US Covert Operation to Blame Cuba Failed to be Executed
The relationship between the United States and Cuba was extremely tense in the early 1960s. In fact, the US once planned a plane hijacking operation to blame Cuba.
As reported by ABC News, in the early 1960s, top US military leaders reportedly devised a plan to kill innocent people. They intended to carry out acts of terrorism in American cities to create public support for war against Cuba.
Under the code name Operation Northwoods, the plan was reportedly able to be carried out in various ways. Some of these included killing Cuban immigrants, sinking ships carrying Cuban refugees at sea, hijacking planes, blowing up US ships and even staging terrorist attacks in American cities.
The plan was developed as a way to deceive the American public and the international community into supporting a war to overthrow the then-Cuban communist leader, Fidel Castro.
Top US military officials even considered causing casualties on the US military side.
“We could blow up a US ship in Guantanamo Bay and blame Cuba,” the report said.
“A list of casualties in an American newspaper would cause a wave of national anger that would be beneficial,” it added.
Failed to be Executed Because It Was Rejected by Civilian Leaders
The details of the plan are explained in more detail in the book Body of Secrets (Doubleday) by investigative journalist James Bamford, which was published in 2007. This book contains the history of America’s largest intelligence agency, the National Security Agency (NSA). However, the plan is not related to this agency.
The plan had been approved in writing by all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and presented to the Secretary of Defense during President John F. Kennedy’s administration, Robert McNamara, in March 1962. However, the plan was rejected by civilian leaders and remained classified for nearly 40 years.
“This is a document from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The reason why this document has been kept secret for so long is because the Joint Chiefs of Staff never wanted to reveal it because it was very embarrassing,” said Bamford.
The documents of this covert operation show that the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff devised and approved an operational plan. In fact, this failed operation is considered one of the most shameful events for the US.
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