Bennett Warns Y2K Could Bring Tower of Babelgreenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
http://www.sltrib.com/05041999/utah/102755.htmTuesday, May 4, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bennett Warns Y2K Could Bring Tower of Babel By AMY STEINBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Bob Bennett compared the Year 2000 computer bug to the biblical Tower of Babel, saying a breakdown in the common language could cause chaos. "The world speaks a common language called digital code," said Bennett, R-Utah, at the 11th annual Software CLICK HERE EXTRA: Technology Conference sponsored by the Department of Defense. "If the connection gets broken, we're back to the Tower of Babel where we cannot talk to each other. We can't trade securities. We can't change currency. We can't exchange information. Everything shuts down." "People ask me if we're going to be all right," said Bennett, who is chairman of the Senate's Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem. "That depends on what `all right' means." While many industries might be in good condition overall, specific companies might not be. Bennett suggested people check with their own banks, utilities and employers to make sure they are prepared for 2000. The fear is that computers that only recognize the last two digits in a year and assume the first two are 19 will mistakenly believe it is 1900 instead of 2000 and crash. For the military, the implications are "staggering," Bennett said. Since so much of the world relies on computers, bringing military computers up-to-date while maintaining security will be a major challenge. For example, a computer technician making the Defense Department's system Y2K compliant could leave open a back door allowing him to shut down the Pentagon computers if a foreign nation wishing the United States ill paid the right price. Computer software is among physical infrastructures of the information age, he said, making it a potential target in future wars. "What does the military try to do to its enemy? What are we doing now in Kosovo and Serbia? We are using the technology developed in the Western world to surgically destroy the infrastructure," Bennett said. The time will come when "an enemy's infrastructure can be destroyed in a matter of nanoseconds with a few keystrokes," he said. That means that while Y2K might not be the end of the world as we know it, things will never be the way they were before the information age, he said. "It's a different kind of warfare, but it's not Buck Rogers, it's not Star Wars, it's not Obi-Wan Kenobi. The technology is there."
-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), May 04, 1999
Also see this article..."Y2K Problem Highlights West's Vulnerability - IISS"
-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), May 04, 1999.
For the uninitiated or brain-dead:Bennett is saying that, even if Y2K is a BUMP, a few keystrokes intelligently wielded could shut down a nation's infrastructure, say, including the U.S. energy grid. Or shut down the Pentagon and open the way to a direct attack on the U.S.
I didn't say it. Andy didn't say it. Nikoli didn't say it. Bennett said it.
"For example, a computer technician making the Defense Department's system Y2K compliant could leave open a back door allowing him to shut down the Pentagon computers if a foreign nation wishing the United States ill paid the right price. Computer software is among physical infrastructures of the information age, he said, making it a potential target in future wars."
That is, in 1999. Not 2009 or 2019. Bennett isn't predicting it, he's raising it as technically possible scenario.
That is, the U.S. is vulnerable, not only Kosovo.
GI? Or DWGI? Prepare to live increasingly self-reliantly PERMANENTLY? Or deny?
(Parenthetically, this is why forums like this, that debate technology, politics, self-reliance and more will be needed after 1/1/2000 no matter what and why most, though not all, threads are OT).
I say this politely, but I defy any polly to dispute the meaning of Bennett's statement (not his veracity, he's just a Senator, the meaning of it).
-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), May 04, 1999.
Oops, I meant On Topic, not Off Topic.
-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), May 04, 1999.
BigDog,I'm glad you corrected yourself because it confused the heck out of me.
Anyway, Bennett's statement can't really be challenged. It's fundamentally true. I'm also quite troubled by possibility, aw hell, probability of back doors being built into code not only of the Pentagon, but any major institution. If nothing else, they could be robbed blind if they survive the rollover as a viable entity.
-- Doug (Doug@work.now), May 04, 1999.
Whatever one's opinion on how Y2K will turn out, the good Senator's word choices are not unintentional. The reference to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel should not be read as a mere literary device (allusion or metaphor), the reference is intense; it is very meaningful. It is pregnant with frightening and terrible possibilities for everyone of us on this planet. While the many stories of the Old Testament are not fresh in my memory, it seems like the demise of Babel was the second worst catastrophe in human history (if you accept the story as even partly historically correct). It was second only to the Flood. Even if not true as human history, it represents one of the greatest terrors to be contemplated by Man throughout the centuries.Sincerely, Stan Faryna
-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), May 04, 1999.
