were drafted by senior U.S. military leaders, including Chairman Lyman Lemnitzer, and formally presented to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13, 1962. President Kennedy rejected the proposals.
Timeline
- 1962-03-13JCS Chairman Lemnitzer submits the plan to SecDef McNamara.
- 1962-03-16Kennedy rejects the proposals; Lemnitzer is removed as JCS Chairman.
- 1997-11-18Document declassified and released by the JFK Assassination Records Review Board.
Evidence on Record
- 01Original 14-page memorandum from JCS to SecDef, signed by Brigadier General Edward Lansdale
- 02National Security Archive document holdings (George Washington University)
Theories & Disputes
Proposed actions included sinking U.S. ships, hijacking civilian aircraft, and orchestrating terrorist acts in Miami and Washington.
Used as a foundational case study in modern 'false flag' analysis by historians.