This Top Secret mission called for the US to attack Miami

Operation Northwoods: It sounds like the title of a suspenseful military thriller. But this isn't a work of fiction; it was a top-secret plan developed by the DoD and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1962. The objective? To justify U.S. military intervention in Cuba. But here's the real kicker: the plan included staging false-flag operations, even acts of terrorism, on U.S. soil. Yeah, you heard it right. Let's delve into the infamous Operation Northwoods and why it never saw the light of day.

The architect behind Operation Northwoods was none other than General Lyman Lemnitzer, a highly decorated officer who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time. Born on August 29, 1899, Lemnitzer had an impressive military career, serving in World War II and the Korean War before rising to the top military position in the Pentagon. He was not alone in this endeavor. Every service branch chief backed his proposal and was part of a larger strategy document, memorably dubbed "Justification for U.S. Military Intervention in Cuba," stamped with the code "A TOP SECRET – Sensitive." Apparently, the clever op-namer wasn't available that day.

The date was March 13, 1962, when this chilling plan landed on the desk of Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy. Even McNamara, a former Ford Motor Company executive who became the Pentagon chief, must have felt shocked. He was famous for his analytical approach to defense issues. The situation was highly precarious, with the Cold War reaching one of its numerous high-water marks.

The target was Cuba, a tiny island nation only 90 miles off the coast of Florida but a massive thorn in America's side since Fidel Castro had led a Communist revolution there in 1959. Relations between the United States and Cuba were more than just frosty; they were sub-zero. Operation Northwoods aimed to capitalize on this hostility, fueling the fire for an all-out U.S. invasion. The plan sought to manipulate public opinion and provide a real or imagined pretext for toppling Castro and his Communist regime.

It's hard to fathom today, but the lengths to which Operation Northwoods was prepared to go to in order to justify an invasion of Cuba were truly staggering. Here's a breakdown of the four main elements of the operation:

Imagine U.S. commercial planes lifting off from Miami International Airport or other American runways. CIA operatives or other U.S. personnel pilot these planes, executing a mid-flight "hijacking" while keeping the passengers in the dark. Authorities then report these flights as missing or even destroyed, blaming Cuban militants for the incidents.

Remember that famous battle cry, "Remember the Maine?" Under Operation Northwoods, planners envisioned something similar happening. Only this time, the ship would then be deliberately sunk, but not before the crew was secretly evacuated. The wreckage would serve as a silent witness, accusing Cuba of an unprovoked attack on American forces.

The plan went so far as to consider carrying out terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Locations like Miami, Washington, D.C., and even New York City were potential targets. Bombs would go off in busy marketplaces or train stations, and again, Cuba would be framed as the instigator.

A sustained media operation was also in the works. Forged documents implicating Cuban leaders, fake news stories, and even staged incidents involving Cuban "defectors" were all on the table. The aim was to rile up the American public and the international community, fanning the flames of anti-Cuban sentiment.

It's one thing to concoct a plan, but it's an entirely different beast to get it approved and put into action. Turns out, that was the fate of Operation Northwoods. The proposal was too audacious even for the high-stakes game of Cold War politics. When Gen. Lemnitzer presented the plan to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, McNamara greeted it with less than enthusiasm. In turn, he chose not to endorse it.

President John F. Kennedy was likewise appalled. Known for his charisma and political savvy, JFK was also a veteran of World War II and deeply aware of the ethical dimensions of warfare. A deceptive plan against the American public was too much for him. It could cause loss of life and justify war against Cuba. So, he fired Lemnitzer that year. General Maxwell Taylor took his place as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The documents detailing Operation Northwoods were immediately classified, locked away in the vaults of government secrecy. There they remained for decades, a sort of Pandora's Box that many hoped would never see the light of day. Yet, they eventually did. In 1997, these shocking plans were finally declassified and released to the public. The unveiling came as part of a larger trove of documents related to the assassination of JFK, and they were first noted in James Bamford's book "Body of Secrets." The revelation sent ripples across the nation, igniting controversies and debates about governmental ethics, military oversight, and the very principles upon which the United States was founded.