It's already a Tower of Babel out there. The translators are gonna have a "nervous breakdown."Andy: where's your Sufi prophet quote -- "one digit..."?
-- vbProg (vbProg@MicrosoftAndIntelSuck.com), May 04, 1999.
Two digits. One mechanism. The smallest mistake."The conveniences and comforts of humanity in general will be linked up by one mechanism, which will produce comforts and conveniences beyond human imagination. But the smallest mistake will bring the whole mechanism to a certain collapse. In this way the end of the world will be brought about."
Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, 1922 (Sufi Prophet)
"We're doomed I tell ye, doomed!"
Private Frazer, Dad's Army, Walmington-On-Sea Home Guard, 1939 (Undertaker) BBC Entertainment
-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), May 04, 1999.
vbProg,"It's already a Tower of Babel out there. The translators are gonna have a "nervous breakdown." Andy: where's your Sufi prophet quote -- "one digit..."?
-- vbProg (vbProg@MicrosoftAndIntelSuck.com), May 04, 1999.
You took the words right out of my keyboard!
-- freeman (freeman@cali.com), May 04, 1999.
There were a few amazing threads re Tower of Babel in this Forum's earlier golden weeks.Arlin, bet some Senators lurk here ;^) And are thinking Yea that Tower of Babble hast befallen the Forum plagued by invasion of trolls and parroting pollys, wogs, logs, smogs, grogs. Biblical trials and travails.
Two new bomb weapons already tested on Serbian infrastructure. They worked.
Quotes from military leaders in January cyber hack attacks:
" ... The attackers remain unidentified and since anyone with a computer is a potential enemy, experts warn the United States military is vulnerable to a sneak attack.
Its not a matter of if America has an electronic Pearl Harbor its a matter of when, said Rep. Curtis Weldon, R-Penn.
... In speeches and interviews, Clarke has been unsparing in his declarations of the threat. He told The New York Times in a recent interview: Im talking about people shutting down a citys electricity, shutting down 911 systems, shutting down telephone networks and transportation systems.
You black out a city, people die. Black out lots of cities, lots of people die. Its as bad as being attacked by bombs.
An attack on American cyberspace is an attack on the United States, just as much as a landing on New Jersey, he said. The notion that we could respond with military force against a cyberattack has to be accepted.
Y2K = War. Serious.
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx
-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), May 04, 1999.
WHAT??...no rebuttal yet from Norm, Davis, Poole, Y2K Pro???.I'm shocked!Jump in here guys...Bennett's in need of some parsing.
-- Charles R. (chuck_roast@trans.net), May 04, 1999.
you heard it here first:Is Y2K the modern Tower of Babel?
-- a (a@a.a), May 04, 1999.
This is the good Senator who confuses me the most. He was the first one out of the gate when the Senate report came out saying it could be the most devastating thing to hit this country since something... can't remember! Then changed in 2 weeks to a "bump". Now he's back to a "bump" that could include a nuclear war?Does anyone else feel like a termite in a yoyo. I KNOW there is spin, but can't they spin it CONSISTENTLY at least???? Sheesh!
-- LindaO. (spincycle@hotmail.com), May 04, 1999.
Spin it one way; spin it the other. The intelligent government approach would be to cautiously scare the population into preparation. Scare just a few at a time. We can't all prepare at once.I know, I'm assuming intelligent government. That's the fatal flaw to my argument.
-- Doug (douglasjohnson@prodigy.net), May 04, 1999.
Linda" a termite in a yoyo" ... perfect I Love it.
-- Charon (Thatplace@downbelow.com), May 04, 1999.
"a termite in a yo-yo"Yes, Charon, that one's a keeper.
-- Elbow Grease (Elbow_Grease@AutoShop.com), May 04, 1999.
LOL, Leska ..."And are thinking Yea that Tower of Babble hast befallen the Forum plagued by invasion of trolls and parroting pollys, wogs, logs, smogs, grogs. Biblical trials and travails. "
We're plagued by trolls, not locusts. Nice touch.
Somehow appropriate, when Bennett's speaking in Salt Lake City.
BTW, The meeting Senator Bennett was attending ...
Eleventh Annual Software Technology Conference - put on by the Department of Defense. Co-sponsored by the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and DISA. Takes place May 2-6, 1999 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. ...
http://www.stc-online.org/Lots of links, not sure theres much real info available.
Diane
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 05, 1999.