: I think the logic is that they'd need Rampant AIs of their own (that MIDA
: arrogantly assumed they could control) in order to better understand how
: to deal with others.
The Strauss-MIDA theory is only a theory due to there being no explicit confirmation in the games that the two are linked, but it's a theory that becomes more credible the more you look into the martian and marathon history terminals.
MIDA being anti-"Machine Intelligence?" Completely out of nowhere. The MIDA coups had a lot to do with the hardships on Mars what with all the famines waiting for those slow-arse CRIST ships full of food. I doubt they'd have any problems with A.I.s if it could help them meet their ends. (Case in point: Durandal. His insane antics malfunctioning life support systems is a perfect tool for terrorism... if he could be kept under control)