Operation Northwoods: The Cold War Plot That Almost Was

Operation Northwoods was a proposed false-flag operation developed in 1962 by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At the height of Cold War tensions, the plan suggested carrying out acts of terrorism *against American civilians and military targets*, with the intent of blaming them on Cuba. The goal? To justify a U.S. invasion of the island and remove Fidel Castro from power.

The proposed tactics included staging hijackings, sinking boats carrying Cuban refugees, and orchestrating violent incidents in U.S. cities. The plan was shocking in its scope and moral implications.

Fortunately, President John F. Kennedy rejected the proposal, and it was never executed.

Declassified in the 1990s, Operation Northwoods remains a chilling reminder of how far elements of government were willing to go in the name of national security—and why transparency and checks on power are essential in any democracy.