Reno Knows of No Specific Y2K Threats but FBI to Remain on Alert By Michael J. Sniffen Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - There are no specific threats of terrorist attack in this country that are related to the new year, but the FBI still intends to remain on alert, Attorney General Janet Reno said Thursday.

Asked if there were any domestic threats similar to the attacks on Americans abroad allegedly being planned for New Year's gatherings by 13 people arrested in Jordan recently, Reno told her weekly news conference:

"We have no specific information concerning specific attacks. We must always be concerned about the possibility of an attack and take every reasonable step that we can."

She said common sense prevented her from publicly outlining in detail the precautions taken by her department. But, she said, "We must be vigilant, and the FBI is working with colleagues around the world to make sure that we are vigilant and as prepared as we possibly could be for any eventuality."

Reno plans to stay in Washington. Aides said she will spend the New Year's weekend either at the Justice Department or at her apartment just blocks away.

All 56 FBI field offices will be staffed by a special Y2K command post around the clock from 6 a.m. on Dec. 31 through 6 p.m. on Jan. 3, according to law enforcement officials, who requested anonymity.

At FBI headquarters, three separate teams will staff the Strategic Information and Operations Center - a windowless, 35-room command post covering nearly the area of a football field on the fifth floor.

One team will be on watch for incidents of terrorism directed at Americans at home or abroad, officials said. Another team, from the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, will keep track of the nation's electronic networks for signs of computer attacks. A third team of Justice Department managers will oversee the department's own internal computers.

The department's budget contained funds for 10 to 12 computer squads that could be dispatched to investigate any sign of criminal hacking activity.

The FBI already has circulated to thousands of state and local police agencies an intelligence report entitled "Project Megiddo" describing hate or apocalyptic groups or lone wolf members of them who attach special significance to the year 2000.

The research report, named after an ancient battleground in Israel cited in the Bible's New Testament as the site of a millennial battle between forces of good and evil, examines ideologies "which advocate or call for violent action beginning in the year 2000."

"Such ideologies motivate violent white supremacists who seek to initiate a race war; apocalyptic cults which anticipate a violent Armageddon; radical elements of private citizen militias who fear that the United Nations will initiate an armed takeover of the United States and subsequently establish a One World Government, and other groups or individuals which promote violent millennial agendas," the FBI said.

The report also outlines indicators of potential violence, possible preparations for violence, like stepped-up physical training or stockpiling of arms, and possible targets of millennial extremists.

-- Llama man (llama@cool.net), December 16, 1999

Answers

"Subject: Janet Reno Speaks On Y2K Terrorism"

Pathetic. Terrorizes me to think about her or anyone else in this administration having power to do anything.

-- the Virginian (1@1.com), December 16, 1999.