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                                                                      Exhibit 12

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(In Millions)                                   2001            2000            1999            1998            1997
                                          --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
Pretax income (loss)(1)                   $      (5,449)   $       2,328    $      1,434    $       (1,230)  $       1,814

Capitalized interest                      $         (13)   $         (18)   $          0    $            0   $           0

Fixed charges (as calculated below)       $         945    $         806    $        568    $          460   $         342
                                          -------------    -------------    ------------    --------------   -------------

Earnings(2)                               $      (4,517)   $       3,116    $      2,002    $         (770)  $       2,156
                                          =============   ==============    ============    ==============   =============
FIXED CHARGES:

Interest expense                          $         806    $         680    $        399(3) $          348   $         234

Rent expense interest factor              $         139    $         126    $        169    $          112   $         108
                                          -------------    -------------    ------------    --------------   -------------
Total fixed charges(2)                    $         945    $         806    $        568    $          460   $         342
                                          =============   ==============    ============    ==============   =============
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES                    -(4)           3.9             3.5                -(4)          6.3
                                          =============   ==============    ============    ==============   =============
</Table>

     (1)  After adjustments required by Item 503(d) of SEC Regulation S-K.

     (2)  As defined in Item 503(d) of SEC Regulation S-K.

     (3)  The Company was a guarantor of Iridium's $750 million guaranteed
          credit agreement. On November 5, 1999, the Company satisfied its
          guarantee obligations under this agreement by paying approximately
          $743 million to the banks providing loans under the agreement.
          Included with this payment was approximately $3 million in interest
          charges which have been aggregated in the 1999 total interest expense
          used for the calculation of total fixed charges.

     (4)  Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the year ended
          December 31, 2001 by $5.4 billion and for the year ended December 31,
          1998 by $1.2 billion.