1846 May 11 - False Flag 2: After his offer to forgive $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens in exchange for Mexico's California and New Mexico territories was rejected, President James K. Polk orders U.S. troops into disputed territory on the Texas-Mexican border to provoke a Mexican response. In a message to Congress President James K. Polk falsely stated that Mexico had "invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil" to initiate the Mexican-American War, and seize the territories by force.