(04-07-2025, 01:24 PM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: Still down with no vital signs. I think it's time to call it, say a few words, and make funeral arrangements.
I had a thought come to mind that maybe ATS was some alphabet operation that got the ax after DOGE made cuts. If true, I finally have something to complain about regarding Trump's administration.
I think you may be onto something with this, but I had a little variation on that thought. My theory is, it wasn't some alphabet agency, I don't think ATS, certainly near the end, was big enough for that. What I do think though is that possibly some PAC or similar group might have been keeping it afloat to see what kind of intel (aka, dirt) they might be able to pick up, or conjure up, on their opponent(s). And, this PAC (or whatever) was skimming money from one of the agencies or departments which DOGE exposed. Possibly like USAid, for example. They probably had their fingers into a whole bunch of other stuff too, and as long as the American taxpayer was giving them free money, well, why not?
Additionally, I use the words "pick up" and "conjure up" in two different contexts. By "pick up", I mean maybe see something that they weren't aware of which they can use to stack the deck against a rival. Conversely, but "conjure up", I mean try to uncover or expose some sort of an extremist group forming, or some kind of a plan, which they could use against an opponent. Two completely different objectives with the same ultimate goal.
In any case, I think the notion ATS's recent demise might have been a result of collateral damage due to some other (unrelated) action is not out of the realm of possibilities. The simple fact it was down for nearly 2+ months and then mysteriously popped back up again with no explanation is pretty good evidence (I think) that 'something' wonky was going on there.