Is "Operation Northwoods" Disinformation?

It seems that way.

Carol Valentine (who tends to go a little nutso on the 9/11 Israel angle in my opinion) makes a good case that the Operation Northwoods story (released by James Bamford in his book on the NSA "Body of Secrets") is controlled disinformation.

The "Operation Northwoods" story is an attempt by the NSA to discredit or throw dirt on the Pentagon, according to Valentine.

In truth, I was always a little skeptical of the "Operation Northwoods" story, as interesting as it is. Not that I doubted the premise-- I just doubted that these unearthed documents really appeared suddenly when Bamford found them. The story had a surreal, planted feel to it. The question is why did this story come out when it did (May 2001)?

Thus, a different possibility for the "Operation Northwoods" story is that the NSA had wind of the 9/11 plan by the Pentagon, and was giving some disguised forewarning.

But if nothing else, the story was very prophetic, and has given conspiracy theorists a lot to chew on.

Was "Operation Northwoods" released to stoke conspiracy theories, or as some sort of warning?

Heck if I know.