"The Bad Guys have been defeated and are retreating on all fronts," said the President, gesturing grandly in all of the directions that the Bad Guys must be fleeing.
    "Um, that's great, Sir.  But what about the Plague?"
    "Christie, is that?" asked the President, looking narrowly at the reporter.
    "Yes, Sir," said Christie.
    "The so-called 'Plague' need not concern us here."  He gave an indulgent smile and a sweeping wave of dismissal.  "We must keep our focus on our glorious war and how long it's going to take and how much you have to rely on me to get you through it.  After all, civilization as we know it is at stake!"
    "But Sir," persisted Christie, "the Plague has claimed more lives in the last month than the entire war, and we don't even know exactly what it is.  Our neighbors are being snatched away in their prime.  Unexpectedly and for no apparent reason."
    "Christie, the Plague is the Judgment of God.  It falls on those who are ... less worthy.  It's nothing that you or I have to worry about."  He was still smiling patiently, but annoyance was creeping into his voice.  "Now, moving on to other significant developments, I have abrogated the We Won't Kill You If You Don't Kill Us Treaty with the Northern Neighbors."
    "Mr. President!"
    "Yes, Red?"  With a flourish, the President recognized another reporter.
    "Aren't the Northern Neighbors the old Bad Guys?"
    "Yes, Red, but they aren't so Bad anymore."
    "Do you think it's a good idea to break that treaty, Mr. President?  These guys aren't very far removed from Bad.  Do you trust them?"
    "No, Red," laughed the President.  "But I trust our ability to kick their butts.  What good is a 'No Kill' treaty if you can do the most killing, huh?  Anyway, I have a brilliant plan that will keep us safe from all the Bad Guys in the world forever."
    "Wow!" fawned Red. "How will that work?"
    "Glad you asked," said the President with another sweeping gesture. "I'm going to put up a big shield that will stop any attack from any direction.  Isn't that great?"
    "It sure is!" gushed Red.
    "How will that have any effect on the Plague?" asked Christie.
    "The ... what?" puffed the President. "Look, I've had enough of this 'Plague' nonsense.  We have important historical matters to discuss here!"
    "If we don't deal with the Plague," insisted Christie, "there isn't going to be any history."
    "That's treasonous talk!  Get her out of here!" snapped the President gesturing broadly for his gendarmerie.

    "So, which lobster do you want?" asked the waiter.
    The diner peered appraisingly into the tank for a minute.
    "I'll take the one that keeps waving its claws around," he said.
 

The UN estimates that 3 million people died from AIDS and 5 million more became infected in 2001 alone.  The United States is spending billions of dollars in its war against terrorism, but has pledged a mere 200 million to the global fight against AIDS, which is by far the greater killer.