To: "Russell D. Hoffman" rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com
From: Larry Klaes lklaes@bbn.com
Subject: Reuters: Russia skips Y2K step on military systems -U.S.
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Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 14:24:14 -0400 (EDT)
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From: JamesOberg@aol.com
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Subject: Reuters: Russia skips Y2K step on military systems -U.S.
X-Comment: Friends and Partners in Space
JimO: Gosh, I hope they're doing a better job of preparing the Service Module. Just imagine: when they don't have enough money or time, they just skip testing and push ahead. What a country!!
Russia skips Y2K step on military systems -U.S.
12:56EDT 09-08-99
By Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Russia is skipping a basic step in readying its most important military computers for the 2000 technology challenge, including some that track sensitive nuclear stockpiles, the military arm of the U.S. embassy in Moscow has reported.
At issue are the most thorough possible checks for Y2K errors, glitches that threaten to boggle some computers and automated systems when 1999 turns into 2000 in 114 days.
``Due to time constraints, MOD (the Ministry of Defence) is bypassing the system certification process and moving directly to operationally based testing,'' the U.S. Defence Attache's Office said in a cable to Washington made available this week.
The memo did not spell out the Y2K compliance process cut out by cash-strapped Moscow. But it said the shortcut applied to 100 systems designated ``mission critical'' out of the 1,000 said to be in use by the Defence Ministry.
The Y2K problem stems from an old programming practice of using two digits to represent years, like 99 for 1999. Unless fixed in time, computers may read 00 as 1900 instead of 2000. That could cause system shutdowns or corrupt vital data.
Russian and U.S. defence officials resumed contacts on Y2K issues in Moscow in August. Russia froze dialogue in March after U.S.-led NATO began bombing in Serbia, a Russian ally.
During talks in Moscow Aug. 25 and 26, U.S. and Russian technical experts discussed ``measures to be taken by MOD in ensuring security and accountability of the MOD nuclear warheads during the Y2K transition period,'' the U.S. memo said.
Separately, both sides reached ``general consensus'' on Russian participation in a joint monitoring post being set up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to prevent any missile misunderstandings during the date change.
The intent was to have Defence Secretary William Cohen and his Russian counterpart, Igor Sergeyev, sign a formal agreement on the Y2K Centre for Strategic Stability during their scheduled talks in Moscow next Monday, the memo said.
It said the Russian defence ministry, in a ``Y2K vulnerability analysis,'' had identified issues requiring attention before the 2000 calendar rollover takes place as well as in the longer term.
The Defence Ministry has begun to set up Y2K ``monitoring and control centers'' at its nuclear storage sites, the Defence Attache's Office said in the memo, first reported by Federal Computer Week, a trade publication.
The Pentagon declined comment on Russia's Y2K shortcut but experts inside and outside the U.S. government voiced qualms at any corner-cutting on sensitive military systems.
``Such shortcuts are not ideal,'' said Bruce McConnell, director of the International Y2K Centre, a clearinghouse backed by the United Nations and funded by the World Bank. But ``with a short window like this you may not have many options.''
A spokeswoman for the special U.S. Senate panel on the 2000 technology problem, Unice Lieverman, said, ``It's cause for concern.'' But she added, ``We're glad to know that the Defence Department is going to work with them on this.''
The memo said the Russians had asked for U.S. help to equip the new Y2K-related nuclear storage monitoring stations. The Russian wish list included ``computers, copiers, fax and communication equipment, portable power generators, emergency response vehicles, utility repair vehicles, warhead handling and transport vehicles and environmental monitoring equipment.''
The United States has become increasingly concerned about Russia's ability to keep track of its deadliest weapons since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
``Rogue states and terrorist groups can now seek to buy or steal what they previously had to produce on their own,'' according to Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican who has led efforts to curb the spread of Soviet-era nuclear, chemical and biological arms.
----- END OF INCOMING EMAIL FROM LARRY KLAES -----
United States Government official contact points:
NASA needs to be told in no uncertain terms NEVER to launch nuclear rockets of any type ever again!
To learn about the absurd excuses NASA used to launch Cassini and its 72.3 pounds of plutonium in 1997, ask them for the 1995 Environmental Impact Statement for the Cassini mission, and all subsequent documentation. At the same time, be sure to ask them for ANY and ALL documentation available on future uses of plutonium in space, including MILITARY, CIVILIAN, or "OTHER" (just in case they make a new category somehow!). To get this information, contact:
Cassini Public Information
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA 91109
(818) 354-5011 or
(818) 354-6478
Here's NASA's "comments" email address:
comments@www.hq.nasa.gov
Daniel Goldin is the head of NASA. Here's his email address:
daniel.goldin@hq.nasa.gov
or
dgoldin@mail.hq.nasa.gov
Here's the NASA URL to find additional addresses to submit written questions to:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-002-HQ.html
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT NASA IS DOING TO YOUR HEALTH.
Be sure to "cc" the president and VP and your senators and congresspeople, too.
President Bill Clinton
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20500; Ph. (202) 456-1111, Fax (202) 456-2461;
e-mail -- president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Albert Gore
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20500;Ph. (202) 456-1414, Fax (202)
456-2461; e-mail -- vicepresident@whitehouse.gov
Secretary William Cohen
1000 Defense
The Pentagon
Washington D.C. 20301
703-695-6352
Secretary Bill Richardson
Department of Energy (DoE)
1000 Independence Avenue SW
Washington D.C. 20585
202-586-6210
fax: 202-586-4403
Always include your full name and postal address in all correspondence to any Government official of any country.
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First placed online September 23rd, 1999.
Last modified September 23rd, 1999.
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