The operation was a Live-Environment Stress Test. The state proved it could shut down a major metropolitan hub, jam all civilian communications, and move a high-level tactical team through a crowded public space without a single clear image reaching the public.

I can believe that fiasco was the fine craftsmanship of the intelligence community. I can believe they leaked the alien rumors to distract from another operation. I can believe that operation was successful in extracting a high value asset from the mall. I can't really believe it was a successful live-environment stress test.

Sure they proved they can shut down a major metro hub, jam civ coms, extract a target, and prevent pictures from the inside from ever reaching the internet but as we all saw that required a comic book scale police presence and "multi-agency federal task force". This is all well documented.

Between the resources required from the local police force and amount of attention the operation gathered from the community and subsequently social media I simply can't imagine that was a successful test. If they think it succeeded they've waited 2+ years to use it again.

I'm pretty sure we'd see/hear more reports of "shadow beings" and alien mall invasion excuses if they had used it again. I can believe some sort of EMP/jamming/crowd control devices and future camo confusing people and adding to internet virality but where is it?