Edge of Apocalypse by Tim Lahaye, Craig Parshall Page B

Crash of--"
    "Senator," Chairman Straworth interrupted, "I've extended you the courtesy of being taken out of order for your comments; now, do me the same favor by concluding your speech on the United States economy and please get back to the point at hand."
    Senator Hewbright's face was slightly scarlet now. "The point, ladies and gentlemen, is that America's catastrophic financial problems, the ruined dollar on the international monetary market, our loss of credit globally, the fifteen percent domestic unemployment rate--all of this, if I can put it bluntly, simply scared us stupid--stupid enough to sign off on disastrous treaties in exchange for the promise of more favorable trading and credit terms with the European Union, China, and other nations who are now holding us economically hostage. Our freedom and security in exchange for a little more cash in our pocket, a little more oil, and a whole lot more debt--"
    "Senator!" Chairman Straworth implored.
    But the ranking member kept talking. "I'm not talking just about that ill-conceived missile-defense treaty that is involved in this hearing." Senator Hewbright had his arms outstretched in front of him as he addressed the other senators and representatives on the dais. "A missile-defense treaty we negotiated out of our financial fear. I'm also talking about that United Nations Covenant of Tolerance and Human Rights that, I'm ashamed to say, the United States Senate also ratified. And what's the result? We now have permanent U.N. monitors being placed in many of our major cities. U.N. monitors on American soil--giving us advice on how to administer our own civil liberties and our own laws!"
    Chairman Straworth was on the verge of censuring his colleague. But Hewbright saw it coming and backed off just in time. "However, all that is simply prelude. What I've given you is merely an introduction to my first question of Colonel Jordan."
    Straworth leaned back, satisfied that he had reined in his political opponent.
    "Colonel Jordan," Hewbright said, "I have great respect for the innovation that your RTS defense system employs. Please know that. But on the other hand, this body has requested all your documents on this experimental project. Your attorney has responded on your behalf, indicating that you won't produce them. Please help us understand your reluctance to comply with this demand. Explain it to us in as much detail as you can. Because I, for one, want to give you every benefit of the doubt."
    Joshua Jordan took a moment to collect his thoughts. Then he leaned toward the microphone, his hands folded on the table in front of him, and began. "Senator, my lawyer, Mr. Smythe, in his letter, has already explained our legal objections to the request of this committee. So let me try to explain the practical problems. The RTS technology my company developed, and which was successfully used during this North Korean crisis, is highly unique and proprietary in nature. Frankly, we believe we should not be sharing this information with anyone but the Pentagon."
    "I agree. But you haven't even done that yet fully."
    "No, because this committee has not given us their full assurances that they would keep my technology classified and not pass it on to third parties."
    "Mr. Jordan, is there a reason you don't trust this committee?"
    "Sir, with all due respect, I don't believe the complex technical details of any weapons system is within the province of any congressional committee. The highly classified inner workings of our most secret technology should stay that way--secret."
    "What if this committee ends up serving you with a subpoena, Colonel Jordan? What then?" Senator Hewbright's face revealed a deep desire to try to help Joshua to extricate himself. "I would hate to see it come to that. And besides, isn't some of the technology you're trying to keep secret already out in the marketplace, which means it really isn't that unique? Which would mean that your legal grounds for refusing