Sunday December 26, 2:55 pm Eastern Time U.S. on guard ahead of Y2K WASHINGTON, Dec 26 (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Sunday sought to play down fears of major computer disruptions and ``terrorist'' attacks on New Year's weekend, but said Americans must not let down their guard.

The nation's airports, hospitals and armed forces said they were prepared for the century date change, which could cause unprepared computers on New Year's Eve to misread ``00'' in two-digit date fields as 1900 instead of 2000 and malfunction.

But as officials grow more confident that U.S. infrastructure will emerge relatively glitch-free, they appear increasingly concerned about end-of-the-year political, cult or racial violence.

``With regard to any potential physical attacks, we have no information that anyone's planning that, but everyone will be on alert that weekend and prepared to respond immediately,'' President Bill Clinton's Y2K aide, John Koskinen, told ABC's ``This Week'' television program.

The United States has tightened security at airports and border crossings since the arrest earlier this month of an Algerian man accused of trying to smuggle explosives into Washington state.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned local police of the danger of violence by cults seeking to spark a self-styled ``apocalyptic'' battle and by those fearing a supposed conspiracy to impose world government.

New York City Police Commissioner Howard Safir said 19,000 officers have been trained to deal with any threat that could arise during the city's massive New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.

``There is no reason to believe that there will be any problem,'' Safir told ABC. But he added: ``Of course there are no guarantees. In a free society, you know, we don't control everybody's movements.''

``CREDIBLE INFORMATION'' OF PLANNED ATTACKS

The State Department said it had ``credible information'' that guerrillas were planning attacks on U.S. citizens, including at festivities to usher in the 21st century.

``There have been a number of developments that obviously do make us concerned right now,'' said John Hamre, Deputy Secretary of Defense. But he added: ``Americans should feel very confident we'll be able to defend the country.''

To combat terrorism, former CIA Director James Woolsey said the Clinton administration could make it easier for U.S. intelligence agencies to recruit spies to infiltrate groups that may be plotting attacks.

``It's a very good idea to stop things from happening by maybe being a little more flexible with your guidelines,'' Woolsey told Fox ``News Sunday''.

FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said the nation's airports were ready. ``Air traffic will be safe.'' But she warned that some other nations were not as prepared, and.....

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http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991226/ci.html

-- LOON (blooney10@aol.com), December 26, 1999

Answers

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991226/ci.html

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 26, 1999.

``There have been a number of developments that obviously do make us concerned right now,'' said John Hamre, Deputy Secretary of Defense. But he added: ``Americans should feel very confident we'll be able to defend the country.''

Personally, I would have felt a lot better if he'd said ...we'll be able to protect the citizenry."

I was just at a gun store with a friend that is looking to purchase a second hand gun. Nothing to do with Y2K, as he is completely DGI. For the first time in my life, I was VERY uncomfortable being around people wearing, buying, and thinking about firearms. I don't do guns anymore, haven't hunted in years. But I have never felt uncomfortable being around or using them, till today that is.

In a sad way, I guess I acquiesce to their strategy of JQP's *need to know*. I have to wonder though, what might have been done differently.

Blue, blue Sunday..

Respectfully;

Michael

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 26, 1999.