[RecallMoran]

Wait, wait, wait. I think I'm behind. Why would the National Security Admin (right?) have shut down VNS? Even though I like the idea.

[Publius]

My belief is that the entities that formed VNS engaged in a conspiracy to throw the election of 2000. The Bush folks figured this out after it was over and decided to make sure that VNS didn't try it again in 2002.

The only thing other than sunspots that could shut down every VNS satellite uplink is the National Security Agency (NSA). It would only do so under orders of the president, but because presidents like to have deniability in situations like this, my suspicion is that Cheney made the call. Thus we avoided a repeat of 2000 in 2002.