Operation Northwoods
A 1962 proposal by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to stage false flag terrorist attacks on American soil to justify war against Cuba.
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW
Operation Northwoods was a set of false flag proposals presented by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in March 1962. The plans included staging terrorist bombings in American cities, hijacking planes, and even sinking a ship in Guantanamo Bay — all to be blamed on the Cuban government to generate public support for military intervention. The proposals were signed by General Lyman Lemnitzer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. President John F. Kennedy rejected the proposals and subsequently removed Lemnitzer from his position. The documents were declassified in the 1990s.
KEY CLAIMS
The U.S. military proposed attacking its own citizens to justify war
Plans included real casualties among American civilians and military personnel
The operation would have involved staging the shooting down of a civilian airliner
President Kennedy rejected the proposals and the Joint Chiefs resented his decision
The willingness to kill American citizens for strategic goals reveals a pattern of military deception
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The declassified Operation Northwoods memorandum is authentic and originated from the Joint Chiefs
The document bears General Lemnitzer's signature and full military formatting
Specific proposals include detailed plans for 'terrorist' acts in Miami and Washington
The document was released by the National Security Archive under FOIA in the 1990s
Lemnitzer was indeed removed by Kennedy in 1962, consistent with the timeline
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
The proposals were never approved by the Secretary of Defense or President Kennedy
The Joint Chiefs may have been presenting 'worst case' options for dramatic effect
No elements of the plan were ever implemented
It is unknown whether Lemnitzer genuinely supported the proposals or was forwarding options
The proposals may have been designed to demonstrate the difficulty of justifying intervention
TIMELINE
Northwoods memorandum presented to Secretary McNamara
Kennedy administration rejects the proposals
Lemnitzer removed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Documents declassified by the National Security Archive
KEY FIGURES
Lyman Lemnitzer
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
John F. Kennedy
President who rejected the proposals
Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense who received the memorandum
ORGANIZATIONS
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
Military
Department of Defense
Government
SOURCES
RELATED ENTITIES
PEOPLE
Lyman Lemnitzer
John F. Kennedy
Robert McNamara
ORGANIZATIONS
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
Department of Defense
LOCATIONS
Cuba
EVENTS
Northwoods memorandum presented to Secretary McNamara
1962-03-13
Kennedy administration rejects the proposals
1962-03-16
Lemnitzer removed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
1962-09
Documents declassified by the National Security Archive
1990s