US to boost security abroad

Tuesday, 21 December 1999 0:08 (GMT)

(UPI Focus)
US to boost security abroad
By ASHLEY BAKER

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) - Citing terrorist threats to U.S. facilities abroad and possible computer failures associated with the year 2000 date change, State Department officials said Monday they plan to have all possible security personnel in place when the new year begins.

Officials declined to say how many personnel would be on duty but said they had asked security employees not to go on vacation during the changeover. Referring to unspecified "security concerns," the State Department recently suspended operations at facilities in Ecuador and Cambodia.

Officials say they are equally concerned about possible computer problems when the date changes to 2000. For example, citing a "significant risk" of failure by the computers that regulate power plants, the State Department is encouraging the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy officials in Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

Several former Soviet states have repeatedly been identified as vulnerable to Y2K computer failures. According to an October assessment by the Central Intelligence Agency, these countries "lack sufficient resources to identify and correct problems, virtually guaranteeing that the countries will suffer economic and social consequences for some time."

Ken Baker, principal deputy assistant secretary of energy, has identified the computer systems at 68 Soviet-era nuclear reactors, which are spread throughout the former Soviet states, as being of particular concern. In 1997, Russian nuclear plants produced 14 percent of the nation's electricity, and 25 percent of the far western region's power. That same year, Ukrainian nuclear power plants produced 47 percent of that nation's electricity.

China, Italy and Indonesia are among the other countries the CIA judged least prepared for possible computer failures as the new year begins.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), December 20, 1999

Answers

Oh goody goody, our government has just figured out another way to ship our tax dollars to our sworn enemies. To help them recover from their third world status, from all the damage done by their backward computer system which in no was is compliant. I am so happy giggle giggle, I was wondering how they could give away some more of our money. This is a built in never ending reason to do this very helpful thing. Now they can rebuild their military might far beyond ours. This gives me reason to sleep good tonight.

-- Notforlong (Fsur439@aol.com), December 20, 1999.

You know where good intentions lead. Especially with dumb drivers.

Kook

-- Y2Kook (y2kook@usa.net), December 20, 1999.