Shocking JFK docs show US had plans to murder Cuban refugees -- then blame Castro to start a war

Some of the newly released documents related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination reveal shocking details about plans developed by the United States government to depose the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

As Miami New Times reports, a set of documents related to Operation Mongoose -- which was the Central Intelligence Agency's plot to remove Castro from power -- show that the U.S. at one point considered staging terrorist attacks against Cuban refugees that were either headed to or were already residing within the country.

A paper approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1962 outlined a plan to create a pretext for invading Cuba and overthrowing the Castro regime that involved killing refugees and then pinning the blame on Castro's government.

"We could develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area," the report read. "The terror campaign could be pointed at Cuban refugees seeking haven within the United States. We could sink a boatload of Cubans en route to Florida (real or simulated)."

The report also suggested committing attacks on refugees already within the country, as well as "exploding a few plastic bombs in carefully chosen spots" to make it look as though the Cuban government was attacking people trying to flee to Florida.

The report also said the staged attacks could coincide with "the release of prepared documents substantiating Cuban involvement" to help turn the tide of global opinion against the tiny communist nation.

Miami New Times notes that these plans were never carried out, although that doesn't make their inclusion in a report signed off by the Joint Chiefs of Staff any less of a shock.