Document Analysis #1
Lansdale, Edward. United States of America. National Security Agency. Memorandum for the Special Group. Washington D.C.: Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1962. Web. <http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/620725 Review of Op. Mongoose.pdf>.
This primary source serves the purpose of documenting the discussion on the effectiveness of the first phase of Operation Mongoose. It begins by stating the purpose of “Phase I,” including gathering hard intelligence on Cuba, figuring out a way to attack Cuba with reasonable U.S. support (this is where Operation Northwoods came into being), and maintaining normalcy within overt operations as not to arise suspicion. After these requisites were stated, Lansdale writes that the operation was within the “noise” and “visibility” limits imposed prior to the beginning of Mongoose. Lansdale then goes into greater detail on CIA involvement in the intelligence gathering aspects of Operation Mongoose. Under the political section of the operation, an unexpected conference came up. This is the Punta del Este conference, and is mentioned as an important turning point in isolating Cuba and Castro specifically. Lansdale does not, however, go into any more detail on this conference. I have also researched it, and I have found little conclusive information on this conference. Lansdale was an expert on psychological warfare in Vietnam, so he goes into great detail under the “Psychological” title. He discusses covert propaganda in the U.S. as well as Cuba, and is the basis of Operation Northwoods. There are several more titles as the document continues, for example “Economics,” and “Intervention Planning.” Finally, there is a projection into “Phase II” of Operation Mongoose. Most of the suggestions moving forward are relatively mild, but one, the precursor to Operation Northwoods, involved “[Using] a provocation and overthrow the Castro-Communist regime by U.S. military force.” This document is mostly factual, but what I can say is that, knowing what comes out of this review of Phase I, it marks the calm before the storm. It has a subtle undertone necessitating more extreme measures. These are in fact focused on during Phase II of Operation Mongoose, as well as Operation Northwoods. The extreme nature of the following operation astounds me.
Document Analysis #2
Anonymous, Anonymous. "THE TOP 40." 9/11 Truth . 9/11 Truth Movement, n.d. Web. 28 Feb 2012. <http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20041221155307646>.
The 9/11 Truth Movement is one of the main topics of concern in my paper. This is because the only physical evidence (although they would argue otherwise by way of yet more conspiracies) that something so extreme could occur is Operation Northwoods. In this document, we are given 40 reasons why the U.S. was either complacent or even in on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The 39 other reasons are almost completely consisting of hypothetical questions, and you can almost feel the lunacy and paranoia in a few. For example number 5: “Did the Shanksville Crash occur at 10:06 (according to a seismic report) or 10:03 (according to the 9/11 Commission)?” The seismic report isn’t cited. Nothing is.
This continues for a reasonable amount of time (too long) until finally #39 comes along. Northwoods is cited along with a statement that the U.S. has a history of “False Flag” operations, none of which can be proved (but you can’t prove the didn’t happen! Except for Northwoods, that was proved to be real, but more importantly no one acted on it). There are a lot of loony assumptions throughout this document, none of which are backed by any evidence, with the exception of a few links to other sites (sister sites) of 9/11 Truth. Not even the one piece of evidence that can be backed, Operation Northwoods, is. This is partially because the U.S. never went through with it (thank goodness). However, the Truth Movement does have a solid base of support, after all it’s still in existence, so the movement itself can’t be disregarded. People like creating paradigm shifts, and if anything the “Truthers” say were found true, there would certainly be one.
Document Analysis #3
Roberts, Paul. "The Road to Armageddon ." 9/11 Truth . 9/11 Truth Movement, 2/25/2010. Web. 29 Feb 2012. <http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20100226025637240>.
This is not a happy man. The whole article, similar to many on the Truth Movement’s site, is blanketed with an anti-government, “they’re out to get us” point of view. Again, Northwoods is brought up as a counterpoint to the idea that our government, in Roberts’ words, “is some kind of morally pure operation.” I’m sorry, but as I’m rereading this Mr. Roberts’ crazy is showing more and more. But this is the problem, because Operation Northwoods exists these people will always have an argument, and they haven’t stopped arguing it, either. This article was published in 2010. I may have to do more digging on this author, as his bio states he was at one time the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and a former Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal. This, then, is quite a tangent from what he knows. Northwoods is sprinkled (heavily) throughout this piece and is a good example of how conspiracy theorists have been and are using Northwoods as a support net for their claims. Because sadly, however ludicrous they are, Operation Northwoods and in effect Mongoose as well match these shots in the dark.
Document Analysis #4
Nimmo, Kurt. "9/11 Proof." 9/11 Proof. www.911proof.com, 04 04 2007. Web. 29 Feb 2012.
This website (the front page is the document I’m citing, which I’ll explain) put a new spin on 9/11 conspiracies for me. There are several links scattered throughout the page, leading to more sources “disproving” that 9/11 was thought up and acted upon by terrorists. However, what I found most intriguing was that religion played no role in this page with the exception of one instance. On the home page, it states, “Are you a Christian? A special welcome!” then proceeds to give a link to an article discussing Christian support of these conspiracies. I need to be careful not to overstep my bounds and create wild conjectures (as these movements tend to), but I had never really thought of the religious aspect of this tragic event in the context of conspiracies. The way I see it, bringing religion into conspiracies is tenuous at best, and from what I’ve seen The Truth Movement and the likes have overstepped their religious authority on the issue, further degrading the message. But, as per usual, this document ends with Operation Northwoods and other “false flag” operations. As the base of 9/11 conspiracies begin to crumble due to the ineptitude of their most vocal advocates, Northwoods is becoming more and more important.
