Google has just announced they are retiring their affiliate network to focus on other products. http://googleaffiliatenetwork-blog.blogspot.hk/2013/04/an-update-on-google-affiliate-network.html
Google bought Double Click Performics just for this reason. Also Internet Tax is coming and they would rather market to advertisers the new tools they built than worry about making sure affiliates are collecting sales tax. The US Treasury Dept had a rep discussing the Internet Tax during a conference at Beaver Creek CO. Warning banks and CEO's that the Tax will probably pass and business owners will have to adapt. Just my take
If this is referring to the Affiliate Ads we can put in Blogger posts, that's a bummer. I really wanted to try that.