They've been prepping and softening up the public over the past year or so, I'm sure you've all noticed. But I don't think this is a presage to anything soon - more like they're setting up a Chekov's Aliens, if you will. The aliens have been hung upon the wall, but it's still the first act - I wouldn't expect them to go off for at least a couple years.

They are setting it up so it's like a fire extinguisher - break glass for aliens in case of emergency. My hunch is they are saving it for global warming, to be deployed after we lose the quarter-billion of Unimportants, but before the Northern countries face the worst destabilization/migration crises. It's all about maintaining control.