Lyman Lemnitzer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers a proposal, called Operation Northwoods, regarding performing terrorist attacks upon Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The proposal is scrapped and President John F. Kennedy removes Lemnitzer from his position.

Lyman Louis Lemnitzer, an influential United States Army general, dedicated his life to service, holding significant roles during a tumultuous period of global politics. Born on August 29, 1899, Lemnitzer’s distinguished career saw him rise to become the fourth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1960 to 1962. Following this crucial leadership position, he further served as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO, a pivotal role in transatlantic security, from 1963 until his retirement in 1969. His tenure at the helm of the Joint Chiefs coincided with a particularly tense era of the Cold War, a period marked by escalating tensions with the Soviet Union and its allies, most notably Cuba.

It was within this charged atmosphere that a highly controversial and now infamous proposal, known as Operation Northwoods, originated in 1962 from within the US Department of Defense. This audacious plan outlined a series of proposed false flag operations designed to provoke public support for a military invasion of Cuba. The core concept was chillingly simple yet profoundly disturbing: CIA operatives would either stage or actually commit acts of terrorism against American military and civilian targets, subsequently blaming these horrific acts on the Cuban government. The ultimate goal was to create a pretext, a seemingly justifiable cause, for a full-scale war against Fidel Castro's Cuba.

The specific proposals detailed within the Operation Northwoods documents painted a grim picture of potential government-orchestrated violence. These included the unthinkable: orchestrating the assassination of Cuban immigrants, sinking boats carrying Cuban refugees on the high seas, hijacking commercial airplanes with the intention of shooting them down (or creating the appearance of them being shot down), blowing up a United States Navy ship, and even orchestrating violent acts of terrorism within U.S. cities. The architects of the plan believed these fabricated incidents would generate outrage and solidify public opinion in favor of military intervention.

The historical backdrop to Operation Northwoods is crucial for understanding its genesis. Fidel Castro had seized power in Cuba in 1959, rapidly transforming the island nation. His new government began incorporating communists, nationalized U.S. businesses without compensation, and crucially, forged closer ties with the Soviet Union. This shift, occurring just ninety miles from American shores, deeply concerned the U.S. military and political establishment, intensifying Cold War anxieties and fears of Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere. The proponents of Operation Northwoods aimed to exploit these fears, proposing a strategy to manipulate public perception by falsely implicating Cuba in fabricated acts of terror that would, in reality, be perpetrated by the U.S. government itself.

To achieve this, the Operation Northwoods proposals recommended a systematic approach: orchestrating hijackings and bombings, followed by the meticulous introduction of phony evidence specifically designed to implicate the Cuban government. The document explicitly articulated its desired outcome: "The desired result from the execution of this plan would be to place the United States in the apparent position of suffering defensible grievances from a rash and irresponsible government of Cuba and to develop an international image of a Cuban threat to peace in the Western Hemisphere." This statement clearly illustrates the intent to create a false narrative that would justify aggressive military action.

Beyond the broad strokes, the operation encompassed several other proposals for real or simulated actions targeting various U.S. military and civilian sites. One particularly alarming recommendation was to develop a "Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities and even in Washington." This chilling suggestion involved the bombing of civilian targets, which would then be attributed to the "irresponsible" Cuban government. The intention was clear: to paint a false and terrifying image of Fidel Castro’s regime and deliberately misinform the American public, pushing them towards a consensus for war.

This extraordinary plan was meticulously drafted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a body representing the highest military leadership of the United States. It was personally signed by Chairman Lyman Lemnitzer and subsequently forwarded to the Secretary of Defense. Despite being an integral part of the broader US government's anti-communist "Cuban Project" — a series of covert operations aimed at destabilizing Castro’s regime — Operation Northwoods itself was never officially accepted. Although it received authorization from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was ultimately rejected by President John F. Kennedy, who reportedly dismissed the plan outright. Consequently, none of the audacious false flag operations proposed under the auspices of Operation Northwoods ever became active, preventing a potentially catastrophic escalation of the Cold War.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lyman Lemnitzer and Operation Northwoods

Who was Lyman Louis Lemnitzer?
Lyman Louis Lemnitzer was a prominent United States Army general who served as the fourth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1960 to 1962. He later became the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO from 1963 to 1969, playing a key role in U.S. and international military leadership during the Cold War.
What was Operation Northwoods?
Operation Northwoods was a proposed false flag operation drafted in 1962 by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. It detailed plans for the U.S. government to stage acts of terrorism against American targets, falsely blame them on the Cuban government, and use these fabricated incidents as justification for a war against Cuba.
What was the historical context for Operation Northwoods?
The operation was conceived during the intense Cold War period, shortly after Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959. Castro's alignment with the Soviet Union, nationalization of U.S. businesses, and the introduction of communists into his government raised significant security concerns for the U.S., prompting various efforts to destabilize his regime.
What types of actions were proposed in Operation Northwoods?
The proposals included extremely provocative acts such as assassinating Cuban immigrants, sinking boats of Cuban refugees, hijacking and shooting down planes, blowing up a U.S. ship, and orchestrating violent terrorist attacks in American cities, all to be blamed on Cuba.
Was Operation Northwoods ever implemented?
No, Operation Northwoods was never implemented. Although it was drafted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and signed by Chairman Lyman Lemnitzer, it was ultimately rejected by President John F. Kennedy, preventing any of the proposed false flag operations from becoming active.