As I understand that one (and mindful of kicking off debates)

There is no evidence that the US blew up the Maine as a pretext to start a war with Spain. The best evidence suggests it was an accident (although no-one can be sure). The incident was however cynically used by the US government who encouraged speculation that it was mined by the Spanish, although, again, it's not clear that it directly led to the US-Spanish war (as I recall)

Posted By: BerlinCanary, Oct 7, 21:59:38