ianparker2@gmail.com wrote:

Listen, if ET existed and was "sinister" there is a very simple way to
take over Earth. No not some super sophisticated war machine, just AI
and a telegenic avotar. That is after all what you need to become
President.

When we go in the wild and study baboons, or songbirds, sometimes we
tranquilize them and do tests, sometimes we do autopsies.  We don't
usually try to become King of the Baboons or Puppet master of the song
birds.

With vastly better technology why should aliens bother.  Get in using
camoflage, get whatever we want and go back to the lab.