10 Terrifying Government Plots That Nearly Succeeded

10. Operation Dirty Trick

The Objective: Blame Fidel Castro if the 1962 Project Mercury manned space flight, in order to further discredit the Cuban communist regime. The Plan: The CIA planned to have special electronic parts manufactured, which would provide "irrevocable" proof that any failings to do with the launch or flight were due to Cuban sabotage. While the organisation didn't go so far as to actively sabotage the Mercury flight themselves, they hoped that its potential failure might prove beneficial in sowing discontent among the Cuban people. Why it failed: Thankfully, Project Mercury was a success. John Glenn, one of the astronauts aboard the experimental Mercury spacecraft became the first American to reach orbit on the 20th of February, 1962, and no 'dirty trick' was needed.