From:	mneideng@****.caltech.edu (Mark L. Neidengard)
Subject:	News post
Date:	Fri, 19 Jan 1996 14:17:48 -0800

>>>>>[Something you all might find interesting, on the _off_ chance that
you
don't watch the news.
+++++include trideo
"This is Chelsea Wong reporting for Turner Networks with an update on the
developing nuclear crisis. Sources have now confirmed that it was indeed a
nuclear weapon which was detonated on the dark side of the moon, damaging or
destroying several sattelites and producing a burst of interference on many
radio frequencies. We have word that an emergency session of the "Corporate
Court" has been called, though the press has been strictly excluded from the
discussions. It would _seem_ that a private corporation was behind the test,
though exactly which remains a mystery. The corporations are keeping a very
tight rein on information, but the Ares corporate rep did have this to say
this morning."

Cut to a view of a the lobby of some large office building, its spacious
interior furnished with subtle but eloquently expensive desks, chairs, and
couches. A tall, balding man clad in a dark blue business suit and spectacles
is striding across the lobby toward the elevators, surrounded by six immensely
muscular men in loose-fitting suits and sunglasses. Trailing behind the man
is a gaggle of medias sprouting cameras and boom microphones, frantically
shouting questions. One of the voices manages to rise enough above the din to
be clearly audible: "Can you tell the public anything to allay fears of nuclear
proliferation?!"

The man breaks his stride and spins on his heel to address the crowd. His
brow is furrowed into a deep scowl, and his voice is hard and commanding. "I
will say only this. No sane person believes for a _second_ that nuclear war is
a good idea. There are no _winners_, no _victors_, only thousands or millions
of people vaporized or poisoned by radiation. Both the corporations and the
national governments of the world have labored long and hard to reduce the
threat of nuclear weapons; some terrorist organization is now trying very hard
to countermand our efforts and return to the days of bomb-shelters and fear.
Ares is _firmly_ committed to the prevention of such an atrocity, and is an
_active_ member of the coalition who is seeking the culprit to make them answer
_in_full_ for their crime against society. The public may Rest Assured that
this matter will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. I have no further
comment." The man turns and resumes his stride, bodyguards fending off the
mob of reporters.
+++++end trideo

An interesting appeal to maintaining the peace from one of the leading makers of
the tools of war. Of course, it's also true that man is a violent animal, and
that true peace will never be more than a dream, so corps like Ares will always
serve a purpose. In fact, _no_ rational corp wants wholescale destruction of
civilians: it would ruin their market. Ares may just be acting out of
expedience, but it's expedience I can at least agree with. =) ]<<<<<
-- Azrael <13:46:03 / 01-19-57>