When the Soviet submarine K-129 vanished, the USSR launched a frantic, unsuccessful search. Unbeknownst to them, the U.S. had been listening. Using the SOSUS underwater microphone network, the CIA pinpointed the wreckage with mathematical precision. This wasn’t just a salvage mission; it was an attempt to steal the ‘passwords’ to the Soviet nuclear vault, including cryptographic equipment and missiles.

To pull a submarine from 5 kilometers deep, the CIA needed a cover story and a machine that defied logic. They commissioned the Hughes Glomar Explorer, a massive ship disguised as a manganese mining vessel. This technological beast was designed to:

• Maintain precise positioning in deep-sea storms.
• Operate a giant claw capable of lifting a mountain-sized vessel.
• Maintain absolute secrecy under the guise of civilian research.

As the giant claw finally lifted the submarine, the ocean floor’s pressure and the structural integrity of the vessel proved too much. A deafening crack echoed through the water as the claw snapped. Two-thirds of the submarine—including the most sensitive intelligence assets—plummeted back to the seabed. The mission, which cost hundreds of millions, resulted in the recovery of only a small bow section and the remains of six Soviet sailors.

The public scandal following the failed heist forced the CIA to develop a new way to handle inquiries. They coined the phrase, ‘We can neither confirm nor deny.’ This legal maneuver, now known as the ‘Glomar Response,’ allows agencies to avoid lying while simultaneously protecting state secrets. It remains a staple of government communication today. For more on how information is manipulated, see The Paradox of Big Lies.