The Avengers Initiative

The Avengers Initiative (a.k.a Phase 1) was a secret project created by S.H.I.E.L.D. to create the Avengers, a team composed of powerful beings that would respond to any dangerous global threats which are too great to be dealt with on Earth.

The Initiative was scrapped by the World Security Council after the alien incursion in New Mexico in favor of a weapons development program known as Phase 2. It was eventually activated in 2012 during the War for Earth.