That time the Joint Chiefs approved a plan to stage attacks as pretext for war

tall73

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Operation Northwoods was a plan drawn up that discussed the possibility of provoking war with Cuba in a way that would make the USA seem justified. Fortunately JFK did not implement the plan.

Do you think the US would ever implement such a plan in other circumstances? Would it be justified to do so if it maintained US Hegemony?

Here are the memorandum which document the plans. They are only 15 pages, and an interesting read:

https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu//news/20010430/doc1.pdf

Wikipedia entry on the subject:
Operation Northwoods - Wikipedia

Essentially the plan was to use deceit to justify war. Here were the various means suggested in summary form for those who don't want to read the links:

- Provide a climate of tension in which the United States would appear to have justifiable grievances, in world opinion.

- Develop the notion that the Cuban government s rash and irresponsible, unpredictable, and a threat.

- Do this before Cuba can enter into any joint-defense agreement with the USSR (we want a war with Cuba, not the USSR).

Some of the proposed scenarios revolving around the base at Guantanamo:

- Stage a riot using friendly Cubans outside of facility
- set fires or blow up aircraft on base and allege sabotage.
- fire mortars on the base and blame Cubans.
- Capture assault teams coming from city
- Sabotage ship in harbor
- Sink ship in harbor and have mock funerals
- Arrange a "remember the Maine operation" by bombing a US ship
- Arrange for a drone ship to be attacked in Cuban waters. The presence of Cuban vessels investigating the ship would be used as evidence of attack. We could have an evacuation crew go to save the non-existent crew. Casualty lists in US newspapers would give national indignation.

Beyond Guantanamo:

- Start a communist Cuban terror campaign in Miami, or Washington, pointed out Cuban refugees seeking haven.
- Could sink a boat of Cuban refugees (real or simulated)
- Could stage attacks on Cubans in the US, to the point of wounding, to be widely publicized.
- Explode bombs, and bring forth documents showing Cuban involvement.
- Stage Cuban air strikes on neighboring Caribbean nations.
- Hijacking attempts against air and surface craft blamed on Cubans.
- Stage an incident in which Cuba shoots down an aircraft carrying US passengers.
-Stage an unprovoked attack on a US military plane by simulated Cuban MIGS
 
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wing2000

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Do you think the US would ever implement such a plan in other circumstances?

With the current National Security Advisor? You bet.

Would it be justified to do so if it maintained US Hegemony?

No. In any case, China has been partying in our backyard for some time now.
 
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tall73

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This seems like a rather apt subject to talk about today, of all days...

Yes, the day's events were part of the thought process. It is just hard to know how much of any government's account to believe when it comes to conflicts.
 
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Kentonio

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I think the Bay of Pigs had a whole lot to do with the Democratic President not going through with any actions. Except bringing us close to nuclear war.

I’m confused. Until recently you were declaring yourself a Democrat, yet now you seem to dislike the previous Democratic administrations as well as the current party. Could you just clear things up for me and state during what period you were actually a Democrat please?
 
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hislegacy

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I’m confused. Until recently you were declaring yourself a Democrat, yet now you seem to dislike the previous Democratic administrations as well as the current party. Could you just clear things up for me and state during what period you were actually a Democrat please?

Start a thread on me and I’ll reply.

However, this thread is not about me.

Many thanks
 
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