Okay, I ain't no turrist (as they're called in the south), but if I were, I sure as hell wouldn't wait until 010100 to launch my dreade biochemnuke attack. Why, that's when everyone is going to be on highest alert. Doesn't it make sense for Osama and others to throw their monkey wrenches into the works BEFORE that date, when systems are still being renovated, when folks aren't on alert? That way they can get their licks in before full preps are made and their preemptive strike makes it harder for the targets to be prepared for rollover. So my bet would be some kind(s) of strikes to start happening in the weeks before New Year's Eve.

-- Kurt Ayau (Ayau@iwinet.com), September 26, 1999

Answers

Kurt,

I think you're right on. Personally, I believe we're on a high state of alert but it's not public knowledge. It might even be that some of TPTB don't even know it.

Also, it may be that 010100 isn't a day with major problems and there will be a let down leading to complacency. It's either the calm before the storm or while the storm sits offshore that kinda worries me.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 26, 1999.

I think the DATE is just as important to a terrorist as the terror inflicted. The dawning of a new century. Maybe the date Islamic militants brought America to her knees. The Day Holy War officially started. The first day of the new century sounds better than December 5th. Didn't "they" bomb the Oklahoma city building on the anniversary of Waco? I suspect dates are just as if not more important to a terrorist than the act itself.

-- JOHNNY (JLJTM@BELLSOUTH.NET), September 26, 1999.

I think that is the reason for the mystery "Chemtrails"; a government attempt to innoculate as many as possible without creating panic.

-- Ralph Kramden (and@away wego.com), September 26, 1999.

I agree Ralph do you have a reference for that anywhere?

-- The Count of Meijer Crisco (40@cansof.course), September 26, 1999.

Kurt,

I have been considering this, too. From many of the gov and mil reports, it seems that opportunistic terrorism is their biggest concern in regards to Y2K. Terrorism, by definition, has as its main purpose the goal of creating terror. In order to have maximum impact, such acts must achieve maximum media attention. Here are a few considerations, in addition to yours, that I have pondered:

1. Would terrorists be relying on all TV, radio, and print media (global, national and local feeds) to be on-line and operational on 01/01/2000 in order to achieve maximum public exposure of their acts? Why should they think so?

2. If terrorists strike at infrastructure on 01/01/2000, how would their acts be distinguished from Y2K-caused glitches affecting infrastructure? If such acts could be distinguished as terrorism, it would take investigative time and wouldn't have the same impact as an immediate, widely known and understood terrorist attack. If a power station went down, and we are expecting that is one of the things that may be y2K-related, would a terrorist group claiming responsibility be as believable?

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), September 26, 1999.

What is "010100"? Haven't you people learned anyhting yet? Years have four digits. And in many places in Europe, where they are also clueless, do the first two digits stand for the monthor the day? And vice versa the second two digits.

Note the date format on the "New Questions" page. Use that, you idiots. The format is YYYY-MM-DD, so for the date of concern, it is 2000-01-01. Get it?

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 26, 1999.

"A" wrote:

What is "010100"? Haven't you people learned anyhting yet? Years have four digits. And in many places in Europe, where they are also clueless, do the first two digits stand for the monthor the day? And vice versa the second two digits. Note the date format on the "New Questions" page. Use that, you idiots. The format is YYYY-MM-DD, so for the date of concern, it is 2000-01-01. Get it?

The whole point of Y2k is that 010100 will cause malfunctions. My writing 010100 has no ramifications re: malfunctions except for the one it caused in your brain. Quit quibbling over the inconsequential.

-- Kurt Ayau (Ayau@iwinte.com), September 26, 1999.

Mother nature/Earthquakes seems to be doing pretty good at causing problems for yr 2000. ( notice, I avoided yr/month/day scenerio)AT this rate the terrorist won't need to attack..

-- More Dinty Moore (dac@ccrtc.com), September 26, 1999.

what day is it? I don't care but what i do care about is the governments threat about terrorism. talking about creating a panic.. don't take yor money out of the bank for y2k... three day snow storm( what is a 3 day snow storm in texas? never seen one?) but never know when those people we trained will come attack us ...hey china is ok... so is russia...WE SO COOL yeah sure we are wake up americans before it is to late our government creates terrorism(sorry bad speller)) for it's own benefit(and that is not us).

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), September 26, 1999.

Ramadan ends in late January or February (I forget which) in 2000, so it seems to me that jihad has to happen before or after Ramadan. We'll see.

-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), September 27, 1999.

Ramadan lasts about 4 weeks, so terrorists could launch a biological attack and then observe the holiday/fasting. Meanwhile...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 27, 1999.

Ah guys, you're forgetting something VERY important here.

NO terrorist has "announced" anything nor made any specific threat about a 01-01-00 attack! (The head of the FBI anti-terrorim dept. has admitted thsi too.)

THE ONLY PEOPLE ANNOUNCING A FEAR OF TERRORISM ARE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. (And the news media they cater to.)

Now, what does that tell you?

---

Okay - there is a legitimate threat here, I'll certainly admit that. More of "hackers" or "vandalism" nature than "terrorism" though.

---

If a war to break out, it would be from Red China to take Taiwan, or North Korea to attack South Korea. In a war, military targets are logically first (resupply and air bases first) to cut off re-arming and reloading the Taiwanese weapons being used up in fighting.)

Local terrorism (in a war effort), as shown in the Balkans, only solidifies the rest of the population against the terrorists. In a foreigh war, "local terror" acts (not on a military or air force base) would "hurt" only the foreign power (as Pearl Harbor did against Japan).......so now I leave you with this frightening thought:

To mobilize "popular emotions" against "terrorists", to ostrachize and alienate (literally) Americans against their fellow citizens, to make legitimate "armed warfare" by police and anti-terrorist semi-military and military units against US citizens, and to remove "rights" of US citizens (both those directly opposed and those on the sidelines), isn't it necessary to have a "locally available" terrorism threat (or better yet) an actual series of "acts of terrorism"?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 27, 1999.

Stan -

When does Ramadan start? It would seem more likely to me that you would see the jihad before Ramadan. Also, being they are Muslim, wouldn't they more like try something over the Christmas Holiday?

And while we are at the subject of terrorism, I can hardly wait for the WTO (World Trade Organization) meeting in Seattle. TPTB are expecting over 100,000 protestors. Meeting starts the Monday after Thanksgiving and runs 4 days with 130+ countries here. Heads of state including Clinton/Gore, Premier of Russia, Saudi, etc. - they have even invited Castro. The protest organizers say they want "Seattle to be remembered like the Alamo" when it comes to another city/country hosting the WTO. Could be real interesting if the sheeple wake up to Y2K at the same time. Anyway, seems to me that the terrorists would consider WTO to be an excellent start point for their campaign.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.xnet), September 27, 1999.

Robert:

My first reaction to the terrorist message was that it was being prepared as an excuse to cover any/all actual Y2K errors and problems.

What a nice, clean, excuse that would be. "We were ready, but those darn (terrorists, programmers, or foreign programmers) did us in....

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), September 27, 1999.

....Dec. 20-5 would be the peak of the bell curve.

-- (I'm@not.but), September 27, 1999.

Al,

Because the rain falls on the just and the unjust.

-- (waahoo@my-deja.com), September 28, 1999.