(January 24, 2002) Operation Northwoods: The Counterfeit

In "Operation 911: NO SUICIDE PILOTS" I referred to a plan allegedly hatched by Pentagon brass in the 1960s to commit terrorist acts and use them as a pretext for war with Cuba.

The plan was called "Operation Northwoods."

Operation Northwoods was unknown to the American public until May, 2001, when details were released in James Bamford's new book, "Body of Secrets" (Doubleday). Bamford summarizes:

. .. the plan, which had the written approval of the Chairman and every member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called for innocent people to be shot on American streets; for boats carrying refugees fleeing Cuba to be sunk on the high seas; for a wave of violent terrorism to be launched in Washington, D.C., Miami, and elsewhere. People would be framed for bombings they did not commit; planes would be hijacked. Using phony evidence, all of it would be blamed on Castro, thus giving Lemnitzer [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] and his cabal the excuse, as well as the public and international backing, they needed to launch their war.