Just ran across an interesting article. "Fed eployees urged to leave Russia before Y2K" by Erich Luening.

Basically, the State Department plans to withdraw dozens of government employees and their families from Russia, Belarus, Ukrane and Moldova prior to 1-1-2000 on concerns the countries could suffer from serious year 2000 related problems. The total estimated cost is $8 million. This breaks down to $10K per person for 30 days or $5K per person for 15 days. Here is the link, I think!

http://yahoo.cnet.com/news/0-1009-200-1431541.html?tag=st.ne.ron.ithd.1009-200-1431541

Any html help out there care to provide a link? Thanks!

-- anon (anon@here.now), November 08, 1999

Answers

Headlines, front page N Y Times, 8 Nov 1999:

Computer Worries Fuel Withdrawal of U.S. Diplomats

Danger Low, Experts Say

Costs of Year 2000 Furlough From 4 Former Soviet Posts Could Run Into Millions

The story says diplomatic personnel will be withdrawn from only four countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

There's a wonderful disconnect in this article:

"Experts at the American Embassy in Moscow, however, have concluded that there is virtually no risk to diplomats from the computer problem..."

immediately followed by

"The cost of withdrawing those who wish to leave could run into millions of dollars."

It is, It isn't -- It does, It doesn't -- It will, It won't --

Everybody's happy. I guess.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 08, 1999.

italics OFF.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 09, 1999.