U.S.-Russian "hotlines" hit by Y2K glitches

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The United States and Russia have found year 2000 glitches in all but one of their seven Cold War-era "hotlines" and are rushing to correct them, a top Pentagon official said on Tuesday.

The Clinton administration is giving Moscow Y2K-compliant software and computers "to correct program deficiencies in outage reporting, monitoring and channel reroute operations," Assistant Secretary of Defense Edward Warner said.

He made his remarks in testimony prepared for the Senate Special Committee on Y2K. The panel is studying pitfalls of the coding glitch that could cause ill-prepared computers -- and the operations they control -- to fail on Jan. 1 with the changeover from 1999 to 2000.

To avoid possible misunderstandings during the date change, the United States and Russia agreed on Sept. 13 to set up a joint "Center for Y2K Strategic Stability" at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In addition to sharing missile launch information, Russian and U.S. officers staffing the post will be able to talk through any "other defense-related problems that emerge" during the calendar rollover, Warner said.

He said the Pentagon had begun the process of procuring updated equipment for the six of seven hotlines found to have problems, "and while the schedule is tight we are confident that the fixes will be installed and tested by December."

"Assured communications between U.S. and Russian leaders is a priority at all times, and of particular concern over the millennium date change," said Warner, who is responsible for strategy and threat reduction.

The United States and Russia each keep roughly 2,500 nuclear-tipped missiles pointed at one another on hair-trigger alert despite the collapse of the old Soviet Union in December 1991 and the end of the Cold War.

They began installing the seven direct communications links, popularly known as hotlines, during the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, to guarantee immediate communication when needed.

Among these are: direct links between the two presidents; a link between the secretary of state and the foreign minister; and one connecting nuclear risk reduction centers on both sides. A secure communications link also is key to operations of the temporary Center for Y2K Strategic Stability.

Russia put on hold most Y2K-related and other technical cooperation with the United States after U.S.-led NATO forces began a 78-day air war in March in Yugoslavia, a Russian ally.

When talks resumed in August, Russia agreed with U.S. recommendations regarding "Y2K vulnerabilities in current hotline architecture," Warner said.

He said Y2K problems had been identified at a Russian ground station as well as in commercial software used on both sides, "which would prevent full operation of six of the seven direct communications links over the Y2K transition."

Among the contingency plans now being discussed were the possible addition of "backup analog circuits, additional secure phone/facsimile capability and installation of emergency INMARSAT (mobile satellite communications) devices on both sides," Warner said.

Another "critical" Y2K-related issue is the security of Russia's nuclear stockpiles, Warner told the committee headed by Utah Republican Robert Bennett and Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd.

"Of special concern are the security systems in nuclear storage sties affecting access control, perimeter monitoring, fire detection and suppression, and warhead inventory and accountability," he said.

Forces of the 12th Main Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, responsible for the storage and security of non-deployed Russian nuclear warheads, are to maintain a "special Y2K monitoring and control center" at each of their 50 main nuclear storage sites in December through March 2000, Warner said.

Under its so-called Cooperative Threat Reduction program, the United States has spent millions of dollars since the end of the Cold War aimed at preventing Russian nuclear material from being purchased or stolen by guerrilla groups or third countries.

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What can one say!!

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), September 28, 1999

Answers

Pushing October 1, 1999 and somebody just now checked the hot phones ?

They really need to get Franklin Daily planners or something don't they?

WOW -- The timing of this revelation is breath taking !

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Beaujolais Nouveau and D-cells

We're going to party like it's 1999.

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-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), September 28, 1999.

As I have said before y2k is a serious national security matter. This is outrageous, this should be a non-issue by now. The hot line between Russia and the U.S is still not y2k fixed at this late date is inexcuseable at this late date. With the fate of our children's future is dependant on these guy's being able to talk to each other. U.S. Military leaders if the civilian leadership is not y2k compentent speak out now, Let the American people know about it,the American people your boss have the right to know. It takes leadership and courage to expose Lies. You can expose them to protect national security.. Their lieing is damaging our country's National security beyond belief.. Think of your children and do what is right for them. If y2k is going to be a problem and the leadership is not acting responsibly, Then you must quietly take leadership and preposition supplies out of war stock to ensure that our country is ready to weather the storm weather the civilian leadership likes it or not. You are bound by a loyality oath to protect your country for all enemies foriegn or domestic. I have not witness our local and national leaders preparing and pre-positioning the level necessary of Food and medicines that would ensure our nation's survival. If y2k tanks the infrustructure with out a high level of advanced preparedness our country will die and history will hold you responsible for failing to act.

-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike @ conservation . com), September 28, 1999.

Good grief! And they expect us to trust them?

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 28, 1999.

He said Y2K problems had been identified at a Russian ground station as well as in commercial software used on both sides,

Does this mean that WE just checked out our side of things???? Its almost October. Wonder if thats sorta like Red October?????

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), September 28, 1999.