Recently recirculated Pentagon documents shed light on a chilling proposal from 1962 that might explain longstanding fears about releasing all files related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

The 12-page document, signed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), outlined a covert plan known as Operation Northwoods, which suggested committing acts of terrorism against American citizens to justify military action against Cuba.

The plan, now declassified, was part of a broader initiative to destabilize Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba. Among the proposals in the document was the idea of orchestrating a “false flag operation” in which acts of terror would be carried out in U.S. cities and blamed on Cuba.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News 'Terrifying'

The document explicitly stated, “We could develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities, and even in Washington.”

Further suggestions included staging attacks on U.S. military assets to incite public outrage.

“We could blow up a U.S. ship in Guantanamo Bay and blame Cuba,” the document read.

Another section proposed publishing casualty lists in newspapers to generate “a helpful wave of national indignation.”

American Made Patriotic Apparel - Save 15% with Promo Code MERICA

While Operation Northwoods was ultimately rejected by President John F. Kennedy, its existence has fueled decades of speculation about government secrecy.

Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, including claims involving foreign influence and shadowy government actions.

President Kennedy’s refusal to approve Operation Northwoods marked a critical moment in U.S.-Cuba relations.

The proposal was presented to then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1962 as part of a larger document titled Justification for U.S. Military Intervention in Cuba.

The memorandum was drafted by the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The plan was part of a broader CIA-led effort known as Operation Mongoose, which aimed to remove Castro from power through covert actions.

The proposal detailed strategies to simulate Cuban aggression, such as burning aircraft at U.S. air bases, planting bombs in American cities, and staging mock funerals for fake victims of Cuban attacks.

One portion of the document described a plan to sink a ship near a harbor and “conduct funerals for mock-victims.”

Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959, establishing Cuba as the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere.

His government strengthened ties with the Soviet Union, securing trade agreements and military support, while challenging U.S. capitalism and increasing taxes on American imports.

These actions strained relations with the United States, which, under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, began planning to overthrow Castro.

Eisenhower’s successor, President Kennedy, approved the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

This operation, which involved a brigade of CIA-backed Cuban exiles, failed disastrously, further escalating tensions.

In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war, reinforcing the Kennedy administration’s determination to neutralize Castro’s regime.

Operation Northwoods remained classified until nearly 40 years after its creation.

In 2001, the JFK Assassination Records Review Board released the document as part of a collection of over 1,500 pages of military records from 1962 to 1964.

Its release provided a rare glimpse into Cold War-era military strategies and the lengths some officials were willing to go to justify military intervention.

President Donald Trump has vowed to release all classified documents related to the JFK assassination.

Trump has criticized what he describes as the “Deep State,” an alleged group within the government that he believes wields undue influence over U.S. policy and worked to undermine his presidency.

By declassifying the remaining JFK files, Trump aims to expose potential government misconduct and provide answers to lingering questions about one of the most controversial events in American history.

The revelations about Operation Northwoods underscore the extent to which some officials were prepared to manipulate public opinion to achieve political goals.

The declassified documents not only provide insight into the Cold War mindset but also highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in government operations.